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Importing Allegro PCB Files

Does CircuitStudio support importing PCB files designed with recent versions of OrCAD?

I have an OrCAD 16.6 project where the board layout was designed using the OrCAD PCB Designer Standard, a reduced version of the Allegro PCB Editor. The OrCAD importer in CircuitStudio converts the *.dsn schematics well, but can't handle Allegro *.brd PCB files (reports file has an invalid format). The importer supports OrCAD *.max PCB files, but I understand that format is no longer used with OrCAD 16.x and OrCAD 17.x. Both generate *.brd PCB files with either the reduced or full versions of the Allegro PCB Editor.

The Altium Designer documentation states it supports importing Allegro *.brd and *.alg PCB files. Installing an Altium Designer trial to convert Allegro PCB files to Designer, and then convert them to CircuitStudio may be an alternative for a one-shot conversion, but is not a good solution if you need to work with OrCAD projects several times a year.

Thanks.

0 e14softwareuk over 8 years ago

The *.BRD format is not supported by CircuitStudio (1.4), attached is a list of formats from the Import dialog.
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0 jalvarez over 8 years ago in reply to e14softwareuk

I am aware of the items in the import list. Your response does not address the issue.

CircuitStudio advertises it can import OrCAD projects. If the import capability is limited to older OrCAD PCB file formats, there should be a disclaimer stating the OrCAD import is limited to schematics with recent versions. The switch in OrCAD to the Allegro PCB Editor was at least two years ago, possibly more.
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0 jalvarez over 8 years ago in reply to e14softwareuk

Tried importing the OrCAD *.BRD conversion using a trial of Altium Designer 17.1.5. Unfortunately, it states the file can't be converted because the Allegro PCB Editor is not installed. Yet my laptop has a licensed version of OrCAD 17.2 installed, including the OrCAD PCB Designer Standard that created that *.BRD file. I understand OrCAD PCB Designer Standard is a reduced version of the Allegro PCB Editor.

Possibly the OrCAD PCB importers in CircuitStudio and Altium Designer need to be updated to support recent versions?
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0 e14softwareuk over 8 years ago in reply to jalvarez

If using Altium Designer than contacting Altium tech support may help. There is an Altium document on importing Allegro files which may be of help.
http://techdocs.altium.com/display/ADOH/Moving+to+Altium+Designer+from+Cadence+Allegro+PCB+Editor
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0 jalvarez over 8 years ago in reply to e14softwareuk

I had already gone through that document, which clearly states the restriction.
If you have Allegro PCB Editor versions 15.2 or 16 installed, you can directly translate Allegro PCB Design files (*.brd) into Altium Designer PCB files (*.PcbDoc)
OrCAD 16.6 and OrCAD 17.2 generate PCB files (*.brd) without the full Allegro PCB Editor. There is no option to generate ASCII PCB files (*.alg). Apparently neither CircuitMaker nor Altium Designer can import PCB files made with current versions of OrCAD.
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