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BOM Importing Instructions
ProntoCAD-CONNECT is the importer engine featured in all Unisoft software modules. It can import virtually any CAD, Gerber, Bill of Materials (BOM), CNC and mechanical drawing formats.
IMPORTING
YOUR CAD FILES
Importing your CAD files is easy with the Unisoft software! The "SMART OPEN" feature is your CAD EXPERT that does all the work for you finding and sorting out all the proper files in your project folder!
TO USE "SMART OPEN": From
the Unisoft software click FILE from the main menu, click SMART OPEN and a new
window opens. In the new window browse to and select the directory that your
project CAD or Gerber files are located in. A new window opens and select one of
the files presented and your PC Board will be displayed.
The SMART OPEN feature looks at all the files for your project in the folder you
select and then presents you with only the correct PC Board, CAD and Gerber
files that can be imported into the Unisoft software with the most desirable CAD
files at the top of the list.
MORE ABOUT CAD FILE IMPORTING:
The table below lists
PC Board
CAD, Gerber and mechanical
CAD file formats that
maybe imported into the Unisoft software.
You can use this table to match up the correct CAD file
required to be imported.
Unisoft imports the ASCII text files created by CAD systems. Unisoft supports revision levels dating back to the 1980's and this can be important because older versions of CAD systems are still in use and need to be supported. For example the PADS - ASCII output - .ASC file format dates back to the 1980's and Unisoft supports virtually all the variations PADS created through the years within that format.
After you have installed the Unisoft software full
samples of most of these CAD formats listed
in the table below can be found in the directory
c:\program
files\unisoft . In this directory the sample files start with SAMPLE_ and the
CAD System is in the name of the file, for example the file SAMPLE_PADS.ASC is a
full sample of the PADS CAD system ASCII file. Use
these samples to match them to
the CAD files your CAD department or your client have
made available for processing with the Unisoft software.
For example if your company or client uses the OrCAD CAD system to design their PC Boards then from the table below under the field "CAD system" look for OrCAD and you will find two listings. Next under the field "File label or type" you will find "Min File" and "GENCAD". Under the field "Contains this type of data" for each and you will find that both have the same listing of "PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data". The field "Contains this type of data" indicates the PC Board data types contained in the file and usually the more types listed the better. In the case of OrCAD both the "Min File" and "GENCAD" files have full "Contains this type of data" listings of "PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data" and either one will work fine for importing into the Unisoft software. Next look at the field "Standard extension" and in the case of OrCAD they are .MIN and .CAD and if you have either of these files available you are ready to go; if not then one option is to request them from your client or your CAD department and sent them the samples available on the directory c:\program files\unisoft to aid them in matching the correct file type.
In general look for at a minimum "PCB pin x-y" in the field "Contains this type of data". If the file contains "PCB pin x-y" data then usually with the Unisoft software this will be sufficient data to program your Assembly, AOI inspection and Selective Soldering equipment; and also create process assembly sheets, kitting labels, costing reports, do first article and general inspection.
SMART OPEN: Another option, outlined
previously above, that is available is
to use the Unisoft SMART OPEN feature which will scan all files in a folder and will automatically detect
the CAD
files which have correct content for importing. So for example if you have a folder containing 40
assorted CAD, Gerber, BOM and Drawing files for a PC Board project use the Unisoft SMART
OPEN feature by clicking FILE from the main menu then click SMART OPEN and point
to the directory folder with the files and click OK and you will be presented
with a list of the CAD files you can import.
Note that many CAD systems in addition to exporting their native format may
export industry standard formats such
as GENCAD, GENCAM, FABMASTER, IPC-D-356, etc. In
most cases these files can be used in place of the native CAD files and are
importable into the Unisoft software.
GERBER FILES: Gerber files
are often the only files available to Contract Manufacturers. The Unisoft
software can quickly translate these files into your required manufacturing
files (see note 2 below).
Unisoft supplies the information below to aid our clients and is not responsible
for any problems encountered.
| CAD system | File label or type | Standard extension | Contains this type of data | Sample |
| Altium Designer Altium Designer Altium Designer AutoCAD Bartels Auto Engineer Bartels Auto Engineer Cadence-Valid Allegro Cadence-Valid Allegro CADSTAR CADSTAR ComputerVision Eagle CAD Eagle CAD Eagle CAD Fabmaster Fabmaster FastCAD GENCAD GENCAM Gerber HPGL Intergraph IPC-D-356 KiCAD McCAD McCAD MentorBoardStation MentorBoardStation Mentor Expedition Mentor Expedition ODB++ OrCAD Masstek OrCAD Masstek PADS PCAD Protel Protel Seetrax Ranger SuperMax ECAD Tango (Protel) Theda Veribest Veribest Visula X-Y Component Center Zuken |
Protel output pin x-y list Data Design Exchange IPC-D-356 GENCAD pin x-y list IPC-D-356 CADIF pin x-y list pin x-y list IPC-D-356 GENCAD pin x-y list pin x-y list pin x-y list Gerber(R274D,R274X) GENCAD GENCAM Gerber(R274D,R274X) Internet pin x-y list pin x-y list GENCAD GENCAD pin x-y list Mentor Neutral pin x-y Mentor Route (traces) GENCAD IPC-D-356 pin x-y list Min file GENCAD ASCII output PDIF Protel output Protel output GENCAD IPC-D-356 Netlist pin x-y list TL pin x-y list GENCAD CADIF X-Y centers CADIF |
.pro (see note 5) .pcb (see note 5) .pcbdoc (see note 5) .dxf (see note 1) .ipc/.356/varies .cad varies (see note 3) .ipc/.356 (see note 3) .paf .cdi .cvi .ipc/.356 (see note 4) .cad (see note 4) .fatf - FATF file .fatf - FATF file varies varies .cad .gcm .ger/grb/art/pho/varies .hpg .lst varies .cad .cad .tbs .neu/varies .txt/varies .cad .ipc/.356/varies varies (see note 6) .min .cad .asc .pro .ipc/.356/varies .cad .ipc/.356/varies .pcb .tl .vrb .cad .paf .xyr (see note 7) .paf |
PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace
data (see note 5) PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data (see note 5) (see note 5) drawing file (see note 1) PCB pin x-y,netlist data PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data (see note 3) PCB pin x-y,netlist data (see note 3) PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data PCB pin x-y,netlist data (see note 4) PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data (see note 4) PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data PCB drawing file (note 2) PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data PCB drawing file (note 2) drawing file PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data PCB pin x-y,netlist data PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data PCB pin x-y,netlist data PCB trace data PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data PCB pin x-y,netlist data PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data (see note 6) PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data PCB pin x-y,netlist data PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data PCB pin x-y,netlist data PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data PCB pin x-y,netlist data PCB pin x-y,netlist data PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data PCB X-Y Components centers (see note 7) PCB pin x-y,netlist,trace data |
y y n y y y y y y y n y y y y y y y y y y y y y y n y y y y y y y y y y y y y y n y y y y y |
Full samples of most of the CAD formats
in the table above can be downloaded by clicking this link
http://www.unisoft-cim.com/download/CAD_SAMPLES.zip
. After the download is complete you will find the CAD samples in the
file CAD_SAMPLES.ZIP
.
BINARY FILES: The Unisoft software imports the ASCII files the ECAD systems
export but it does not import their binary files. Binary PCB database files are
the ECAD companies own proprietary binary format. These binary file formats are
normally not public or documented and my violate copyrights. Also as an ECAD
company releases new versions of it's software their binary format may change
and it would be virtually impossible to modify the Unisoft software to
accommodate these changes in a timely manner. For these reasons the Unisoft
software does not import the binary files directly and only
imports the standard ASCII files these ECAD systems export.
Note 1: AutoCAD .dxf files are a "Design eXchange Format" files. This file type is only a drawing file. Unisoft can import and display these drawing files but they have little other value within the Unisoft software.
Note 2: Gerber data is basically a drawing file of the PC Boards pad information. Gerber does not contain component, pin or netlist information. Wherever possible, from the table above, try to obtain CAD files with pin x-y,netlist,trace data. However as is the case with virtually all Contract Electronics Manufacturers often the only data their clients provide are the gerber files. In this case the Unisoft GERBER-CONNECTION menu is used to quickly turn these raw Gerber files into intelligent data to program your Assembly, AOI inspection, ATE Test and Selective Soldering equipment; and also create process assembly sheets, kitting labels, costing reports, do first article and general inspection.
Note 3: Importing Cadence Allegro CAD files into the Unisoft software - Cadence Allegro is usually less straight forward then the other CAD systems in generating the necessary ASCII file that is then imported into the Unisoft software. The Allegro CAD system requires an extraction program in order to get the data out of the system. The extraction script exports ASCII files and therefore anyone needing PCB data from
Allegro database needs to use the Cadence Extraction program. Outlined below are two options to create the ASCII file.Please note that the main Allegro binary database has a .BRD extension. The .BRD is in Allegro's own proprietary binary format that is not public or documented and Unisoft does not import this file directly. The Unisoft software imports the standard ASCII files this database can export.
Option #1 - Some Allegro systems (NT version for example) will allow you to export out an IPC-D356 ASCII file. IPC-D356 is created directly from the export menu on the Allegro CAD system and the Unisoft software can then import the IPC-D356 file.
To export IPC-D356 from the Allegro software click the EXPORT MENU then click IPC-D356 and the resultant .IPC file created can be imported into the Unisoft software. To import the .IPC file into the Unisoft software first start the Unisoft software and click the main FILE menu then select SMART OPEN and select the directory where the .IPC file is located, then select the .IPC file and click OK. A window will open, click OK and the PCB will be displayed.
Option #2 - Some customers that use ALLEGRO have been able to export the standard file format from ALLEGRO called FABMASTER. We recommend the Fabmaster file format because it contains a large amount of the PC Board detail (traces, etc.).
To export FABMASTER from the Allegro software you need to download and run the skill file script to extract Fabmaster CAD data. The licensed Cadence Allegro user can go to "Sourcelink" on the Cadence website and download the Fabmaster skill file to extract Fabmaster CAD data. The skill file should contain information on how it should be run. The resultant Fabmaster .CAD file created can be imported into the Unisoft software. To import the .CAD file into the Unisoft software first rename the extension of the file from .CAD to .FAB then start the Unisoft software and click the main FILE menu then select OPEN and select the directory where the .FAB file is located. Next click the pull down menu next to "LIST FILE TYPES" and select "FabMaster Files (*.FAB)" then select the .FAB file and click OPEN and the PCB will be displayed.
The first few lines of the Fabmaster file look something like this:
A!REFDES!COMP_CLASS!COMP_PART_NUMBER!COMP_HEIGHT!COMP_DEVICE_LABEL!COMP_INSERTION_CODE!SYM_TYPE!SYM_NAME!SYM_MIRROR!SYM_ROTATE!SYM_X!SYM_Y!COMP_VALUE!COMP_TOL!COMP_VOLTAGE!
J!C:/ZZZ/Allegro/ZZZ.brd!Mon
Oct 10 12:35:23
2006!-21672.0!-5000.0!98328.0!93832.3!0.1!mils!ZZZ!14.400000
mil!2!UP TO DATE!
S!C46!IC!123-111700-019!!!!PACKAGE!6032!NO!270.000!1575.0!725.0!22uF!!!
S!C95!IC!123-111700-019!!!!PACKAGE!6032!NO!180.000!1340.0!835.0!22uF!!!
S!R35!IC!123-111000-016!!!!PACKAGE!RES0603!NO!180.000!895.0!2445.0!0R!!!
S!U11!IC!123-111500-001!!!!PACKAGE!QFN32_1!NO!0.000!1950.0!5450.0!TGA4525-SM!!!
If you have an ASCII file similar
in format to the one above "A!XXX!YYY!ZZZ!" but it does not import into the Unisoft software with the above mentioned methods then first change the file extension to .VAL and try to import it into the Unisoft software. If that does not work then change the file extension to .VA2 and try to import it into the Unisoft software. The "A!XXX!YYY!ZZZ!" format above comes in many variations so if you still have issues then please contact Unisoft.Note 4: Importing EAGLE CAD files into the Unisoft software - EAGLE CAD system users can export GenCAD, IPCD356, etc. files that can then be importing into the Unisoft software. The Eagle CAD system uses "User Language Programs" scripts to export data out. To download the "User Language Programs" scripts for GenCAD, IPCD356, etc. go to the Eagle website at http://www.cadsoftusa.com then click DOWNLOAD then click ULP's - USER LANGUAGE PROGRAMS and select the GenCAD or IPCD356 download. Please follow any instructions provided on the CADSOFT website.
Note 5: Altium Designer .PCBDOC / .PCB / .PRO - The .PCBDOC file is a binary file and is not importable into the Unisoft software. The preferred format that the Unisoft software can import from Altium Designer is the Protel PCB 2.8 ASCII format. To export the Protel PCB 2.8 ASCII format from the SAVE AS menu on the Altium Designer CAD system choose the Protel PCB 2.8 ASCII format. This file will import correctly into the Unisoft software. The Protel file exported will have a .PCB file extension and it should have a .PRO extension if you wish to open it with the Unisoft standard OPEN menu. If you use the Unisoft SMART OPEN menu then it does not matter what the extension is and the .PCB extension will import fine.
Note 6:
ODB++ (Valor) -
The Unisoft software can import the ODB++ format. ODB++ is not a
single file format as most CAD files but an array of files in
multiple directories that usually have several levels of zipped files.
To import the ODB++ file into the Unisoft software first make sure the
single .TGZ file that the ODB++ file sometimes comes in is
unzipped. If it is unzip correctly you should see subdirectories
with the names MATRIX, STEPS, FONTS, SYMBOLS, etc.
Next from the Unisoft software click FILE from the main menu then click
SMART OPEN and select the root directory where the ODB++ files are
located then click OPEN and click OK. Click OK to close the
Costing window and your PC Board is displayed.
Note 7:
X-Y Component center and rotation file -
An X Y Center and rotation (XYR) file is any file containing component X Y center
and rotation information. This type of file in the correct format can be
imported into the Unisoft software and is useful in creating Assembly
and AOI machine programs. Our customers may find a file with similar
data to that found in the XYR in their project CAD and BOM data folder.
They can then use that file to import
into the Unisoft software.
For example it may look like any variation of
the following:
R19
-5.375
-0.95 180
R20
-5.5
-1.225 270
R22
-5.5
-0.95 90
R23
-4.625
-1.225 0
R24
-4.625
-0.95
180
R25
-4.75
-1.225 0
Please note that it is always preferable to use the other full CAD files listed above and not a XYR file as your first choice for importing into the Unisoft software.
For more details on XYR importing
please see the file xyr_file_importing_specification.txt
located in your Unisoft default installation directory
c:\program files\unisoft .
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- ProntoGERBER CONNECTION imports raw Gerber data and allows the user to add intelligent information to the shapes on the display. This smart data is then used directly by the other UniSOFT FACTORY software modules or export to standard ASCII file formats for use by other manufacturing systems.
