Converting third-party designs to Allegro. Existing and not existing CAD Translators and/or methods of translation.

Transcription

1 Title: Product: Summary: Converting third-party designs to Allegro OrCAD / Allegro PCB Editor Existing and not existing CAD Translators and/or methods of translation. Author/Date: Sylvia Holste / 30.Sep.2010 Table of Contents 1 Introduction Available CAD Translators Mentor Board Station Mentor PADS OrCAD Layout PCAD FlowCAD Converter Methods of translation Altium Currently not available CAD Translators Eagle Mentor Expedition Zuken... 7 Converting Designs Page 1 von 8

2 1 Introduction This document gives an overview of how and which third-party designs could be imported or not into PCB Editor. 2 Available CAD Translators See also Allegro User Guide: Transferring Logic Design Data on Chapters: - Optimizing the Use of Layout Editor Converters - Troubleshooting Translation Issues 2.1 Mentor Board Station For translating Board Station database an Allegro PCB SI license is needed. Import can be performed by Import > Cad Translators > Mentor Please find description in Allegro User Guide: Transferring Logic Design Data, chapter The Mentor-to-Allegro PCB Editor Translators Does Cadence support a Mentor Graphics to Allegro translator? (SolutionNo: ) Mentor Boardstation database mostly compiled of ASCII and Binary files. We use mbs2lib and mbs2brd utility to convert its symbols and layout to Allegro database. 1. Translating Mentor PCB libraries Mentor (BoardStation only) geometries translation to Allegro symbols is achieved through running the executable mbs2lib. This utility is included with the Allegro install and does not require any additional license. 2. Translating Mentor PCB designs Mentor (BoardStation) layouts can be translated to an Allegro.brd file by using the executable mbs2brd. This utility is included in the SpecctraQuest install and does not require an additional license. Reference Solution for details of the ASCII files required for the mbs2brd translator. Which Mentor ASCII files are required for mbs2brd translation? (SolutionNo: ) Converting Designs Page 2 von 8

3 The following is a list of the Mentor required and optional ASCII files to run the "mbs2brd" translator. Note: All files must be in ASCII format. All of these files except the "geoms_ascii" are written in ASCII format. Mentor saves geometry information in binary format in a file named geoms.geoms_#. Before running the MBS2BRD translator write or request geometry information (geoms.geoms_#) be saved in one ASCII file format named "geoms_ascii". This may be accomplished using the GUI "File -> Save -> ASCII geometries..." Example: - File -> Save -> ASCII geometries... The "Save ASCII Geometries" form will appear. - Select "All Geometries" - Select "One file" Enter the file name "geoms_ascii" - Click "ok" You could also type one of the following commands sav as g <filename> Mentor required and optional ASCII files: geoms_ascii_file (Required) Mentor ascii geometries file containing image definitions, board outline, keepout and keepin areas, and rules. tech_file (Required) Mentor tech.tech_# file containing layer stackup definitions and rules. nets_file (Required) Mentor nets.nets_# file containing the net list. comps_file (Required) Mentor comps.comps_# file containing component placement information. gates_file (Optional) Mentor gates.gates_# file containing gate and pin swapping data. pins_file (Optional) Mentor pins.pins_# file containing pin properties. traces_file (Optional) Mentor traces.traces_# file containing preroute, area fill, and high speed topology specifications. testpoints_file (Optional) Mentor testpoints.testpoints_# file containing testpoint generation information. Converting Designs Page 3 von 8

4 2.2 Mentor PADS Cadence only supports PADS 2007 version translation of database. For 2009 and above an enhancement CCR was already filed. Import can be performed by Import > Cad Translators > PADS Please find description in Allegro User Guide: Transferring Logic Design Data, chapter The PowerPCB and Pads Layout Interface Additional information can be found in at Cadence Sourcelink. onnotes/silicon-package-board_co-design/pads2allegro_appnote.pdf 2.3 OrCAD Layout Import can be performed by Import > Cad Translators > OrCAD Layout Please find description in Allegro User Guide: Transferring Logic Design Data, chapter OrCAD Layout to Allegro Allegro PCB Editor Translator The translator converts designs (.max files) created in Layout to design databases (.brd files) that can be read by Allegro PCB Editor. For synchronizing Capture.dsn File also, please use Converter described in Layout to PCB Editor Migration Guide. 2.4 PCAD Import can be performed by Import > Cad Translators > PCAD Please find description in Allegro User Guide: Transferring Logic Design Data, chapter The PCAD Translator The translator reads PCAD version 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 PDIF database files and writes an Allegro PCB Editor board database. Due to format differences, other versions of PDIF files cannot be read. 2.5 FlowCAD Converter Converting Designs Page 4 von 8

5 FlowCAD wrote several converters as a plug-in to Allegro PCB Editor. Converters are reading design files and creating an Allegro library. Footprints are getting translated exactly and new data will be integrated into an intelligent Allegro format. FlowCAD Cades_g Converter Cades_g used to be a PCB Tool of CIM Team, before joining Zuken FlowCAD Visula Converter Visula used to be a PCB Tool of Racal-Redac, before joining Zuken FlowCAD Integra Converter Integra used to be a PCB Tool of Mentor Graphics 3 Methods of translation 3.1 Altium In Altium Designer select: - Save Project As: Export OrCAD Capture Design (.dsn) o for opening directly in Capture AND/OR - File > Save As: Export Protel PCB 2.8 ASCII (.pcb) o for importing into OrCAD Layout (File > Import > Protel PCB) o saving as.max File o importing.max File into PCB Editor (File > Import > CAD Translators > OrCAD Layout) o saving as.brd File Note: Altium License Winter 09, OrCAD Layout 10.5, PCB Editor 16.x is required here 4 Currently not available CAD Translators 4.1 Eagle For Eagle to Allegro, no translator is available. Customer can approach third party software to convert these formats to Allegro. Note: Cadence does not have any responsibility of above conversion. Choosing third party converter is solely decision of customer. Converting Designs Page 5 von 8

6 When no direct translator or translation method is existing, an Allegro Design could be also created manually based on importing Gerber Data: - Importing Netlist (third party) - Importing Artwork (gerber data) - Placing Components - Tools > Derive Connectivity Converting Designs Page 6 von 8

7 4.2 Mentor Expedition Allegro does not have a translator for Expedition products (Solution_No: ) Enhancement CCR is existing, which is in inactive state. 4.3 Zuken For Zuken to Allegro, translator was there in pre 14.0 version, but it was removed later. So no direct translator is available. Cadence Use and support policy for the 13.x Visula translator (Solution ID: ) Note: The Visula interface was discontinued with release This solution is for historic purposes only. The Cadence position regarding the Allegro Visula interface The Visula interface was written when Redac was popular and the demand for the interface existed. It has been maintained rather than end of lifed for 2 reasons: 1 - There are customers who continue to bring old data out of archive and convert it. 2 - There are sales that continue to rely on this interface providing some form of data conversion. The interface may not fully convert all data. It is not widely used, and it relies on an older form of output from the Visula system. This translator continues to ship (unlicensed) primarily for existing customers who have used it successfully. Because of the extremely limited use, a high priority has not been given to fixing incoming bugs. Also, as with any translator, they are never perfect and in most cases require customization for your specific design process. If the translator does not create a complete database, or if assistance is required, we suggest that customers contact the local Cadence sales representative to discuss options to help get a customized working translation environment in place. This would require resources from the Cadence design services group. An alternative is that customers have the option of purchasing Visula interface tools from third party vendors, or they can attempt to manually create an intelligent database by importing netlists, gerber files and executing derive connectivity. Regarding support from the hotline, and updates to the program: In order to make the program execute on all data, using any platform, a rewrite of the program would be required. Due to the small demand from the customer base to enhance or update this interface, Cadence has not scheduled a re-write at this time. The hotline AE's may offer limited assistance with this interface. AE's will write PCR enhancements and non P0 bugs for customers who call in with problems related to the interface. PCR's will be marked LONGTERM as the schedule and changed if customer demand changes. Customers can use the existing software, by executing as follows: - Execute with Field reordering option Converting Designs Page 7 von 8

8 - Execute in batch mode This is because the program was written as a batch program requiring 2 to 3 input files. The batch command is: visula_in -c central.dat -l central.asc -j design.asc central.asc is the Visula library design.asc is the Visula design file central.dat is the field re-ordering file containing these 3 records: sym_alt 3 sym_term_pos 6 " " Following the batch run, the database requires careful examination. The stack up and padstacks should be examined and modified if needed. Complete failure can occur when a non-supported version of Visula input data is used. The interface is specific in how it processes the TABLE sections of the data, and unsupported versions of Visula input data do not contain the same TABLE section data as the version 3.51 data which was used to model the interface. Cadence doc refers to a supported version 5.x. Redac renumbered this to 3.5 when they created Visula expert and Visula engineer. Again, when the translator doesn't perform to 100%, the alternative suggestions should be considered, in addition to asking the hotline to record a PCR about the problems found. Converting Designs Page 8 von 8