Documentation

Importing Altium Designer Files

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Altium Designer files can be imported into Pulsonix:

  • Altium Designer PCB and Schematic designs in ASCII format
  • Library import is not supported as Altium does not have an ASCII export facility. However, it is possible to import designs to create the three library types: Parts libraries, Schematic Symbols and PCB Footprints.

Exporting / Importing Data from Protel

To Export and Import Protel files, please refer to the Protel Interface help page.

Exporting and Importing Data from Altium Designer

Exporting and Importing Designs

Altium Designer designs are held in databases. The databases must be exported in ASCII format for converting into Pulsonix format.

  1. To export an Altium Designer PCB design, use File > Export.
  2. Select the P-CAD ASCII option and save the file.
  3. To export an Altium Designer Schematic design, use File > Export.
  4. Select the P-CAD V16 Schematic Design ASCII option and save the file.
  5. Drag and drop the ASCII file onto the open Pulsonix application where the Altium SCM Import dialog or Altium PCB Import dialog will be presented.
  6. Alternatively, use the File > Open dialog or Data Transfer Wizard to import your designs.
  7. If there is a project file (.prjpcb) file, then drag it onto the Pulsonix application and it will process all the sheets of the Schematic. However, the project file contents may need the Document Paths within this file to be amended to ensure it can find the individual documents of the Schematic.
  8. Once designs have been successfully imported, they will behave like a native Pulsonix designs.

Use Layer Mapping

If you have selected a Technology file during Import, you can also select Use Layer Mapping. This will allow you to map the Altium layers to the Pulsonix layers specified in the Technology. When checked, the Layer Mapping dialog will be activated before the import starts. If this check box is not selected, then the Altium layers and names will be used. These can be edited in the Layers dialog in the Technology once imported.

Exporting and Importing Libraries

Libraries cannot be exported directly as Altium does not have an ASCII export facility. However, there is a mechanism to collect library data and import it:

  1. Create a Schematic design in Altium with all the Parts that you wish to export to Pulsonix.
  2. Save it as ASCII as above (for a design).
  3. You can create one master schematic with all your Parts or you could use an existing design and run this process on each design to build it up.
  4. Once exported in ASCII, this file can then be imported into Pulsonix Part and Symbol libraries
  5. Drag and drop the ASCII file onto the Library Manager where the Save Items To Library dialog will open.
  6. This dialog enables you to select the library and Parts or Symbols to import. This helps you manage the items being imported.
  7. For a PCB design, add the Parts and Footprints that you wish to export to Pulsonix footprint libraries.
  8. In Pulsonix, drag and drop the ASCII file onto the Library Manager where the Save Items To Library dialog will open.
  9. This time though, only choose Footprints from the list and uncheck Parts as you already have these as imported when you ran this option on the Schematic design.
  10. The footprints added to the existing Parts will make up the full library set along with the Schematic Symbols.

Protel Interface | Altium SCM Import Dialog | Altium PCB Import Dialog | Open | Layer Mapping | Data Transfer Wizard | Save Items To Library | Library Manager

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