Protel files in the following formats can be opened in Pulsonix:

  • Protel PCB and Schematic designs and Schematic libraries exported in ASCII format.

  • Protel PCB footprint libraries can be opened in their Binary library format.

  • Versions - Protel 98, Protel 99, Protel 99 SE and Protel DXP (2002).

    Note: Protel DOS and Protel V2.x and 3.x formats are not supported. Please contact your local sales office to check for alternative solutions.)

  • Library types supported are for: Schematic Symbols and PCB Footprints, and Parts libraries. Protel 98 to Protel 99 SE only.

Exporting / Importing Data from Altium

To import Altium files, please refer to the Altium Interface help page.

Exporting Data from Protel

Protel designs and libraries are held in databases. The databases must be opened and then the designs or libraries that you wish to export must be opened individually.

Exporting Footprint Libraries From Protel

Protel Footprint libraries cannot be exported in ASCII. However, they can be used in their binary format and Pulsonix is capable of converting these binary libraries (DXP excluded).

To Export a Footprint library file from Protel

  1. From within Protel, from the File menu option select Open.
  2. Choose the database that contains the required PCB footprint libraries to open.
  3. When the database is opened, from the database folder select the library you want to export.
  4. Open it by either selecting Open from the context menu or by double clicking on the name.
  5. Select Save As from the File menu.
  6. Save it as the name that you want to call the binary file.
  7. This should be repeated for all the libraries in the database that are required.

Exporting Parts and Schematic Symbol Libraries From Protel

The Schematic Symbol and Part data are held within the same Library.

To Export a Part/Symbol library file from Protel

  1. From within Protel, from the File menu option select Open.
  2. Choose the database which contains the schematic libraries that you want to open.
  3. When the database is opened, from the database folder select the library you want to export.
  4. Open it by either selecting Open from the context menu or by double clicking it.
  5. Select Save As from the File menu.
  6. Select Advanced Schematic ascii library (*.asc) from the Format drop down list.
  7. Save it as the name that you want to call the ASCII file.
  8. This can be repeated for all the libraries in the database.

Exporting PCB designs From Protel

To Export a PCB design file from Protel

  1. From within Protel, from the File menu option select Open.
  2. Choose the database which contains the PCB design that you want to open.
  3. When the database is opened, from the database folder find the folder that contains the designs
  4. Open the design by either selecting Open from the context menu or by double clicking it.
  5. Select Save As from the File menu.
  6. Select PCB ASCII file (*.pcb) from the Format drop down list.
  7. Save it as the name that you want to call the ASCII file.

Exporting Schematic designs From Protel

Schematic designs can be made up of many design files, which may be controlled by a design project file. To successfully transfer a schematic design all the design files must be exported. If there is a project file controlling the Schematic design and you export this and all the other schematic design files with their correct name, then the whole Schematic design can read into Pulsonix just by opening the ASCII version of the project file.

To Export a Schematic design file or project from Protel

  1. From within Protel, from the File menu option select Open
  2. Choose the database which contains the Schematic design files that you want to open.
  3. When the database is opened, from the database folder select the folder that contains the designs.
  4. Open it by either selecting Open from the context menu or by double clicking it.
  5. Select Save As from the File menu.
  6. Select Advanced Schematic ASCII (*.asc) from the Format drop down list.
  7. Save it as the same name as it is called in the database.

Saved Filenames

Quite often Protel will not save the file with the name that you asked it to. The name will have either the words “Backup of ” or “Copy of ” added at the start of the name that you chose. This is not a problem when saving libraries or PCB designs, but when importing multiple design file Schematic designs into Pulsonix the filenames have to be correct, so you may need to rename these files to their correct name using the File Explorer.

The above problem does not exist with the Protel DXP system. In DXP the extensions are pcbdoc and schdoc.

Importing Protel Designs into Pulsonix

Using the import mechanism, the principle is the same for both Schematic and PCB designs:

  1. Drag and drop the ASCII file onto the open Pulsonix application where the Protel SCM Import dialog or Protel PCB Import dialog will be presented.
  2. Alternatively, from the File menu in Pulsonix, select Open. Again, the Import dialog will be displayed.
  3. 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.
  4. 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 Protel 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 Protel layers and names will be used. These can be edited in the Layers dialog in the Technology once imported.

Importing Protel Libraries into Pulsonix

For importing libraries, you can either use the library files if they have been exported or you can use a design to create a library of just the design based library items. The principle is the same in both instances. Once exported in ASCII, this file can then be imported into Pulsonix Part and Symbol libraries.

  1. Select the Schematic Symbol or Schematic Design in ASCII format to import first:
  2. In Pulsonix, drag and drop the ASCII file onto the Library Manager where the Save Items To Library dialog will open.
  3. This will create you a Parts Library and Schematic Symbol Library.
  4. You must now add the Footprints to the library so that the Parts can reference them.
  5. Again in Pulsonix, drag and drop the ASCII file onto the Library Manager where the Save Items To Library dialog will open.
  6. 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.
  7. The footprints added to the existing Parts will make up the full library set along with the Schematic Symbols.
  8. If you have used either matching Schematic and PCB designs, or a full complete set of library files, then your Parts will have both Schematic Symbols and PCB Footprints and can be viewed in the Library Manager.

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