PADS layout reading needed

[gyraf]

Hi Group,

I'm in need of looking into a handful of layout- and schematic files created (by someone else) on the software "PADS" in a version around 2005.

Do anyone of you have access to PADS, and could you in such case open and -pdf the files for me?

I have already tried with a trial account by Siemens, that runs PADS now - but it turned out impossible to get my own files to load into the remote virtual-machine that the demo is running on..

help?

/Jakob E.

 

[Newmarket]

What ECAD systems are available to you ? Can you import PADS data into them. Altium Designer and Pulsonix come to mind. Likely others that I haven't used ?

 

[gyraf]

My old EasyPC can rudimentarily import two of the pcb layers, but no schematics at all...

 

[elskardio]

Siemens has 3 PCB viewer tools on their website (supposed to support all PADS releases)

https://eda.sw.siemens.com/en-US/pcb/downloads-files/

 

[gyraf]

Thanks - but unfortunately I can only get the Siemens viewer to open layout/pcb files, not at all the .sch schematics..

And I can't get the online tools to import anything at all

 

[pucho812]

You could try kicad…
Search google for pads to kicad conversion. I think some GitHub folks have figured it out.

 

[elskardio]

Apparently the PADS project need to be exported in ASCII format first…

 

[MidnightArrakis]

Hi Group,

I'm in need of looking into a handful of layout- and schematic files created (by someone else) on the software "PADS" in a version around 2005.

Do anyone of you have access to PADS, and could you in such case open and -pdf the files for me?

I have already tried with a trial account by Siemens, that runs PADS now - but it turned out impossible to get my own files to load into the remote virtual-machine that the demo is running on..

help?

/Jakob E.

[Do anyone of you have access to PADS, and could you in such case open and -pdf the files for me?] -- I have and use a licensed copy of the CADENCE/OrCAD "PCB Editor" Release 22.1 PCB-design program and it will import a PADS PCB and schematic file, but.........................ONLY IN THE ASCII file format!!! You need to get to that stage first before anyone else will be able to help you out. Either that, or find somebody who has the PADS PCB program themselves!!!

However, I did come across this, which may help you out:

http://www.elgris.com/content/downl...MIm6XEk-P9_wIVAcrICh0-wgs0EAAYAyAAEgKvUvD_BwE
If you are "really nice" and send the folks at this company a message on the page link up above, they will grant you a 15-day trial of their program, which will not only get you a converted PADS PCB and schematic file converted to an ASCII version, but you may be also able to convert your PADS files over to ALTIUM or CADENCE/OrCAD files, which would then allow someone like -- me -- to easily load-in your files and not only create PDF files for you, but also be able to modify/update your files as necessary!!! WOO-HOO!!!

Give it a try, OK???

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[john12ax7]

I have an old copy that might work.

Are they .pcb and .sch files?

 

[Admiral-dk]

Hej Jakob
I have sendt you a PM + an SMS (and only now discovers that you posted the original question back in April - and we have met twice since, without talking about this ) ....
I have a newer version that can read that format without problems - BUT it will upgrade the files to the newer format while doing so ...!!!
I can print them all in .pdf for you or convert them to some of the other Pro PCB CAD formats (but not many), with what I have access to.

Let me know if you still need help.

Per

 

[MidnightArrakis]

Perhaps this -- TRANSLATION -- program may be able to assist you!!! OR.....maybe one or more members of this forum may find this software to be useful to them!!! Check this OUT!!!

ACE 2D/3D Translator - Convert DXF, GDSII, Gerber, G-Code, SVG,
Postscript, PDF, ODB++, TIFF, BITMAP, 3D STEP, STL, & more

https://www.numericalinnovations.com/blogs/news/ace-translator-3000-includes-over-150-translators
I have personally used a couple of the programs that this company offers and I can certainly attest that their programs REALLY do the job!!!

/

 

[MidnightArrakis]

Hej Jakob
I have sendt you a PM + an SMS (and only now discovers that you posted the original question back in April - and we have met twice since, without talking about this ) ....
I have a newer version that can read that format without problems - BUT it will upgrade the files to the newer format while doing so ...!!!
I can print them all in .pdf for you or convert them to some of the other Pro PCB CAD formats (but not many), with what I have access to.

Let me know if you still need help.

Per

[it will upgrade the files to the newer format while doing so] -- If you give the imported PADS file a new name when you either "SAVE" the file or create any GERBER files, then the original PADS file should remain the same, no???

[convert them to some of the other Pro PCB CAD formats] -- Can you convert to a "CADENCE/OrCAD" PCB and schematic file format? If not, could you create a set of GERBER and N/C Drill files and send them to me? If so, then I could import them into my GERBER-editing program and perform a set of "GERBER DRC" routines on them, which will reveal any fabrication or manufacturing errors within the GERBER files. I've already done this for another member of this forum and my GERBER-editing program discovered errors within his files that he wasn't even aware of existing!!! But, I went ahead and corrected all of the issues that my program had found and then sent him all-new GERBER and N/C Drill data files of which he then had 100 PCB's fabricated from and WAS HE EVER HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS!!! Just sayin'.....

/

 

[FIX]

I have Altium and it can import and export most formats, PCB is easy, sometimes the SCH doesn’t have a lot of options. Feel free to send the two files to me. Let me know what format they are now as well. And then let me know what output format you need.

 

[MidnightArrakis]

Hi Group,

I'm in need of looking into a handful of layout- and schematic files created (by someone else) on the software "PADS" in a version around 2005.

Do anyone of you have access to PADS, and could you in such case open and -pdf the files for me?

I have already tried with a trial account by Siemens, that runs PADS now - but it turned out impossible to get my own files to load into the remote virtual-machine that the demo is running on..

help?

/Jakob E.

[Do anyone of you have access to PADS] -- Were you able to ever make any progress on getting your PADS PCB file imported? I offered to import your files into my CADENCE/OrCAD program back in Post #8. I have recently upgraded my CADENCE/OrCAD software to "Release 23.1" earlier this month, so I am willing to give your PADS files a shot of being imported into my software, but ya gotta send me some PADS files first!!! Just send me whatever you have, OK??? Maybe my latest CADENCE software doesn't require using the PADS "ASCII" file format. I don't know.

How's it going???

/

 

[Admiral-dk]

I met Jakob in person and got the files directly from him (a few times, since my last reply) - BUT not one of my older PADS programs will open the Schematics and the PCB Layout only opens one of the Layers - With Errors in the file - Oh and the newer version will not read the files at all ....

Per

 

[MidnightArrakis]

I met Jakob in person and got the files directly from him (a few times, since my last reply) - BUT not one of my older PADS programs will open the Schematics and the PCB Layout only opens one of the Layers - With Errors in the file - Oh and the newer version will not read the files at all ....

Per

Well..........if you want to send me whatever it is that you have got now, I will give it a shot to see if your files will import into my CADENCE software. Can't hurt to try, huh???

/

 

[Admiral-dk]

It is NOT me who has a problem / needed them opened ....

Per