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Alexander Salas Bastidas edited this page Jan 7, 2025 · 2 revisions

Software Compatibility Report: PADS Layout ASCII Format

Executive Summary

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of software applications that support the PADS Layout ASCII Format Specification, documenting both import and export capabilities across various Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools. The analysis covers current market offerings from multiple vendors, including industry leaders and specialized solutions. It also delves into the historical context of the format, compatibility considerations, emerging trends, and recommendations for users.

Primary Software Solutions

Siemens EDA Solutions

Siemens EDA, following their acquisition of Mentor Graphics in 2017, maintains the primary development of PADS software and offers the most comprehensive support for the PADS Layout ASCII format.

  • PADS Professional Premium
    • Native support for both PADS Logic and Layout files
    • Complete import and export capabilities
    • Direct manipulation of PADS ASCII format
    • Integrated with Siemens' digital industries software portfolio

Third-Party Commercial Solutions

A variety of third-party commercial solutions provide varying levels of support for the PADS Layout ASCII format. These can be categorized based on their import and export capabilities.

Full Import/Export Support

  1. Altium Designer 1
    • Import capabilities through a dedicated Import Wizard
    • Support for both PADS Logic schematics and Layout PCB files
    • Integration with modern PCB design workflows
  2. Zuken Product Line 3
    • CADSTAR
    • CR-5000
    • CR-8000
    • Comprehensive compatibility with PADS file formats
    • Legacy support dating back to their 1994 acquisition of Racal-Redac
  3. Golden Gate Graphics 6
    • Specialized PCB design project support
    • Compatible with PADS file formats
    • Focus on manufacturing and production requirements

Import-Only Support

  1. Cadence Allegro PCB Designer 7
    • Import of PADS ASCII files through CAD translators
    • Requires a valid Allegro PCB Designer license
    • Supports various PADS ASCII versions

Export-Only Capabilities

  1. DipTrace (Novarm) 10
    • Export functionality to PADS ASCII format
    • Integration with modern PCB design workflows
  2. Micro-Cap 12
    • Circuit analysis software
    • PADS ASCII export support for further design processing in other EDA tools
  3. Web-Based Solutions
    • EasyEDA Pro 17
      • Cloud-based EDA platform
      • PADS ASCII format import and export capabilities
    • Upverter 19
      • Online schematic and PCB design platform
      • Support for PADS ASCII format export
  4. Open Source Solutions
    • pcb-rnd 23
      • Lightweight PCB design tool
      • PADS ASCII format export support
      • Community-driven development

Historical Context

The PADS Layout ASCII Format has a rich history, evolving over several decades to become a widely recognized standard in the PCB design industry. Here's a timeline of key milestones:
| Year | Event |

Works cited

1. Interfacing to Other Design Tools | Altium Designer 23 Technical Documentation, accessed January 7, 2025, https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/design-tools-interfacing?version=23
2. Easily Migrate from Siemens PADS® to Altium Designer®, accessed January 7, 2025, https://www.altium.com/altium-designer/migrate/siemens-pads
3. Legacy ECAD Data Management and Migration with CR-8000 | Zuken EN, accessed January 7, 2025, https://www.zuken.com/en/blog/legacy-data-management-and-migration-with-cr-8000/
4. Tech-Tip: CR-8000 Design Force – Benefits Of Export/Import Of Data Resource Files - Zuken, accessed January 7, 2025, https://www.zuken.com/us/blog/tech-tip-cr-8000-design-force-benefits-of-export-import-of-data-resource-files/
5. Zuken CR8000/CR5000 - Altair Product Documentation, accessed January 7, 2025, https://help.altair.com/Pollex/topics/pollex/modeler/pcb_zuken_cr8000_r.htm
6. Software Compatibility for PCB Layout and Schematic Capture - Golden Gate Graphics, accessed January 7, 2025, https://www.goldengategraphics.com/gggsoftware.php
7. PADS import Error - PCB Design - PCB Design & IC Packaging (Allegro X) - Cadence Community, accessed January 7, 2025, https://community.cadence.com/cadence_technology_forums/pcb-design/f/pcb-design/36111/pads-import-error
8. 13 Most Used PCB Layout Design Tools - Sierra Circuits, accessed January 7, 2025, https://www.protoexpress.com/blog/10-best-pcb-layout-design-tools-recommended-by-pcb-designers/
9. Which PCB Design Software is the Best? - PCB Libraries Forum, accessed January 7, 2025, https://www.pcblibraries.com/forum/which-pcb-design-software-is-the-best_topic3020.html
10. Any way of extracting pad centre geometry? - DipTrace Forum, accessed January 7, 2025, https://diptrace.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3673
11. Exporting Schematics to PADS - DipTrace Forum, accessed January 7, 2025, https://diptrace.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10185
12. Pads Pro Layout Vx2.3: exporting local cell - SIEMENS Community, accessed January 7, 2025, https://community.sw.siemens.com/s/question/0D54O00006eo5N4SAI/pads-pro-layout-vx23-exporting-local-cell
13. Exporting individual pads(MPC ONE) : r/mpcusers - Reddit, accessed January 7, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/mpcusers/comments/s2jedq/exporting_individual_padsmpc_one/
14. Microcap to PCB - Forum - EasyEDA, accessed January 7, 2025, https://easyeda.com/forum/topic/Microcap-to-PCB-d26cf6ba40ee4e50a24603dcac94b026
15. Micro-Cap to pcb-rnd (schematics/netlist import) - Repo.hu, accessed January 7, 2025, http://repo.hu/cgi-bin/pool.cgi?project=pcb-rnd&cmd=show&node=import_microcap
16. Using Microcap to export PCB netlist? | Electronics Forums - Maker Pro, accessed January 7, 2025, https://maker.pro/forums/threads/using-microcap-to-export-pcb-netlist.28426/
17. Import PADS | EasyEDA Pro User Guide, accessed January 7, 2025, https://prodocs.easyeda.com/en/import-export/import-pads/
18. How To Export .STEP Models from EasyEDA - YouTube, accessed January 7, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxtdHXUi-u0
19. Exporting the schematics for PCB design? - Manufacturing - Upverter Community, accessed January 7, 2025, https://forum.upverter.com/t/exporting-the-schematics-for-pcb-design/22817
20. Export board layer(s) to PDF - Feature Requests - Upverter Community, accessed January 7, 2025, https://forum.upverter.com/t/export-board-layer-s-to-pdf/46014
21. Export schematic and pcb to eagle/altium and other formats - Upverter Community, accessed January 7, 2025, https://forum.upverter.com/t/export-schematic-and-pcb-to-eagle-altium-and-other-formats/63625
22. How to export to Eagle - Projects - Upverter Community, accessed January 7, 2025, https://forum.upverter.com/t/how-to-export-to-eagle/4359
23. pcb-rnd user manual - Repo.hu, accessed January 7, 2025, http://repo.hu/projects/pcb-rnd/user/03_data/index.html
24. pcb-rnd user manual - Repo.hu, accessed January 7, 2025, http://www.repo.hu/projects/pcb-rnd/user/02_model/index.html

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