Automation of Report writer IPC Netlist.

You can also run the ipc356b.exe in a command line mode by sending it a command like:

C:\MentorGraphics\2005EXP\SDD_HOME\common\win32\_bin\ipc356b.exe -pcb <Design Path>\<Design Name>.pcb

This could be done with a batch file or with vb commands. It will generate the ipc file in the output directory of the design.

The use of sendkeys has always seemed very complicated and unpredictable to me.  There is a lot of guessing for how long things will take, then if your machine is slow the code won't work.

I've been doing the above with a batch file I edit for each design, and am planning to write something up that will do it in a more automated fashion.  I'll post it in here when I do.

-Patrick

Hi Patrick,

I like the idea of using the ipc356.exe file. What about the database that ipc uses. I tried to run dbauto.exe with an argument of vbpcb=<design file>. But, dbauto doesn't seem to do anything. When I run it without the argument, it asks for the design name and then runs the database. So basically, I am looking for the arguments for both dbauto.exe or dbcreate.exe and ipc356.exe. I did try the sendkeys method. It works part of the time, which is not good enough.

Thanks,

Andrea

we run in a Perl program:

$ENV{SDD_COMMON_BIN}\dbauto.exe vbpcb=driveletter:\full\path\PCB\name.pcb

$ENV{SDD_HOME}\wg\win32\bin\ipc356.exe driveletter:\full\path\PCB\vbreport\output\VBPCBP.mdc

HTH

Hello,

I can't get ipc356.exe to read the mdc file using the following format. A form opens asking for the location of the mdc database. Is there supposed to be an option switch (such as -database)? What version of Mentor are you using the script below? We are at EE7.9.2 Update 7.

$ENV{SDD_HOME}\wg\win32\bin\ipc356.exe driveletter:\full\path\PCB\vbreport\output\VBPCBP.mdc

Thanks!

JB

$ENV{SDD_HOME} is the way to bring SDD_HOME path from the environment variable when writing a Perl program.

maybe replace it with something like "c:\mentorgraphics\7.9.2EE\SDD_HOME"  or %SDD_HOME%  depending on your installation and application.

HTH

It is finding the executable ok but not the database file. The following works with the "-DB=" option although it brings up the IPC form. Is there a way to run this without the form appearing?

C:\MentorGraphics\7.9.2EE\SDD_HOME\wg\win32\bin\ipc356.exe -DB="designPath\PCB\vbreport\output\VBPCBP.mdc"

JB

How about just creating the report directly inside Expedition.

-kendall

JB, I don't know how to skip the selection of the mdc.

Kendall, well if one doesn't want to open the application, just run an automation program to produce all files.

To summarize there are several solutions. Solution 1 runs existing Mentor executables to create the IPC356 netlist and requires the user to OK the IPC356 form. Solution 2 is code, provided by Kendall in a previous reply, to extract data from an Expedition design and write the IPC356 netlist format thus getting around the problem of having the user OK a form. Fablink XE or XE PRo licenses are not needed for either of these solutions.

Solution 1

# the following creates the Report Writer database, VBPCBP.mdc, in designPath\PCB\vbreport\output

#designPath is the full path to the design folder (c:\myproject\mydesign)

C:\MentorGraphics\7.9.2EE\SDD_HOME\wg\win32\bin\dbauto.exe vbpcb=designPath\pcb\design.pcb

#the fllowing uses the Report Writer database to create the IPC356 netlist also in designPath\PCB\vbreport\output

C:\MentorGraphics\7.9.2EE\SDD_HOME\wg\win32\bin\ipc356.exe -DB="designPath\PCB\vbreport\output\VBPCBP.mdc"

Solution 2

see a previous reply by Kendall for a zip file of VBS code to write the IPC356 format.

Thanks HTH and Kendall for yout input!

JB

Hi Kendall,

when you release a new version of AATK ?

Best regards

Bolis Bortolo

Kendall,

Should I let it bother me that your ipc356.vbs generates an IPC-356 that looks quite different from the one that Expedition PCB generates from the File->Export->IPC-D-356B menu?  I don't know enough about the file format and 3rd party usage of the file to know one way or the other.

Also is it possible to use a replay file to automate this menu similar to how AATK automates the Mitron Gencad output?  How does the replay file work or where is it documented?

Thanks

Thad Schultz

The IPC-356 in AATK writes is 356-A, Expedition writes 356-B, report writer writes the old format IPC (no revision, this one is useless, it does not support micro vias or round pads).

I looked at the Engines type library and the IPC is not exposed.

The replay commands are not document and in fact the reply command is not supported in automation.  You could not use Reply for this menu reliably because it has too many options.

See if you vendor can take the version in AATK and you can just use my code.  If not your stuck outputting it from Expedition by hand.

--kendall

Does this not exists for win64?  I was looking for an automated way to run ipc, however I don't see the .exe anywhere in the 64bit version I'm using.