7 Replies Latest reply on Feb 21, 2018 11:36 PM by k.r.kabaleeswaran

Allegro to PADS Conversion

ritu Feb 13, 2018 2:26 AM

We are trying the conversion of Allegro .brd file to PADS as per the manual "Allegro to PADS Translation Guide" by Mentor Graphics.

While preparing the Board file for translation, we could run the script.

However, the translation was not successful and we got the following error for multiple components in the design:

"ERROR: Unable to issue shapes for padstack R35_200 - layer problems"

Kindly let us know how we can resolve these errors and obtain a successful conversion to use the design in PADS.

For your reference, the following are attached :

a) The manual referred by us for conversion.

b) Allegro Board file (.brd)

c) log file generated as a result which contains the errors in conversion.

Best Regards,

Ritu

1. Re: Allegro to PADS Conversion

k.r.kabaleeswaran Feb 16, 2018 9:12 AM (in response to ritu)

Hi ,
I tried allegro to pads conversion. but I got same issue like this. while conversion pad are consider as shape in allegro.so better use third part tool like altium.
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2. Re: Allegro to PADS Conversion

wheelspcb Feb 16, 2018 10:04 AM (in response to ritu)

I also tried allegro to pads conversion and also had a padstack error. Turns out it was a defect with the translator. Mentor did the translation for us as it would not work with my version.
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3. Re: Allegro to PADS Conversion

ritu Feb 19, 2018 12:11 AM (in response to wheelspcb)

So,was it because of the version issue?
Version of Allegro or Mentor? Please share the details if possible.
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4. Re: Allegro to PADS Conversion

ritu Feb 19, 2018 12:12 AM (in response to k.r.kabaleeswaran)

Please elaborate, how the third party tools like Altium can be used for Allegro to PADS Translation?
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5. Re: Allegro to PADS Conversion

wheelspcb Feb 20, 2018 7:23 AM (in response to ritu)

It was called a defect with the PADS to Allegro translator in version VX2.1.Defect number is | #01276396. Send your file to support and have them help you with the translation.
Look like it is going to be fixed in pending release.
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6. Re: Allegro to PADS Conversion

ritu Feb 20, 2018 9:38 PM (in response to k.r.kabaleeswaran)

Hi
How successful is the translation using Altium? What major differences did you observe in the final converted PADS Design?
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7. Re: Allegro to PADS Conversion

k.r.kabaleeswaran Feb 21, 2018 11:36 PM (in response to ritu)

Hi ritu,
Kindly follow the below method,but you can copy only traces from conversiton of Board database.
to convert the PADS layout to allegro board file.
1.export the PADS Layout Ascii file (better export in 2005 as shown in image file
2.after that open the cadence allegro--->PCB Editor utilities.select the path of .asc file and new allegro board file.and then assign the path of layer
3.cadence board file generated.
i did like that.
if you want to do conversion for allegro to pads you need altium as third part tool.
import the allegro board file in altium ( to be create new project file in altium after that only you can import the allegro board file.)
altium board database created.after that you can import the altium board file into Pads layout.
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