altium schematic translator - capture
TRANSCRIPT
Altium Schematic Translator - Capture
April 2018
2 Cadence Design Systems, Inc. , Cadence Confidential
Altium Schematic Translator – Capture
Translates Altium schematics to OrCAD Capture
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Prerequisites: ASCII Schematic
Schematic has to be saved to ASCII format within Altium.
This will replace the original binary file by its ASCII
equivalent. Location and file extension is the same.
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Prerequisites: Imperial Unit System
Due to the fact Capture supports only Imperial Units AND
finest resolution of 10 mils ONLY Altium schematic elements
which NOT exceeds this 10 mil finest resolution restriction will
be correctly mapped to Capture.
In Order to avoid false Graphical and
Logical representation after translation it
is highly recommended to setup Altium
Unit System accordingly bevor starting
the translation:
Cadence recommends for pin spacing
a grid of 100 mil at least 50 mil space.
Other graphic elements have to stay
in the limits of 10 mil resolution.
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Prerequisites: Project structure
Schematics can be translated only if they are embedded in a PCB project (*.PrjPCB) which manages the design
documents needed to manufacture a PCB design.
Furthermore a valid structure file (*.PrjPCBStructure) is
needed. It will be generated after compiling the PCB project and references the individual schematic pages (*.SchDoc).
If the project file does not exist:
− Select File » New » Project from the menus, the New Project dialog will
open. From the list of available project types, choose PCB Project
− Add the schematic documents *.SchDoc to the project
− Compile the project (e.g. RMB » Compile PCB Project)
− For more documentation about setting up PCB projects refer to Altium
documentation.
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Project structure example
Each schematic page *.SchDoc is saved in ASCII format.
Project file *.PrjPCB acts as project master.
File *.PrjPCBStructure has references to schematic.
pages (relative path).
File *.PcbDoc is only needed when PCB has to be
translated.
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Running the translator
Launch Altium-Capture translator
− Select Altium project file .prjPCB
− Specify output directory for OrCAD project
− Translate
Once finished open the project and check schematic for
translation errors
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Running the translator cont.
Altium-Capture translator support all three
Design Modes
− Single Page Design: instead .prjPCB select
.SchDoc File.
− Multipage Flat Design: Now Translator will
recognize a flat schematic structure with or
without a structure file given.
− Hierarchical Design: Altium Schematic with this
kind of design methodology will need a structure
file in order to figure out the root drawing.
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Synchronize with PCB
If you plan to translate a complete project including PCB
− Run Tools – Create Netlist and specify an empty database
− Open this database with PCB Editor
− Within PCB Editor run Altium-PCB translator and navigate again to .prjPCB file. The translator will retain netlist and device logic and
translate only the remaining data in order to complete the board.
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Notes:
In order to get right design hierarchy structure in translated designs, it is mandatory to provide file
along with .
Otherwise translator couldn’t figure out which is the top / root
drawing in cadence project. In case structure file is not
present, set the root drawing in the translated schematic
before creating a netlist.
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Limitations:
1. Harness is currently NOT supported. Implementation will
follow in one of the next releases.
2. A block references several schematic documents. We have
never seen this before. Short term solution: add additional
block.
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Limitations:
1. ASCII does not contain full information about used frame
sizes.
Only Custom style information will be included into the ASCII file for frame sizes.
Press „Use Custom style“ checkbox to update frame size
information.
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Limitations:
1. ASCII does not contain full information about used frame
sizes.
Custom and User selected Default Pages Sizes are alternative
Frame Size setting methods
Selected Frame Size shell be valid for all Pages of a Design
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