PCB Converter for SketchUp

Doesnt work with 3.0 IDF out of Mentor Expedition. Too bad.

Doesn't seem to work with IDF output from Cadence Allegro either.....

Bit of investigation and it seems that the convertor can't cope with multiple spaces between parameters. 

The IDF specification doesn' specify that there must only be one space. Cadence certaintly put multiple spaces in so I guess mentor are as well.

Should be fairly quick and easy to fix........

wrote a quick app to remove the additional spaces. 

Seems thats not the only problem!

Agreed with the above - Not working for Mentor Expedtion, or Boardstation IDF output. Can send sample files if required.

Hi,

i've tested the program with several IDF files. Most out from Cadsoft EAGLE script. And one example file set out of the IDF v3.0 spec (last 5 pages). simplifiedsolutionsinc.com/images/idf_v30_spec.pdf

On all files i get the following error:

"An error has occured importing the board (.IDB) file.
Please refer to the help for more information on supported file types and versions."

Can anyone post a small and working example fileset for testing the program and find the differences?

I'd just like to thank everyone who posted comments and sent us e-mails to let us know about issues you are having.  We are working hard on a solution, and we are hoping to get a new version of the PCB Converter published early next week.

We will, of course, let you know when it's ready.  Until then, please bear with us.

Cheers

"Geek"

Hi,

I tried the PCB Converter but if I use a circle as silkscreen and export the IDF the converter fails to convert this IDF with the following exception:

System.IndexOutOfRangeException: Der Index war außerhalb des Arraybereichs.
   bei RSComponents.IDFConverter.ColladaExtruded..ctor(String name, List`1 points, Single height)
   bei RSComponents.IDFConverter.formMain.Export()
   bei RSComponents.IDFConverter.formMain.buttonExport_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)
   bei System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnClick(EventArgs e)
   bei System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnClick(EventArgs e)
   bei System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mevent)
   bei System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
   bei System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
   bei System.Windows.Forms.ButtonBase.WndProc(Message& m)
   bei System.Windows.Forms.Button.WndProc(Message& m)
   bei System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
   bei System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
   bei System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

It seems that a circle has only 3 type 3 records in the .idl file and the last record is not the same as the first record. If I copy the first type 3 record at the end of the list the exception does not appear.

OK, I can get the rough "skyscraper" style representation of the PCB in Sketchup.

Now the press releases for this tool say "CAD models of products in the RS product range can be downloaded from its website in SketchUp compliant format (*.skp) and used in the tool."  How do I get the tool to use a .skp model for a component type, instead of an extrapolated-outline "skyscraper"?

Hi Everyone,

As a result of everyone's help, we have now released a new version of the PCB Converter for SketchUp.

Version 1.1 addresses the following issues:

1) Fixed a bug involving multiple white spaces between values.2) Fixed a bug which in some cases prevented the final component in the library file from being imported.3) Added more detailed error messages for corrupt file handling and un-supported file versions.4) Fixed a bug in the meshing code which was causing inverted normals on some models.

1) Fixed a bug involving multiple white spaces between values.

2) Fixed a bug which in some cases prevented the final component in the library file from being imported.

3) Added more detailed error messages for corrupt file handling and un-supported file versions.

4) Fixed a bug in the meshing code which was causing inverted normals on some models.

Please download the latest version above and re-install.  The installation will overwrite the old version (as long as you choose the same file location!).

Once again, thanks to everyone for your patience and advice.

Best regards

"Geek"

I still can not open files created by PADS. I have to change file extensions (emn and emp) manually, and the converter complains of a corrupt file. But I have an error message.

Tried it with PADS 9.3 too. Renamed the .emn file to .idb, but no luck.

Hi Alibabob and DaBit,

Would you be happy to share your files with me so we can get our development guys to work?

I have sent you both a connection request.  Please accept the requests, and you can PM me the files.

Many thanks

"Geek"

Hi,

I'm getting the same error "An error has occured importing the board (.IDB) file." with Altium designer. There are a few options where i can choose from:

- version (2.0 or 3.0)

- Units (THOU, MM)

- Export Drilled Holes(All, selected)

- Replace '.' with '_'

- Component Outlines From Multiple Component Bodies (Use Bounding Component Body, Create Sub Components)

- than there are the Exported Sections:DrilledHolesCheck, Board Outline, Placement, Placement Group Area, Placement Keepout, Placement Outline, Routing  Keepout.

Please advise, thanx.

Rob

When i tryed to convert one example of DESIGNSPARK PCB (Analog circuit) i have always the same error:

The version of the selected .IDB is not curently supported.

What is wrong ?

Can somebody helpme ?

Regards

Giorgio

PADS doesn't allow an option to create a .idb file, it's idf board file is always a .emn file, changing the extension doesn't fix it, when I try to convert it I get an error saying the idb file was corrupt. Any ideas how to get a PADS IDF export to work?

PCB Editor (Allegro) can't create a idb file (non industry standart), just idf files. Rename the emn file cannot fix the problem issued in the Converter for Sketchup while importing an idf file. It's a known problem by RS.

I hae just tried to use this with an output from Mentor Expedition  2005 SP3 after changing the extensions I get the error message:

The selected .IDB file appears to be corrupt.

Please refer to the help for more information on supported file types and versions.

Header is as follows:

.HEADER
BOARD_FILE 3.0 "Expedition PCB" 2011/10/04.16:51:03 1
"505_04.pcb" MM
.END_HEADER

Any Ideas?

I have the same problem, I try to import the IDB file for the demo board and the following message appear:

The version of the selected .IDB file is not curently supported.

Please refer to the help for more information on supported file types and versions.

Thanks for this work, I hope to get this bugs fixed

Best regards

Abbas

I've two questions:

For the next release, instead of a simple skyscraper cityscape will be possible to add 3D models (your own if possible) to the output for a more realistic rendering? Currently I'm having to manually import and place them.

Any plans to release the source code for PCB Converter?

Hey, after some hack I've succeeded converting a Mentor Graphics Expedition PCB to sketchup.

Here is the procedure waiting for a fix :

1/ rename both the .emp and .emn files respectively in .idl and .idb

2/ remove all extra spaces in both .idl and .idb files (I used a nice feature of PSPad to do that). It appeared that the converter doesn't like too many spaces between arguments. One is enough ;-)

3/ browse your library file (.idl) for all components having a 1 in the first column. They are circle, and the converter doesn't like them at all. Replace sequences like :

.ELECTRICAL
"Vis3mm" "Vis3mm_trou_3.2mm" MM 2.03200             
1 0.00000             0.00000             0.00000             
1 2.79400             0.00000             360.00000           
.END_ELECTRICAL

with

.ELECTRICAL
"Vis3mm" "Vis3mm_trou_3.2mm" MM 2.03200
0 -1.0 -1.0 0.00000
0 1.0 -1.0 0.00000
0 1.0 1.0 0.00000
0 -1.0 1.0 0.00000
0 -1.0 -1.0 0.00000
.END_ELECTRICAL

It will replace circles by a 2x2 mm square (you can use any other value you want)

4/ use the converter the normal way

5/ Enjoy !

Let me know if I forgot something in the procedure.

Jerome

The converter doesn't work with idf v3.0 export of DesignSpark 3.0. Maybe in the future ?

Thank you for attention.

Rudy

Hi Rudy,

We haven't changed the structure of the IDF file output in DSPCB. I have just retried and for me it's working. Let me know what you're doing and I'll try to help you out.

Cheers, Mark

Like posted above, PADS generates two files: .emp and .emn. Even if renamed to .idl and .idb the converter won't handle these ("The selected .IDB file appears to be corrupt") and I believe it is for the reason that Jerome wrote about 5 weeks ago.

If you still would like to receive a sample, I can send you the files of a "one-component PCB".

I need an FTP site to download the software from. The firewall here will not allow me to directly download with certificates/security issues. Is there a ftp download site, or one created for me to access.  BTW, I am going to attempt to use this software with Expedition 2007.7, 7.9.2, PADS, Altium, and Eagle. Preferred output will be IDF 2.0 and 3.0.

Thanks