PADS to Pro/E and SolidWorks Hole Exchange Script

[Tom Frayda]

Attached is a script I wrote that allows all thru-holes and/or vias to be exchanged between PADS and Pro/E or SolidWorks by automatically updating the emn file with those locations. The script must also be run before importing the file(s) back into PADS in order to remove the holes it added (otherwise redundant holes will appear in the PADS design). Detailed description is in the included read-me file.

This has been tested by several people using both Pro/E and SolidWorks on both Win98 and W2K and I believe all known issues have been addressed (thanks to all who helped). However, if you should come across any problems, please let me know. Enjoy!


+Tom

[Lameris]

Very nice...

Now please explain why can't Mentor integrate this into the IDF export?

Gary

[Tom Frayda]

A minor bug with the script has been identified and confirmed. This primarily affects international users.

The Format$ command I made use of in the script uses the Decimal Symbol that is specified in the Regional Settings=>Number tab in Windows Control Panel. International users often specify a comma rather than a decimal point as the Decimal Symbol. As a result, the script formats all numbers for the holes in this fashion, which apparently is not understood by the CAD applications.

For now, work-arounds are either changing the Decimal Symbol you use to be a decimal point instead of a comma or doing a find and replace on the emn file from a text editor to manually change the commas to decimal points.

This is something I plan to correct as soon as time allows. I apologize for any inconvenience.


+Tom

[Tom Frayda]

Updated script with compensation for alternate decimal symbols and improved handling of single pin component holes that lack the HOLE attribute.

I will endeavor to address any further issues, should they arise, as time allows.

Enjoy!



+Tom

[luxell]

Hi Tom i hear you have this little program so i can put holes in my pcb board for solidworks. i downloaded the file but when i try to run the file it asks me which software program does it use to open your file so how do i run the program

Thanks

Tom

[Tom Frayda]

It's a VBScript to be run from within PADS.

Open PADS, choose Tools=>Basic Scripting=>Basic Scripts, click Load File, browse to the script and click Open. Run it from the main Basic Scripts window.

I also like to check the "In Menu" box on the Basic Scripts main window so that the selected script is shown on the menu when you go into Tools=>Basic Scripting.


Tom

[luxell]

thanks i'll try that

Tom

[Victor Tejeda]

Thanks for the script. I am new to Solidworks, but do have v2004, newbie. Please explain the emn file. Is this a file I create in Solidworks somehow? Also does your script have, or can it have provisions to export the board outline? This would be great.

Victor

[Tom Frayda]

The emn and emp comprise the IDF (Intermediate Data Format) files for the transfer of 3D data.

Effectively, the emn contains the information for the board outline and features (such as holes) and the emp contains the component information.

These files are not generated by my script. They are generated via an export using the "Pro/E Link" module in PADS, the ECAD module in Pro/E, or (I believe) the CircuitWorks module in SolidWorks. To my knowledge, all of these modules are extra $$ and both the PADS and Pro/E or SolidWorks modules are required if you are to share 3D information between the two applications.

All my script does is manipulate an existing emn file to add to it hole information for pins and/or vias that the PADS module does not include.

I hope this helps to clarify the situation.


Tom

[Victor Tejeda]

Many thanks for your reply.
It seems that I do have the Pro_E module for Powerpcb, and can export a "EMN" file, however cannot seem to import into Solidworks. The "EMP" or "EMN" extensions are not recognized by any of Solidworks import types.
I do have a ProE extension but is expecting a "Prt" extension.
Thanks anyways.

Victor

[Tom Frayda]

Yeah, to import the IDF files into SolidWorks, you also need the CircuitWorks module (I'm 99% sure about this, but I am not a SolidWorks user).

Likewise, to import the IDF files into Pro/E, you also need the ECAD module.


Tom