Ivor, Camtastic will get your data in verbatim no problem, but it won't be able to make any sense out it regarding components etc - gerber simply doesn't have that information. Don't forget that gerber doesn't even have any info about holes, so you can't expect any linkage in the 'Z' axis.
If you've got a large design, then you'll probably find the tracking quite useful but you'll still have your work cut out reinstating the components. If you head down this route, you're best to import a netlist into the finished PCB and blow away all the elements of the old component as you replace it with the new component. In most cases, you'll probably need to redesign new components or at least check hole dimensions etc of the components from the Protel libraries. If the design is small, then just import it into one of the mechanical layers and use it to trace over the tracking - you'll need a layer by layer printout to see what's going on. Out of interest and OT, what put you off the BoardMaker program? I have a colleague whose always goading me about it (and the price) - any ammunition to throw back at him would always be welcome 8) Doug >I have just joined this list and have my first query. We have a huge >number of PCB designs in Boardmaker (an old DOS package written by >Tsien of Cambridge, UK) and require to import them somehow into Protel. >It has been suggested that the Gerbers generated by Boardmaker can be >imported via Camtastic. How can this method recover the connectivity >between layers? How can the plot of a pad on one layer relate to an >identically positioned plot of a pad on another layer? (or is >Camtastic so fantastic that is knows that such instances are vias?). >Any suggestions on how to tackle this problem and any general >solutions to importing designs into Protel from nothing but Gerbers >would be very much appreciated. >Best Regards, Ivor Davies Diplomat UK Ltd _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * To post a message: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * * To leave this list visit: * http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/leave.html * * Contact the list manager: * mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * * Forum Guidelines Rules: * http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/forumrules.html * * Browse or Search previous postings: * http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
