Thanks Jami The end application is EN2002 version but 99SE seems only to have a MGBS V6 netlister.
Like most of the netlisters in 99SE and DXP they are well out of sync with the latest versions of other vendors tools :-( There is currently no PCB file, only the SCH project from another design which will be reused as it is a proven block. I do not mind writing a utility to create any macros or otherwise to merge the 99SE outputs to some kind of readable format if it is not too involved. (and from what I read below there might not be a separate netlist file anyway). My Spanish colleagues will be back on Monday so I will ask if an intermediate file exists and get a copy of one. An alternative route I have not tried yet is CAM350, but I cannot access that until Tuesday. I believe I can create a protel PCB with just a netlist imported (delete parts after load), export as PCAD ASCII, save in CAM350 and then export as Mentor format file. Hopefully my friend has licensed these options! Long way for a short path, but I did not expect it to be easy. Best Regards John A. Ross RSD Communications Ltd 8 BorrowMeadow Road Springkerse Industrial Estate Stirling, Scotland FK7 7UW Tel +44 [0]1786 450572 Ext 225 (Office) Tel +44 [0]1786 450572 Ext 248 (Lab) Fax +44 [0]1786 474653 GSM +44 [0]7831 373727 Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] WWW http://www.rsd.tv ========================================== > -----Original Message----- > From: JaMi Smith [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Sunday, September 14, 2003 4:30 AM > To: Protel EDA Forum > Cc: JaMi Smith > Subject: Re: [PEDA] Mentor Board Station Netlister > > > John, > > I have no direct experience with the "netlister" that you speak of. > > I have not used Mentor Graphics Board Station Version 6 (or > are you referring to something else being "V6") since the > last time I was "on lab" at JPL in 1989, and while I did > write a couple of interesting little Utilities that did a > couple of different things to the "wires" file (or possibly > it was called the "routes" file instead (?)), such as > "rotate" the "routes" (routed traces) for the board (so the > entire board could be rotated 90, 180, or 270 degrees), since > in Board Station 6, (or at least 6.2) only an unrouted board > could be rotated (it would not allow you to rotate the board > along with placed traces). My solution to this limitation was > to copy the "wires" file, and then delete it, and then rotate > the unrouted board by the amount that you wanted to rotate > it, and then rotate the "traces" in the "wires" file using my > little Utility, and then copy back the rotated traces in the > rotated "wires" file into the design directory, and walla! - > instant rotated board with traces intact. Another thing I > wrote a Utility to do, was to move selected layers in an > already routed board down in the stackup a specified number > of layers, so that a certain number of additional layers > could be added in the center of the board. This too was > accomplished by manipulating the "wires" file. > > If I remember correctly, Board Station 6 ran on an Apollo > platform (at least the ones that we used at JPL did), and I > had to copy the "wires" file over to a PC via the network, > and then copy the "wires" file off onto a diskette, and then > take it home and work my magic on it on my own PC at home, > and then copy it back to a diskette and then go back across > the network. > > Unfortunately, I never did any playing around with the netlist. > > And I can't remember if there ever actually was an > intermediate (seperate) netlist file involved in the > processing of a schematic. > > If there is an intermediate (separate) netlist file, it will > show you the required format, and you might be able to do a > quickie examination for compatability to the output from the > Protel "formatter(?)" to the format required for Board Station 6. > > However, if such an intermediate (separate) file is not used, > one thing that I do remember about Board Station 6, was that > every single operation or keyboard entry, generated a > corresponding entry in a "script file" that was about 37 and > a half miles long, that accounted for each and every minute > operation that would ever be performed, and the one thing > that was unique about this "script file", was that if you > ever lost or corrupted your design files for any reason, you > could completely recreate them from scratch simply by > "executing" the "script file" (or relevant portion thereof) > from scratch. > > Ok, so what this means practically, is that minimally you > should be able to determine the format of a netlist by simply > looking at either a netlist file, or if that is not directly > available, by looking at the "script file" that results by > compiling a schematic (or associating it, or whatever it was > that we did to it (it has only been a short eon and a half > ago since I did any of this, and the cells in that corner of > the brain are a little oxidized)), and seeing how that > compares with what is generated by the Protel "formatter(?)". > > Anyway, I believe that in the worst case, you would only have > to make a netlist look like a script file to be able to > "execute it" and enter it into Board Station 6. You might > want to run this by your guy with Board Station 6 and see > what he has to say about all of this. > > But now if you wanted to take your gerbers and generate a > "wires"file of traces . . . > > Just kidding . . . > > JaMi > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "John A. Ross [Design]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "Protel EDA Forum" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2003 6:44 AM > Subject: [PEDA] Mentor Board Station Netlister > > > Due to time constraints I need to issue one of our partner > companies with a netlist rather than a completed board. > > They use MG Board station as their layout tool. > > Has anyone used the Board station V6 netlister in 99SE > successfully? Or can offer any advice on re-formatting or > combining the files generated by 99SE? > > I have already searched on MG Support Net for information on > the netlist format for EN2002 but cannot find it (unless it > is hidden in some other > manual) > > Thanks > > Best Regards > > John A. Ross > > RSD Communications Ltd > 8 BorrowMeadow Road > Springkerse Industrial Estate > Stirling, Scotland FK7 7UW > > Tel +44 [0]1786 450572 Ext 225 (Office) > Tel +44 [0]1786 450572 Ext 248 (Lab) > Fax +44 [0]1786 474653 > GSM +44 [0]7831 373727 > > Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] > WWW http://www.rsd.tv ========================================== > > > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
