Re: [PEDA] Viewing Gerber Files
You must import the gerber files into Camtastic to view them. The following is found from the Protel help under gerber and digging through the links at the bottom: Top Overlay .GTO Bottom Overlay .GBO Top Layer .GTL Bottom Layer.GBL Mid Layer 1, etc. .G1, .G2, etc Power Plane 1, etc. .GP1, GP2, etc Mechanical Layer 1, etc..GM1, .GM2, etc Top Solder Mask .GTS Bottom Solder Mask .GBS Top Paste Mask .GTP Bottom Paste Mask .GBP Drill Drawing .GDD Drill Drawing; Top to Mid 1, Mid2 to Mid 3, etc. .GD1, GD2, GD3, etc. Drill Guide .GDG Drill Guide; Top to Mid 1, Mid 2 to Mid 3, etc .GG1, GG2, GG3, etc. Pad Master, Top .GPT Pad Master, Bottom .GPB Keep Out Layer .GKO Gerber Panels .P01, .P02, etc. My regards, Steve Smith, C.I.D. Product Engineer Staco Energy Products Co. 301 Gaddis Boulevard. Dayton, OH 45403 Telephone: (937) 253-1191 Ext. 158 Fax: (937) 253-1723 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web Site: www.stacoenergy.com www.stacopower.com -Original Message- From: Ray Mitchell [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 12:20 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [PEDA] Viewing Gerber Files In 99SE how do I view the Gerber Files I've produced? Clicking on them merely displays their text content rather than a graphic view. Also, where can I find a legend that describes which Gerber file extensions correspond to which layers/planes in the original PCB layout? Thanks, Ray Ray Mitchell Engineer, Code 2732 SPAWAR Systems Center San Diego, CA. 92152 (619)553-5344 [EMAIL PROTECTED] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Re: [PEDA] Viewing Gerber Files
The Gerber file extensions are listed in the Help Files under: IndexOutput, generatingGerber File Output SetupFile Extensions Used to Identify Each Gerber File. They are also in the printed Protel 99 manual on page 610. To view the files, you should use a Gerber editor such as Camtastic, Viewmate, or GCPrevue. Full version Camtastic came with 99SE, but you can also download a free Camtastic viewer at: http://www.altium.com/camtastic/downloads/viewer_rego.asp Viewmate free Gerber viewer is available at: http://www.pentalogix.com/Download/download.html GC-Prevue free Gerber viewer is available at: http://www.graphicode.com/pages/download.cfm At 09:19 AM 4/21/04, you wrote: In 99SE how do I view the Gerber Files I've produced? Clicking on them merely displays their text content rather than a graphic view. Also, where can I find a legend that describes which Gerber file extensions correspond to which layers/planes in the original PCB layout? Thanks, Ray snip * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Re: [PEDA] Viewing Gerber Files
For 99SE there was a separate application called camtastic (www.camtastic.com). This was available, at one point, to 99SE users as part of an upgrade deal. So, not sure if you have this or not. It was later integrated into DXP. There is also a standalone viewer: http://www.camtastic.com/downloads/index.html As for the legend, there is some documentation either in the on-line help, or in the manual (or both?), I believe it can be found under file extensions. ---Phil RM In 99SE how do I view the Gerber Files I've produced? Clicking on them RM merely displays their text content rather than a graphic view. Also, where RM can I find a legend that describes which Gerber file extensions correspond RM to which layers/planes in the original PCB layout? RM Thanks, RM Ray RM Ray Mitchell RM Engineer, Code 2732 RM SPAWAR Systems Center RM San Diego, CA. 92152 RM (619)553-5344 RM [EMAIL PROTECTED] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Re: [PEDA] Viewing gerber files with Protel [was:Viewing gerber files]
Tony It is a very interesting site, but I have found by digging around there in the past for other stuff that they usually do not go too deep into a site, and certainly not into any query type pages such as the knowledge base. Thanks, JaMi - Original Message - From: Tony Karavidas [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: 'Protel EDA Forum' [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2002 10:28 PM Subject: Re: [PEDA] Viewing gerber files with Protel [was:Viewing gerber files] If you want to browse their old KB, go to www.archive.org and you can go back as far as Dec 21, 1996 -Original Message- From: JaMi Smith [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2002 2:30 PM To: Protel EDA Forum Cc: JaMi Smith Subject: Re: [PEDA] Viewing gerber files with Protel [was:Viewing gerber files] - Original Message - From: Tony Karavidas [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: 'Protel EDA Forum' [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, November 25, 2002 11:31 AM Subject: Re: [PEDA] Viewing gerber files with Protel [was:Viewing gerber files] Wow, check this out: http://www.airborn.com.au/layout/autotbug.html Woah! How old is that site . . . Talk about a smoking gun on the question of the failure of Protel to correct known problems . . . I'll even bet it is even listed in an old copy of the Knowledge Base (if anyone has an old copy), but not the current copy since they appear to cull the old problems with previous Protel releases from the current version of the Knowledge Base, probably for this very reason . . . JaMi * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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/proteledaforum@techservinc.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Re: [PEDA] Viewing gerber files with Protel [was:Viewing gerber files]
- Original Message - From: Tony Karavidas [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: 'Protel EDA Forum' [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, November 25, 2002 11:31 AM Subject: Re: [PEDA] Viewing gerber files with Protel [was:Viewing gerber files] Wow, check this out: http://www.airborn.com.au/layout/autotbug.html Woah! How old is that site . . . Talk about a smoking gun on the question of the failure of Protel to correct known problems . . . I'll even bet it is even listed in an old copy of the Knowledge Base (if anyone has an old copy), but not the current copy since they appear to cull the old problems with previous Protel releases from the current version of the Knowledge Base, probably for this very reason . . . JaMi * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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/proteledaforum@techservinc.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Re: [PEDA] Viewing gerber files with Protel [was:Viewing gerber files]
If you want to browse their old KB, go to www.archive.org and you can go back as far as Dec 21, 1996 -Original Message- From: JaMi Smith [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2002 2:30 PM To: Protel EDA Forum Cc: JaMi Smith Subject: Re: [PEDA] Viewing gerber files with Protel [was:Viewing gerber files] - Original Message - From: Tony Karavidas [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: 'Protel EDA Forum' [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, November 25, 2002 11:31 AM Subject: Re: [PEDA] Viewing gerber files with Protel [was:Viewing gerber files] Wow, check this out: http://www.airborn.com.au/layout/autotbug.html Woah! How old is that site . . . Talk about a smoking gun on the question of the failure of Protel to correct known problems . . . I'll even bet it is even listed in an old copy of the Knowledge Base (if anyone has an old copy), but not the current copy since they appear to cull the old problems with previous Protel releases from the current version of the Knowledge Base, probably for this very reason . . . JaMi * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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/proteledaforum@techservinc.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Re: [PEDA] Viewing gerber files with Protel [was:Viewing gerber files]
2nd that motion. That is really true with most cad systems, Cadnetix (an old system) actually used your own library parts to represent the gerber read back into the CAD system, so no check there at all. Even when VeriBest came about originally they gave you the ability to check your gerbers using some sort of drafting viewer, which again was no real check of gerber output, and VeriBest soon after supplied GerbTool with its product. Whether the CAD system supplies it or not a gerber viewer by some other company than the CAD system is absolutely needed to verify output. Unless of course you want to hope your fab vendor will catch bad output. Bob Wolfe - Original Message - From: Kulajew Waldemar [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Protel EDA Forum [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, November 25, 2002 4:43 AM Subject: [PEDA] Viewing gerber files with Protel [was:Viewing gerber files] Tony, Alfonso and enyone who might care, shure you are able to view gerber files by reemport them into Protel. And I fell into that trap! For Protel read its own mistakes as good files. As discussed here some weeks ago Protel has a wrong definition of octagonal Pads (they are rotated about 22,5 degrees) so if you use is in a Polygon, and the maufacturer use it like it is, it shorts everything! If you use Protel for viewing your gerber-files you will not see this error, in Camtastic or other viewers you will. So I prefer external viewers. And for beeing completely shure I use a viewer that is not sold with the EDA-System. Spell: Graphicode or other freeware. regards Waldemar -Original Message- From: Tony Karavidas [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2002 4:51 AM To: 'Protel EDA Forum' Subject: Re: [PEDA] Viewing gerber files -- snipp -- I've had very good success with this even though some people complain that it isn't good to use a viewer from the same people that made the generator. I think that thinking might be faulty, because they were probably fairly independent developments. Now that Protel has Camtastic, they have two solutions for you. (Camtastic was supplied with P99 or was it P99SE??) Tony * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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/proteledaforum@techservinc.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Re: [PEDA] Viewing gerber files
My question is how do you view and/or check the gerber? Is there some gerber viewer program out there that I need to know about, or perhaps a feature in protel99se that I'm not aware of. Yes. It is called CamTastic and you should have received a copy with Protel 99SE. I think that this is one feature that Protel is really missing. The ability to preview (in a graphical sense) the produced gerber file. There are free downloadable gerber previewers available just by doing a google search. The one I've got on my machine here is PentaLogic ViewMate. Although I don't really use it as much as I should... This is why Protel 99SE includes a license for CamTastic. Of course in DXP CamTastic has been merged into the rest of Protel and you can have it automatically open the Gerber files after they are generated. I think that perhaps the print(ing) in Protel should be done using the Gerber interface as this way it will force a correct Gerber interpreter into the program, as well as correct Gerber creation. :) Protel used to do this (PCB 3.0 I think). Instead of creating a Gerber, you would print to gerber. This was confusing to many, and it did not force a correct gerber generator. I think the current method is much better. Robert D. LaMoreaux MTS Systems Corp. Powertrain Technology Division 4622 Runway Blvd. Ann Arbor, MI 48108 734-822-9696 Fax 734-973-1103 Main Desk 734-973- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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/proteledaforum@techservinc.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Re: [PEDA] Viewing gerber files with Protel [was:Viewing gerber files]
Wow, check this out: http://www.airborn.com.au/layout/autotbug.html The site states: Octagonal pads are rotated by 22.5 degrees in gerber plots. Most australian manufacturers then rotate them back again for you. I elect not to use octagonal pads for this reason. This issue may be duplicated in other versions of Protel software So apparently this issue you point out has been around for quite some time!! -Original Message- From: Kulajew Waldemar [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Monday, November 25, 2002 1:43 AM To: Protel EDA Forum Subject: [PEDA] Viewing gerber files with Protel [was:Viewing gerber files] Tony, Alfonso and enyone who might care, shure you are able to view gerber files by reemport them into Protel. And I fell into that trap! For Protel read its own mistakes as good files. As discussed here some weeks ago Protel has a wrong definition of octagonal Pads (they are rotated about 22,5 degrees) so if you use is in a Polygon, and the maufacturer use it like it is, it shorts everything! If you use Protel for viewing your gerber-files you will not see this error, in Camtastic or other viewers you will. So I prefer external viewers. And for beeing completely shure I use a viewer that is not sold with the EDA-System. Spell: Graphicode or other freeware. regards Waldemar -Original Message- From: Tony Karavidas [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2002 4:51 AM To: 'Protel EDA Forum' Subject: Re: [PEDA] Viewing gerber files -- snipp -- I've had very good success with this even though some people complain that it isn't good to use a viewer from the same people that made the generator. I think that thinking might be faulty, because they were probably fairly independent developments. Now that Protel has Camtastic, they have two solutions for you. (Camtastic was supplied with P99 or was it P99SE??) Tony * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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/proteledaforum@techservinc.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Re: [PEDA] Viewing gerber files
Alfonso Baz wrote: Hi all On several occasions I've seen postings here, that suggest checking Gerber files for nefarious errors. I've examined these files and found them to be text files full of data (a lot like EPS files). I'm hoping that checking Gerber files doesn't mean understanding the data! 8-) My question is how do you view and/or check the gerber? Is there some gerber viewer program out there that I need to know about, or perhaps a feature in protel99se that I'm not aware of. Yes, you do an import of all the Gerber files to a new (blank) PCB file. Then, with display single layer, you can examine each Gerber plot by itself. You can actually detect a few odd things that are not clear on the standard PCB display, but especially problems in the generation of the Gerbers and the associated apertures. Jon * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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/proteledaforum@techservinc.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Re: [PEDA] Viewing gerber files
the ability to import gerber files is extremely useful, not just for checking the gerber. as others have suggested, using Protel for checking gerber suffers from the problem that errors in intepreting the gerber standards may be duplicated in the import routines. They could *not* be considered to have been developed independently. the Protel octagon problem stems from an ambiguity in the original RS-274 (or RS274X, perhaps) specification. An octagon is plotted as a polygon with 8 sides. What is rotation zero? Most of us would pick the wrong answer, i.e., a different answer than the people who dreamed up the gerber spec decided was right. This is because we think of an octagon as being unrotated when the flats are aligned with the x and y axes. However, the polygon command is a generic regular polygon, and the only reasonable way to define rotation zero in that case is with a vertex on one of the axes. I think it is the y-axis, but I'm not sure. You had to read the specification very, very carefully to get this right. It was later revised to make the matter a little more clear, but by then the damage had been done. Protel then faced the problem of whether or not to change it. If they changed it, existing designs might end up incorrect. They did not do the right thing, I think; they should have, as soon as the problem was discovered, created, at least, a warning message whenever octagonal apertures were used. Perhaps a text file could have been written to the gerber plot set explicitly stating what interpretation was being used. In that case, it would have been okay to go ahead and correct the program. Instead, they did nothing, and this problem continues to bite users from time to time. I don't know how DXP deals with this, I suspect that it does nothing, but I'd love to be wrong. Importing gerbers has two options: batch and single file import. Batch import brings the files back in to the presumed original layers used. There can be some problems with this, but for quick gerber viewing, this would be the choice. Single file import takes the file into the current active layer. This is extremely useful for exploding, for example, a polygon to primitives. I've used it to make assembly drawings, plotting the silkscreen text and bringing that back, merged with pads, to a mech layer. Protel gerber import was designed to import its own gerber, it does not necessarily work with gerber from other CAD systems even though they are RS-274X compatible. However, it is usually possible to massage such gerber into a form that Protel can import; this can be very useful in CAD conversion. As to CAMtastic, it was developed completely independently from Protel, so unless they have monkeyed with it since buying it to make it more protel-compatible -- which I doubt -- it would be fine for checking gerber. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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/proteledaforum@techservinc.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Re: [PEDA] Viewing gerber files
Thanks Tony and Bevan Tony, I wasn't aware that you could import gerber files, thanks for the tip Alfonso Baz - Original Message - From: Tony Karavidas [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: 'Protel EDA Forum' [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2002 2:50 PM Subject: Re: [PEDA] Viewing gerber files Huh??? Protel has always (at least the last three major versions) been able to view gerber data. Open a blank PCB, and look for the File\Import function. Then select Batch Gerber and you will get it to load graphically the gerbers it generated. I've had very good success with this even though some people complain that it isn't good to use a viewer from the same people that made the generator. I think that thinking might be faulty, because they were probably fairly independent developments. Now that Protel has Camtastic, they have two solutions for you. (Camtastic was supplied with P99 or was it P99SE??) Tony -Original Message- From: Bevan Weiss [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Friday, November 22, 2002 7:01 PM To: Protel EDA Forum Subject: Re: [PEDA] Viewing gerber files Hi all On several occasions I've seen postings here, that suggest checking Gerber files for nefarious errors. I've examined these files and found them to be text files full of data (a lot like EPS files). I'm hoping that checking Gerber files doesn't mean understanding the data! 8-) My question is how do you view and/or check the gerber? Is there some gerber viewer program out there that I need to know about, or perhaps a feature in protel99se that I'm not aware of. I think that this is one feature that Protel is really missing. The ability to preview (in a graphical sense) the produced gerber file. There are free downloadable gerber previewers available just by doing a google search. The one I've got on my machine here is PentaLogic ViewMate. Although I don't really use it as much as I should... I think that perhaps the print(ing) in Protel should be done using the Gerber interface as this way it will force a correct Gerber interpreter into the program, as well as correct Gerber creation. :) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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/proteledaforum@techservinc.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Re: [PEDA] Viewing gerber files
Hi all On several occasions I've seen postings here, that suggest checking Gerber files for nefarious errors. I've examined these files and found them to be text files full of data (a lot like EPS files). I'm hoping that checking Gerber files doesn't mean understanding the data! 8-) My question is how do you view and/or check the gerber? Is there some gerber viewer program out there that I need to know about, or perhaps a feature in protel99se that I'm not aware of. I think that this is one feature that Protel is really missing. The ability to preview (in a graphical sense) the produced gerber file. There are free downloadable gerber previewers available just by doing a google search. The one I've got on my machine here is PentaLogic ViewMate. Although I don't really use it as much as I should... I think that perhaps the print(ing) in Protel should be done using the Gerber interface as this way it will force a correct Gerber interpreter into the program, as well as correct Gerber creation. :) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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/proteledaforum@techservinc.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
