Re: [PROTEL EDA USERS]: PADS ASCII netlist reference designator bug - is there a workaround?

["Michael Reagan" <edsi@netstorm.net>]

Drew,
I would look at a couple things
1.  Does Pads allow net names longer than 8 characters
2. Does Pads allow reference designator as long as you have them.

3. I was told by PADS support that they no longer will support their old
netlist format.  The last two versions of PADS used a new format to support
Viewlogic attributes.

The problems you are experiencing probably come from PADs not supporting
their old netlist format .  Personally, I would start taking some of those
PADS files and importing them into Protel and convert them.  You will also
find the same problems with Orcad schematic to PADS now.   PADs is trying to
redirect customers away from ORCAD and outside program created netlist and
attempting to tie in closer with Viewlogic.


Mike Reagan
EDSI


----- Original Message -----
From: Drew Lundsten <drew@ccpu.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list proteledausers
<proteledausers@techservinc.com>
Sent: Friday, September 08, 2000 4:45 PM
Subject: [PROTEL EDA USERS]: PADS ASCII netlist reference designator bug -
is there a workaround?


>
> I am using Protel 99SE for schematic capture and exporting netlists to
PADS
> for layout (at least for big digital boards). I've run into an error and
I'm
> hoping that bouncing it off the user group will result in confirmation and
> workaround!
>
> Here's a sample netlist exported (single sheet, nets/ports global, as
> 'Protel':
>
> [
> JP123456
> test890
> 4 HEADER
>
>
>
> ]
> (
> NetJP123456_1
> JP123456-1
> )
> (
> NetJP123456_2
> JP123456-2
> )
> (
> NetJP123456_3
> JP123456-3
> )
> (
> NetJP123456_4
> JP123456-4
> )
>
> and as 'PADS ASCII': .NET and .PRT files
>
> *PADS-PCB*
> *NET*
> *SIGNAL* NetJP123456_1
>  JP123456.1
> *SIGNAL* NetJP123456_2
>  JP123456.2
> *SIGNAL* NetJP123456_3
>  JP123456.3
> *SIGNAL* NetJP123456_4
>  JP123456.4
> *END*
>
> *PADS-PCB*
> *PART*
> JP123456test890
> *END*
>
> The long reference designator forces the part (JP123456) and footprint
> (test890) to run together and PADS obviously won't import this correctly.
>
> Any advice? Other than to shorten reference designators, of course (not an
> option for some clients).
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Drew
>
>
>
>
>
>