Altium Designer 21 Import P-Cad Files

[derek]

Hi,

I am trying to import P-CAD v8.50 Schematic and PCB files into Altium Designer 21.

The import wizard does not recognise the Schematic and PCB files.

I looked at the files in a text editor, which gave the version of the data files:

Schematic file:
Personal CAD Systems, Inc.                                                   
PC-CAPS  Database file version : 2.08                                         
Database saved as : sheet1.sch                                               
Dec. 6, 1997         4:54 p.m

PCB file:
Personal CAD Systems, Inc.                                                   
PC-CARDS Database file version : 2.08                                         
Database saved as : place2.pcb                                               
Nov. 24, 1997         9:34 p.m.

I have a copy of P-CAD v8.50 running in Virtualbox, which loads up the schematics no problems, but the PCB editor: PCCARDS requires a security dongle to load.

Does anyone have any suggestions to how I import the files into Altium or other ECAD system.

Regards,
Derek

[thm_w]

https://www.altium.com/documentation/knowledge-base/convert-p-cad-file-to-altium

[derek]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply, I have tried the Altium Designer Import Wizard, but the P-CAD Schematic and PCB files are not recognised, I asked Altium Technical Support, who also failed with the same results.

Maybe I will have to load the data files into next version of P-Cad, then save it till P-CAD 2002 or 2006 can load it.

Not sure how to do this, I will have search for old PCB software.

[mikeselectricstuff]

I run P-CAD2006 if you want to try the load/save-as method mentioned on the Altium page

[mk_]

Schematic file:
Personal CAD Systems, Inc.                                                   
PC-CAPS  Database file version : 2.08                                         
Database saved as : sheet1.sch                                               
Dec. 6, 1997         4:54 p.m

PCB file:
Personal CAD Systems, Inc.                                                   
PC-CARDS Database file version : 2.08                                         
Database saved as : place2.pcb                                               
Nov. 24, 1997         9:34 p.m.

I have a copy of P-CAD v8.50 running in Virtualbox, which loads up the schematics no problems, but the PCB editor: PCCARDS requires a security dongle to load.
 

That`s PCAD DOS and really old...
Try to load your files with PCAD2006 (i still use this version) and then move to Altium (can`t help you with that)
PM when I should give it a try for PCAD8.5 (DOS) to PCAD2006 (Win)

Good luck