Convert OrCAD Capture schematic design file (*.DSN) to ASCII format

[blue_zyk]

The schematic DSN file in OrCAD Capture is binary, it needs to be parsed into an ASCII format file. I don't know the specific algorithm for this conversion.

Does someone know about this or is there any expert advice? Thanks in advance!

[SiliconWizard]

OrCAD files (unless this has changed with recent versions) are "compound files": https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/openspecs/windows_protocols/ms-cfb/53989ce4-7b05-4f8d-829b-d08d6148375b

7-zip supports this format, so you can open the files with 7-zip and extract the content (which is a hierarchy of files and directories.)
Unfortunately, the individual files contained in those "archives" are also of some binary, and undocumented (AFAIK) format.

[asmi]

The only known way to do that conversion is using Capture. That's what Altium requires if you want to import Orcad design into AD.

[blue_zyk]

Yes, i can extract the content files in DSN format by regarding it as a compound file, but i have no idea how to convert these content files to readable text.

OrCAD files (unless this has changed with recent versions) are "compound files": https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/openspecs/windows_protocols/ms-cfb/53989ce4-7b05-4f8d-829b-d08d6148375b

7-zip supports this format, so you can open the files with 7-zip and extract the content (which is a hierarchy of files and directories.)
Unfortunately, the individual files contained in those "archives" are also of some binary, and undocumented (AFAIK) format.

[blue_zyk]

What do you mean the only known way, how to carry out a conversion from OrCAD to Altium AD?

The only known way to do that conversion is using Capture. That's what Altium requires if you want to import Orcad design into AD.

[PKTKS]

Please investigate your options to actually EXPORT
DSN into a suitable EDIF format.

OrCAD since their early versions are the most EDIF
friendly and competent parsers available.

EDIF is human readable

Paul

[blue_zyk]

Thanks for your hints! But there is loss of informations during export from DSN to EDIF, this is the cause why i want to directly convert it to readable text. 

Please investigate your options to actually EXPORT
DSN into a suitable EDIF format.

OrCAD since their early versions are the most EDIF
friendly and competent parsers available.

EDIF is human readable

Paul

[PKTKS]

Thanks for your hints! But there is loss of informations during export from DSN to EDIF, this is the cause why i want to directly convert it to readable text. 

Yes... from my experience there is no 100% direct
translation among formats... between any formats

And EDIF - although it exists for decades... - has more or less
an abandonware position in industry. Each vendor sticks with
their own format.

Nevertheless DSN is IMHO the most closest format to EDIF
than any other alternative...

Last case my alternative is always trying to "convert" project
to an alternative format (which I have access to) and try any
export option alternative from that other vendor.

There is always some issues and some gotchas.
In time I was able to more or less live with all the
industry juggernaut .. and convert my projects
along the timeline...

Mileage will vary
Paul

[Alex Eisenhut]

Not sure what you want. Export a netlist and you'll get text files. BOM is also human readable.

What is your goal?

"it needs to be parsed into an ASCII format file."

Why "needs"? By who? For who? Why?