Originally posted on the [PrU] yahoo group, copied to PEDA as there may be some comments here as well...
On 05:49 PM 4/02/2002 +0000, mwerle said: >--- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], Abd ul-Rahman Lomax <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > At 04:27 PM 2/4/2002 +0000, mwerle wrote: > > >Hi everyone, > > > > > >I'm trying to find a definition of the PCB file format used by new > > >versions of Protel. I've downloaded the SDK and no help there. > > > > The ASCII file format is self-documenting. Take a look at it. > > >It doesn't specify any constraints (eg, what the maximum length of a >pattern name can be), nor what, if any, optional records are allowed, >etc. I can make sense out of a lot of what's going on in there, but >not being a user of the software myself (I'm writing these utilities >for someone else) a lot is unclear as well. > >For the older file-formats I had proper file-definition documentation, >and I'm hoping to track some down for the new formats so that I have a >definitive reference. That way I can pick out what's important for my >utilities, and what I can safely ignore, and if I need to make changes >to files, what the valid parameters are which I can work with. > >Thanks again, > >Micha. I have never seen any documentation for P99 or P99SE binary files. The ASCII file format is about as good as you will get. That and the SDK and some careful experimentation. A problem when you don't own the software but you could either get the user you are developing for to give you various files or download the trial and do your own experimentation. The SDK will be of some use as you can map values seen in the ASCII file to ranges for the various types (whose values are not given in the SDK documentation but can be found either by browsing the SDK files or by a process of experimentation. Rant on Note that the SDK is covered by an NDA that prevents public discussion. The NDA has a one year limit. Those that have downloaded the SDK more than a year ago are free to discuss it (as I see things anyway). Those who have downloaded it more recently are restricted in what the can legally say. Since you are not a user you may not care but people who use Protel for their bread and butter are likely to be more wary. The situation is complicated a little by the fact that as well as the original SDK files there was an update (two actually) and these are presumably covered by the same NDA - so the one year time out may be reset to the latest of the dates one downloaded an update or maybe just the changes in the run-time update are restricted for the longer period. Also, I have asked, on a number of occasions, that Protel release the users from the NDA to allow user-based help (as Protel Support do not officially support the SDK), but was recently informed this would not happen. Protel closed the moderated pre-release discussion forum which closed the only option we (legally) have for discussing the SDK, though on two occasions I have been referred (by Protel) to the PDEV mailing list and told I can discuss issue on the SDK there - in contravention of the SDK, unless the 1 year limit has elapsed and was not reset by the download of the SP6 run time update. Confused? I am? I have lots to discuss on the SDK but nowhere to do it? This is one major aspect of Protel that I am really p***ed off about. Rant off, Ian Wilson * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
