Visualization of Electronique Concept CAD files

View a layout

CAD files generated by Electronique Concept are sent in a ZIP file. The folder architecture is usually the following:
- a root folder Fichiers_CAO and two main subfolders schema and PCB;
- in the schema folder, the file with the .sbk extension is the schematic file;
- in the PCB folder, the file with the .pcb extension is the layout file.

Run PCB Browser that is located in Start > Programs > Mentor Graphics SDD > Design Capture DesignView-Expedition Flow > Layout > PCB Browser.

In the File menu, click on Open... , and then select the layout file (.pcb file in the Fichiers_CAO\PCB folder).

To directly view the copper, layout, drilling plans ...

In the View menu, click on Display Control..., or click on in the main toolbar.

At the bottom of the Display Control window, there is a drop-down list where you can find the following views:

To display a particular net or a net group

In the Display Control window, select the Net tab, on Color by: check Net, and on Apply color to: check Traces, Pads, Vias and if necessary Planes. Then check the net(s) you want to display. You may change the displayed color for each net.

To remove copper planes and keep only traces

In the Display Control window, select the Layer tab, and then uncheck Plane Data in the Planes group.

If you want to lighten the jod loading in the viewer, you can open it without loading the planes data by deleting or renaming the file Fichiers_CAO\PCB\Layout\GenDataDB.gdt. Be carefull that this file also contains the generated silkscreen.

To find a component or a net

In the toolbar on the top of the main window, you can enter keyboard commands in the field that shows
Keyin: Enter '?' for help.

For exemple hit fr u1 to find the U1 component.

For exemple hit fn clk_signal to find the clk_signal net.

Nets selection

A single click on a segment selects the actual segment, a double click selects the trace, while a triple click selects the all net.

When a segment, a trace or a net is selected, you can find usefull information in the bottom of the main windows like: net width, length, name, impedance, ...