PADS Schematic and PCB Translators
PADS translators are reliable, thorough, accurate, and FREE.
With them you can:
- Easily convert P-CAD, CADSTAR, OrCAD, Protel, and Altium Designer data to PADS
- Eliminate the need to redraw symbols from scratch
- Provide product documentation customized with your customer’s title blocks, company logo, etc.
- Ensure design data integrity
- Leverage existing designs and data in future designs
- Move designs in and out of client systems
- Safely investigate powerful tools for your PCB design flow without risking the loss of valuable schematic symbols, libraries, and PCB footprints.
Translator Resources
To include translators as part of your evaluation, contact a local distributor or sales representative.
Current customers on maintenance can download the translators directly from SupportNet.This is not trial or "timed-out" software, you are free to use it as long as you wish
Supported Releases
PADS translators support schematic and/or layout translation from the following software products:
| Product | Version | File Extension | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schematic/Symbol Translation | |||
| Altium Designer | 6,x - 7.1 | .schdoc, .schlib | Binary |
| CADSTAR | v5, 6, 7, 8 | .scm, .csa, .lib | Binary, ASCII |
| OrCAD Capture | 9.x, 10.x | .dsn, .olb | Binary |
| P-CAD | 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006 | .sch, .lib | Binary, ASCII |
| Protel | 99SE / DXP 2004, 2006 | .sch, .lib, .ddb | Binary |
| PADS Logic | 2007 and newer | .sch, .pt07, .ld07 .ln07, .pd07 | Binary |
| Layout/Decal Translation | |||
| Altium Designer | 6.x - 7.1 | .pcbdoc, pcblib | Binary |
| Allegro | through 16.3 | .brd** | Binary |
| CADSTAR | v5, 6, 7, 8 | .pcb, .cpa, .lib | Binary, ASCII |
| OrCAD Layout | 9.x, 10.x | .max, .min, .lib | Binary, ASCII |
| P-CAD | 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006 | .pcb, .lib | Binary, ASCII |
| Protel | 99SE / DXP 2004, 2006 | .pcb, .lib, .ddb | Binary |
** Use Allegro Extract utility to generate an ASCII file.