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.

Schematic Translators

With PADS schematic translators, you can convert schematics and symbols to DxDesigner or PADS Logic from the following programs:

To DxDesigner (PADS2007.5), from:

  • OrCAD
  • P-CAD
  • CADSTAR
  • Protel / Altium Designer
  • PADS Logic

To PADS Logic (PADS9.0), from:

  • OrCAD
  • P-CAD
  • CADSTAR
  • Protel / Altium Designer

PCB Translators

With PADS PCB translators, you can convert PCB designs and footprints to PADS Layout from the following programs:

To PADS Layout (PADS9.0), from:

  • OrCAD
  • P-CAD
  • CADSTAR
  • Protel / Altium Designer

Supported Releases

PADS translators support schematic and/or layout translation from the following software products:

Schematic Product Version File Extension Format
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™ / Altium Designer 99SE / DXP 2004/2006 / AD 6.x .sch, .lib, .ddb
.schdoc, .schlib		 Binary, ASCII
PADS™ Logic 2007 and newer .sch, .pt07, .ld07 .ln07, .pd07 Binary

Layout Product Version File Extension Format
OrCAD Layout 9.x, 10.x .max, .min, .lib Binary, ASCII
Protel / Altium Designer 99SE / DXP 2004/2006 / AD 6.x .pcb, .lib, .ddb
.pcbdoc, .pcblib		 Binary, ASCII
CADSTAR v5, 6, 7, 8 .scm, .csa, .lib Binary, ASCII
P-CAD 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006 .pcb, .lib Binary, ASCII