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Set NC Parameter and Art Parameters from SKILL?

thewill2live

Hey guys,

 I'm currently working on a program to output artwork and NC Drill files. I have them outputting by calling the batch commands "artwork" and "nctape" respectively. However, this doesn't output the standard Art_param.txt and NC_param.txt files that are normally output when you manually output artwork and NC Drill data from Allegro. My work around for now is that I noticed these .txt files are generated when accessing the parameters tab on each of those windows (even without changing anything, you just have to access the pages) so I recorded a script of me opening those windows, changing to the parameters tabs, and closing the window. By running these scr files using the "replay" command I am able to generate the param.txt files I want. I wanted to ask if anyone knows of a true SKILL way of outputting these files and/or setting these parameters? Workaround is fine but I'd rather not rely on the .scr file being called.

 

Bonus question: Is there a way to modify the default directory of the files I am currently outputting? For instance when I run "artwork" right now it outputs all the .art files into the same directory that my .brd file currently resides in. Is there a way of saying put everything in this FOO folder I made in this directory?

  • You don't need to do this with SKILL, the "artpath" is scanned for "art_param.txt", create the file and the set the preference to pick it up, User Preferences / Paths / Config / artpath, the "ncdpath" is scanned for the "nc_param.txt", that's Config / ncdpath. The artwork gets sent to the directory set in User Preferences / File_management / output_dir / ads_sdart, set the name of a subdirectory, recommended, to send the artwork files to, subdirectory will be created if it doesn't exist when the artwork is generated.

  • I understand that Allegro pulls the art_param settings from art_param.txt The point is that by running the artwork output from a batch file it no longer outputs a art_param.txt file in the output directory like it would if I were to physically click on "artwork" in Allegro.

     

    As for the file outputs I want to be able to say "All of these files I'm about to output, i want to put into a 'Foo' folder in my current directory" this will be for more than just art files as I am outputting pdfs, drls, etc.  

  • Have you considered using ODB++ or IPC2581?

    Don't believe suppliers who tell you that they "prefer" Gerber or their software can't import ODB++.

  • I actually output both of those as well (well actually ipc356) it's just part of the company policy to output gerber along with it. I'm not actually part of the process I am just meant to script it so that it's easier for the designers to package their files together before sending them out. I was simply handed a list of files I need to get to output and zipped up into a file to deliver and told to make this into a progam we can run instead of manually doing it.

  • OK. My sympathies! Dozens, if not hundreds, of companies have done the same thing. I have more than 10,000 lines of code to automatically generate a specification sheet, bundle all the outputs and email and/or ftp it all.

    You can temporarily change the current working directory by using changeWorkingDir. Remember to set it back. Use getWorkingDir to record it.

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