How can I encrypt a SKILL file for Allegro products?

The SKILL files of Allegro X PCB Editor, Allegro X Advanced Package Designer, Allegro Design Entry HDL can be encrypted. Encrypted files are used to conceal the file contents. The *.eil and *.ile file extensions are used for encrypted SKILL files.

To encrypt a SKILL file on Windows, perform the following steps:

1. Open the command prompt.
2. Use the cd command to move to the folder where the SKILL file is stored.
3. Type cdsmps and press the Enter key.
4. The prompt will change to ">". Here, type the following command to encrypt the SKILL file:
   
   encrypt( "input_filename" "output_filename" "password")
   
   Where,
   input_filename: The ASCII SKILL file. The extension for the file is .il.
   output_filename: The name of the encrypted file. The extensions allowed are .il, .ile, and .eil. However, because the non-encrypted  SKILL files have the extension .il, it is recommended that you avoid using this extension for encrypted files. Use .ile or .eil instead.
   password: The password needed to load the encrypted file. The password is optional.
    

The example shown in the following image encrypts a SKILL file without a password:

The following image shows another example in which the SKILL file is encrypted with a password:

Loading a SKILL file

Use the following syntax to load an encrypted SKILL file without a password:

load("filename")

Where,
filename: The encrypted SKILL file name

The following example shows how to load an encrypted SKILL file without a password:

Skill > load("./test_npwd.eil")

To load an encrypted SKILL file with a password, use the following syntax:

load("filename" "password")

Where,
filename: The encrypted SKILL file name
password: The password supplied when encrypting the SKILL file

Here is an example of how to load an encrypted SKILL file with a password:

Skill > load("./test_en.eil" "cadence")

Encrypting a SKILL file on Linux

To encrypt a SKILL file on Linux, use the following command:

encrypt( "input_filename" "output_filename" "password")

You encrypt a SKILL file when you do not want users to see the IP contained in the file or modify the program. Encrypted SKILL files can be loaded using the load command, but they CANNOT be de-encrypted.