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Old BRD files from OrCAD/PCB II 2.22

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Hello,

I have some old PCB's that I need to open in Allegro PCB and / or OrCAD 16.0. (I have both) The PCB's were designed in OrCAD/PCB II 2.22 for DOS and they have a .BRD file extension. Whenever I try and open the files, either in Allegro or OrCAD, I get the following error:

ERROR(SPMHDB-180): Database revision 11582.x is newer than current program version

The number "11582" changes from file to file. It seems almost as if it's reading the wrong data as the revision number, and then OrCAD PCB Designer just decides that it can't open it because it is newer. I've done quite a bit of googling on this, and I saw a few threads on the OrCAD forums about this, but none of them had any conclusive solution. I've also tried to open these files in EAGLE and an older version of the Free Allegro Viewer, and neither of them worked. Is there maybe a way to translate these files into a version readable by OrCAD PCB Designer or Allegro? Thanks. 


Originally posted in cdnusers.org by c4103

  • Hi in the old OrCAD Layout software there is an import utility called Import PCB386 + PCB this takes OrCAD DOS files with a *.bd1 this will translate these old designs to a *.max files, once in this OrCAD Layout Windows format you then should be able to get this to the latest *.max formate and then to Allegro using the OrCAD Layout Translator which creates a *.brd file for opening in allegro

    Stephen Grant-Davies
    QuantumCad
    www.quantumcad.co.uk


    Originally posted in cdnusers.org by stephen@quantumcad.co.uk

  • Yes, I read about that feature, but it seems to be taken out of Layout in OrCAD 16.0. When I click File in Layout, there is no Import option. Do you think that it would be possible to do this if I obtained an older version of Layout? If so, what version specifically has this feature.

    - Carey


    Originally posted in cdnusers.org by c4103

  • Carey, have 16.0 here and PCB386+ PCB is still in the File Import menu.

    You need to select File Import from an invoke of lsession.exe.


    Originally posted in cdnusers.org by dschaefer

  • Ok, thank you for the help guys. I don't have OrCAD here in front of me, as I am down at work for a couple days, but I will get cracking on it again as soon as I can and let you know.

    - Carey


    Originally posted in cdnusers.org by c4103

  • hi Carey,

    The old OrCAD used to use a file called tomax.exe to do this translation, im not sure if this will work independently of OrCAD layout or requies .dll files from instalation, but if you can't get hold of the old OrCAD layout, give me your email and I will try to send you the file.

    Stephen Grant-Davies


    Originally posted in cdnusers.org by stephen@quantumcad.co.uk
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