I have used PADs / Inoveda / Mentor Graphics Power-PCB for several years, and it will drop anything it doesn't have in its libraries. While it is true that they publish their file formats, I have yet to see a converter which can TOTALLY convert Orcad, or any other vendors', schematics and PCBs to PADs format(s). And the other way - I no longer work for a company with PADs "seats" (very pricey) so I need to convert my archive of project files into Eagle 4.xx format - so far, no luck. There is a lot of Not-Invented-Here in the CAD industry, and that is not likely to change. Eagle, or any other CAD company, could make a lot of friends (and I suspect a lot of sales) by releasing a general conversion suite which could REALLY import foreign designs into it's data base for further work. BTW - the latest release of PADs has a really neat comparison feature which will display all of the differences between the schematic and PCB and allow you to selectively merge them - sort of forward and backward annotation in one procedure. Roy J. Gromlich ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob Blick" To: Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 5:46 PM Subject: Re: [EE:] Mentor Graphics PADS 2003 PCB Software > Roberts II, Charles K. said: > > I have been trying to lay out a board with the software but when I > > import the Netlist from Orcad it drops a bunch of the nets. Part of this > > is because I am not sending the footprints to the PADS Software in the > > proper format. > > That's probably the only reason. PADS will drop any part that it does not > have in the library, and any associated pin pairs are dropped as well. > > Frustrating but it does make you keep your library synced between > schematic and pcb. > > Cheerful regards, > > Bob > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different > ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details. > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.