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How to Convert Allegro .DRA file to ASCII without Extracta?

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hobbskw

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Greetings,
I am working on a PCB layout, but this one part is giving me trouble because the footprint is only available for Allegro. I only have the software and license for Altium Designer. When I try using the Allegro Import Wizard, it says I need to convert it into ASCII format. But I need this software called Extracta, which I can only obtain from having Allegro! Is there any way to do this without Extracta? Or, would there happen to be anyone willing to convert it for me? I attached the error message, as well as the .dra file, to this post. I greatly appreciate any help!
 

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Solution
I finally figure it out after messing around with files and the PATH variable.

1) In C:\Program Files\Altium\AD21\System
Create a backup of AltiumBoardView.txt
Rename the file to AltiumBoard.txt

2) Add two directories to the PATH environment variable:
C:\Program Files\Altium\AD21\System
and
C:\Cadence\SPB_17.4\tools\bin

3) Go to C:\Program Files\Altium\AD21\System
Copy these two files:
Allegro2Altium.bat and AllegroExportViews.txt
Paste them into this location (location of Extracta and Allegro):
C:\Cadence\SPB_17.4\tools\bin

4) In C:\Cadence\SPB_17.4\tools\bin
Open a command prompt in this directory and type:
Allegro2Altium "filename.dra" except the filename will be whatever the file's name is

5) In Altium Designer it can now...
I finally figure it out after messing around with files and the PATH variable.

1) In C:\Program Files\Altium\AD21\System
Create a backup of AltiumBoardView.txt
Rename the file to AltiumBoard.txt

2) Add two directories to the PATH environment variable:
C:\Program Files\Altium\AD21\System
and
C:\Cadence\SPB_17.4\tools\bin

3) Go to C:\Program Files\Altium\AD21\System
Copy these two files:
Allegro2Altium.bat and AllegroExportViews.txt
Paste them into this location (location of Extracta and Allegro):
C:\Cadence\SPB_17.4\tools\bin

4) In C:\Cadence\SPB_17.4\tools\bin
Open a command prompt in this directory and type:
Allegro2Altium "filename.dra" except the filename will be whatever the file's name is

5) In Altium Designer it can now import in the Allegro Import Wizard.
.ALG files are apparently considered "Allegro Design Files" and not "Footprint Files" so you actually import them on the "Importing Allegro Designs" page. I accidentally did it on the "Analyzing Files" page since that is the typical page you skip to in tutorials, but it automatically inserted the file into the first page so it doesn't matter which page you Add the file in. But I was thrown off at first because I didn't see the file appear, but it just appears on the first screen instead.
 
Solution
Hello hobbskw,
It seems to be that at the end you end up installing Allegro in order to successfully import the Allegro project, am I right?

Regards
 

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