Pr*tell 9\9\SE Drill File Question

[E-design]

ascii drill file

Hi

Can anybody tell me what is the format that Pr*tel 9\9\SE exports its drill data?

When I import this drill file into C@mtastic it seems not to recognize the format and reports errors.

Is there a way to convert the Pr*tel format so C@mtastic would accept it?

Thanks

 

[Phil woz ere]

protel99 drill file

The standard settings for Protel99 drill files do not match
the standard settings for the gerber files.

Check the gerber document tab and note down
1: Units (metric or imerial)
2: Format (4:3 example)
3: Zero suppression (leading, trailing or none)
4: absolute or relative coordinates.

Then check under the drill document tab and set the settings to match
the settings on the gerber files tab.
If you do not see all the options you need to install SP6.

This small bug has been fixed in Protel DXP.

All should then be OK.

Phil 8)

 

[E-design]

Thanks, I will check that.

The thing that worries me is when I compare a sample drill file exported from Camtastic and the one from Protel they look completely different.

I have included it below.

 

[Phil woz ere]

That Protel file you show is not the correct ASCII format file.
I see no options in Protel to change it.
I will have a look tommorrow and see if I can come up with something
that will help you.

Phil 8O

 

[Phil woz ere]

Hi E-Design...

You are looking at the Protel .TXT drill file.
This is the ASCII drill file that you need for manufacture
and not the Binary drill file.

Phil :wink:

 

[E-design]

Hi E-Design...

You are looking at the P*otel .TXT drill file.
This is the ASCII drill file that you need for manufacture
and not the Binary drill file.

Phil :wink:

Right you are!

I loaded the .TXT file this time and it seems to accept it. What tricked me was the .DRL file that P*otel generates.

So, what is the .DRL (binary) file used for?

E

 

[Phil woz ere]

Right you are!

I loaded the .TXT file this time and it seems to accept it. What tricked me was the .DRL file that P*otel generates.

So, what is the .DRL (binary) file used for?

Search me, Protel genereates it and I always delete it because like a lot of the other data Protel generates it is not used.
I send out Only the neccesary 274X gerber files and the txt drill file, No gerber drill centers no binary drill files no aperture lists no report files.

Phil 8)