Extended modules > PCB > IDF Data Adapter (PCB I/F) configuration file for BoardStation format
  
IDF Data Adapter (PCB I/F) configuration file for BoardStation format
The name of the Creo Elements/Direct Modeling IDF Data Adapter (PCB I/F) configuration file for handling PCB assemblies in Board Station format is sdpcb_eif.cfg. This file contains the definitions for Board Station-Creo Elements/Direct Modeling data mapping and appearance. It controls the translation of bsasc and (optionally) comps files to eif files and vice versa.
The default directory is:
$INSTALLDIR/personality/sdpcb
The sdpcb_eif.cfg provided for EIF rev. 1.1 format files includes the following definitions:
• EIF Model Import Mode
• EIF Default Export Unit
• EFI Precision Units
• EIF Component Class
• EIF Profile Class
A syntax diagram for the sdpcb_eif.cfg file is provided below.
--> CONFIGURATION --> "EIF1.1" --+
                                |
     +--------------------------+
     |     
+--+-Model-import-mode----------+
       |                            |
       + default-export-unit--------+
       |                            |
       +-export-precision-inches----+
       |                            |
       +-export-precision-mils------+
       |                              |
       +-export-precision-mm--------+
       |                            |
       +-component-class-definition-+---> END-CONFIGURATION
       |                            |
       +-profile-class-definition---+
       |                            |
       +-------------<--------------+
EIF model import mode
The MODEL-IMPORT-MODE defines behaviour during import. Users with part-number oriented use-models can use part numbers as model names. The modes are:
GEO-MODEL
Models are searched using mentor geometry names (this was the default in EIF1.0).
PNR-MODEL-LOOK
Models are searched using PARTID values for the model name. If the model cannot be found, the system takes mode = "GEO-MODEL" as fallback (this is a kind of mixed mode).
PNR-MODEL-MAKE
Models are searched using PARTID values for the model name. If the model cannot be found, the system generates a model in the local library (requires high system resources).
To support these new modes, models can have the properties geometry name and PARTID. Both properties are used during export.
EIF Default Export Unit
The DEFAULT-EXPORT-UNIT defines the units when exporting a newly generated PCA (not during import operation). The available units are:
• inches
• mils
• mm
EIF precision units
The EXPORT-PRECISION defines the precision of the units specified in DEFAULT-EXPORT-UNIT.
EIF component class
The COMPONENT-CLASS defines a component class name, a component type, and an RGB color for each component class. You can replace the predefined component class names by your own component class names. You can change the color of any component class in this file. Also, you can place ;; in front of any line you want to comment out.
A COMPONENT-CLASS definition for BoardStation PCB assemblies has the following format:
COMPONENT-CLASS "<component class name>" <component type>
COLOR <r-value> <g-value> <b-value>
END-CLASS
• The component class name must comply with the Creo Elements/Direct Modeling object naming conventions. This name can consists of characters ranging from A-Z, a-z, and 0-9. A period (".") should not be used. Component class names must be unique.
• The pcb-board component class of type BOARD and the default component class of type PACKAGE are required.
• The BOARD component type is reserved for the printed circuit board itself. The sdpcb_eif.cfg file (or your working copy of this file) must contain a single COMPONENT-CLASS of type BOARD.
• All other component classes are optional. All of the optional component classes are of type PACKAGE.
• The COLOR can be specified as any combination of red, green, and blue values, each of which must be in the range from 0.0 to 1.1. Examples of settings for red and yellow are provided below.
COLOR 1.0 0.0 0.0 ;; Red
COLOR 1.0 1.0 0.0 ;; Yellow
EIF profile class
The PROFILE-CLASS defines the data mapping of Board Station entities to Creo Elements/Direct Modeling workplanes and profile color. The PROFILE-CLASS specifies a profile class name, a profile type, and an RGB color for each profile class. You can replace the predefined profile class names by your own profile class names. You can change the color of any profile class in this file. Also, you can place ;; in front of any line you want to comment out. However, do not define any additional profile classes.
A PROFILE-CLASS definition for Board Station PCB assemblies has the following format:
PROFILE-CLASS "<profile class name>"
<profile type>
<part type>
PCB-SIDE <TOP or BOTTOM>
NOEXPORT
COLOR r-value g-value b-value
PCB-LAYER <layer name>
PCB-ATTRIBUTE <attribute name>
END-CLASS
• The profile class name must comply with the Creo Elements/Direct Modeling object naming conventions. This name can consists of characters ranging from A-Z, a-z, and 0-9. A period (".") should not be used. Profile class names must be unique.
• The pcb-board component class of type BOARD and the default component class of type PACKAGE are required.
• The BOARD component type is reserved for the printed circuit board itself. The sdpcb_eif.cfg file (or your working copy of this file) must contain a single COMPONENT-CLASS of type BOARD.
EIF profilet
Do not create your own profiles or profile types in this configuration file. However, you can comment out profiles and profile types that should not be used. Also, you can change the color of any profile type.
* 
RESTRICT type profiles do not return an error message if you place parts on them. The restriction is merely an "off limits" indicator for facilitating your design work.
PROFILE-TYPE can be:
BODY-OUTLINE
The profile is placed on a permanent workplane. It is extruded by the HEIGHT value in the current PROFILE section to create the part body. The profile on the workplane must be valid for an extrude command and may contain only one outer profile.
BOARD-CUTOUT
The 2D geometry of the profile is placed on a permanent workplane and used to punch the board. The profile on a BOARD-CUTOUT workplane must be valid for a punch operation.
RESTRICT-AREA
The 2D geometry of the profile is placed on a permanent workplane. The profile on a RESTRICT-AREA workplane may contain several closed polygons.
RESTRICT-BODY-TOP
The 2D geometry of the profile is placed on a permanent workplane representing a height restrict area on the top side of the board. The restrict height is taken from the HEIGHT value in the current PROFILE section.
RESTRICT-BODY-BOT
The 2D geometry of the profile is placed on a permanent workplane representing a height restrict area on the bottom side of the board. The restrict height is taken from the HEIGHT value in the current PROFILE section.
ANNOTATION
The profile is placed on a permanent workplane. Mentor Graphic arcs path, circles and geometry_construction_point are exchanged.
EIF part type
PART-TYPE can be:
BOARD
The profile may be used with components of type BOARD only.
PACKAGE
The profile may be used with components of type PACKAGE only.
ALL
The profile may be used with components of type BOARD and PACKAGE.
EIF color
The COLOR is specified as a combination of red, green, and blue values, each of which must be in the range from 0.0 to 1.1. Examples for red and yellow are provided below.
COLOR 1.0 0.0 0.0 ;; Red
COLOR 1.0 1.0 0.0 ;; Yellow
EIF PCB layer and PCB attribute
PCB-LAYER specifies the name of the Board Station layer, while PCB-ATTRIBUTE specifies name of the Board Station attribute. Be sure that the names of layers and attributes in this file are the same as in your Board Station environment.
PROFILE-CLASS definitions of PCB-LAYER and PCB-ATTRIBUTE can be as follows:
• PCB-LAYER only: the arc, path, circle from the PCB-LAYER are exchanged.
• PCB-ATTRIBUTE only: the layer independent regional attribute is exchanged.
• PCB-LAYER and PCB-ATTRIBUTE: a layer dependent regional attribute is exchanged.
Board Station attribute and layer combinations and how they are used by the EE Link are described in Table 1.
Board Station layer and attribute combinations
The following table describes how Creo Elements/Direct Modeling IDF Data Adapter (PCB I/F) maps Board Station attribute and layer combinations.
Table 1. BoardStation Attribute / Layer Combinations
PCB Attribute
PCB Layer
Creo Elements/Direct Modeling IDF Data Adapter (PCB I/F) Usage
DRILL_DEFINITION
n.a.
BOARD-CUTOUT profile
DRILL_DEFINITION_UNPLATED
n.a.
BOARD-CUTOUT profile
TERMINAL_DRILL_SIZE
n.a.
BOARD-CUTOUT profile
COMPONENT_PLACEMENT_OUTLINE
n.a.
BODY-OUTLINE profile
BOARD_ROUTING_OUTLINE
n.a.
RESTRICT-AREA profile
BOARD_PLACEMENT_OUTLINE
n.a.
RESTRICT-AREA profile
BOARD_PLACEMENT_REGION
Bottom
RESTRICT-BODY-BOT profile
BOARD_PLACEMENT_KEEPOUT
Place, Place_1, Place_2
RESTRICT-AREA profile
ROUTING_KEEPOUT
Routing_keepout, Signal_n
RESTRICT-AREA profile
TRACE_KEEPOUT
Trace_keepout, Signal_n
RESTRICT-AREA profile
VIA_KEEPOUT
Via_keepout, Signal_n
RESTRICT-AREA profile
n.a.
BOARD_OUTLINE
BODY-OUTLINE profile
arc, path and circle
n.a.
Any MG documentation layer, arc, path, circle, and geometry_constr_points
ANNOTATE profile