To Import ECAD Context data
Use the Import ECAD Context Data dialog box to filter the types of data to import and the destination area on the board.
Note the following:
• At any step of the process, click Back to return to the previous step.
• At any step of a search, click New search to start a new search. The defaults are restored and all available options appear in the Search Summary table.
• To view a list of notifications about the import, click 
. The Notifications area appears. The name of the log file appears in the tab.
. The Notifications area appears. The name of the log file appears in the tab.Use the following procedures to select, import ECAD context data, and set the geometry representation where applicable:
Selecting an ECAD Context Data File
1. In an open ECAD assembly or an open or active board part, click 
Import ECAD Context Data. The Import ECAD Context Data dialog box opens.
Import ECAD Context Data. The Import ECAD Context Data dialog box opens.2. Set the path to the file to open in one of these ways:
◦ Type the file path.
◦ Click 
Open. The Open dialog box opens. Click the arrow next to Open and select the type of file you want to import. Select the file, and click Open.
Open. The Open dialog box opens. Click the arrow next to Open and select the type of file you want to import. Select the file, and click Open.The file path displays in the box.
Importing All ECAD Context Data
To import all ECAD context data, select Import all and click Import. All data is imported. This method is not recommended for importing a large amount of ECAD context data.
• Import can take a long time.
• Model size increases and can become overloaded.
• Updating the position of ECAD context data on a flexible board can take a long time.
Selecting ECAD Context Data to Import
1. To select the ECAD context data to import, select Import selected (recommended) and click Next. The Select Data To Import page opens.
2. To set the types of data to search for, select a Look for option. All data is the default.
3. To set the layer for the data search, select a Look in option. Top and Bottom Layers is the default.
Using Simple Search to Select ECAD Context Data
Type the name of a net in the box. The name can include wildcard characters.
Using Advanced Search to Select ECAD Context Data
1. To refine your search, expand Advanced Search.
2. Select an item from the Criteria list.
◦ Net
◦ All Data
◦ Pin Pads
◦ Via Pads
◦ Routes
◦ Planes
◦ Conductive Figures
◦ Silkscreen
◦ Solder Mask
◦ Paste Mask
3. Select a condition from the Condition list and a value from the Value list.
4. To add the search criteria to the table, click Add to List.
5. To add additional search criteria, repeat the steps above.
Using Box Selection
1. To further refine your search by selecting an area on the board for importing data, expand Box Select.
2. Click 
. Arrows appear on the sides of the boards.
. Arrows appear on the sides of the boards.3. Drag the arrows to select an area of the board.
Finding the ECAD Context Data that Meets Your Search Criteria
1. When you finish setting your search criteria, click Find now. The results appear in the Search Summary table.
2. To exclude all items of a specific type from the import, clear the Include check box. These items are not imported.
 | If you clear all check boxes to exclude all items, you no longer have data to import. The commands Next and Import are disabled. |
Loading and Saving Search Results
To save your filters to a text file, follow the steps below.
1. Click > .
2. The Save a Copy dialog box opens.
3. To change the default File Name type a new name for the text file.
4. Click OK.
To load a filters file follow the steps below.
1. Click > . The Open dialog box opens.
2. Select a filters text file (*.txt).
3. Click Open. The saved search filters populate the respective fields.
Setting ECAD Context Data Representation
1. To set the geometry representation for ECAD context data, click Next. The Customize Data Settings page opens.
2. To set the representation by layer, select an option from the Geometry Representation list next to the layer.
◦ All Entities (default)
◦ All Surfaces
◦ All Quilts
3. To set representation by the type of ECAD context data, from the Geometry Representation list next to the layer, select Varied representation.
4. Select an option for the each data type from the Geometry Representation list next to the data name.
◦ Entities
◦ Surfaces
◦ Quilts
Importing Selected ECAD Context Data
After you select the ECAD context data to import, set the area for import, and set data representation, click Import. ECAD context data that meets the search criteria are imported with the assigned geometry representation.