This command allows you to import one or more Gerber files into the first empty block of consecutive layers available the current database. All files selected must be of the same file format. If you have files of a different format, you must repeat the use of this command for each type of file, or use the Import Wizard.
Tip: Polygon Voids in 274-X files are supported, but are not recognized as standalone entities. Voids are only relative to the closed and filled polygon that contain them. If you query a polygon void (Query|Item command), the information returned is for the polygon itself. Polygon voids also cannot be modified, added, or deleted.
If the files being imported are in the 274-D format, Use the File|Import|Aperture List command to import the Aperture list that goes with your Gerber files. Gerber files in the extended formats (like 274-X) contain their own aperture information, so no aperture list needs to be imported.
If you already have a database loaded, incoming D-codes with duplicate numbers are automatically remapped to new D-codes, as needed.
Select the File|Import|Gerber command. an Import dialog box appears.
Click the file you wish to import. If you wish to select more than one, press and hold down the Ctrl key and click on each file name. Then click the Open button to confirm your selection. The Gerber Import Data Format dialog box appears.
The system has already run a series of checks to determine the format of your files. The detected format is displayed in the Gerber Import Data Format dialog box. If you make any changes, click the Apply button to see those changes reflected in the thumbnail view of the file. This allows you to verify the accuracy prior to actually importing the files.
Dialect
Indicates the specific format of the Gerber file: 274-D, 274-X, or FIRE9XXX. In order for VisualCAM to identify a file as 274-X, the FS statement and at least one ADD statement must be present in the file. If either statement is missing, it will be identified as 274-D.
If you think a file is 274-X, but is identified by VisualCAM as 274-D open the file in a text editor to verify the format.
If the Format Statement is missing, you can either manually add it to the file in the text editor, or specify the settings in the Gerber Import Data Format dialog box. The file should then import without further issues.
If the Aperture Definition statement is missing, you can specify the format settings in the Gerber Import Data Format dialog box. The file will import without any aperture definitions, which you can add later (if desired) using the Setup|Apertures command.
If you need further information regarding Gerber file formats, see Gerber for Beginners.
M.N
This is the coordinate format. For example, a 2.3 format specifies two decimal digits before an implied decimal point and three following. (12250 represents 12.250 if the coordinate format is 2.3).
Terminator
Indicate the block terminator (EOB) as either * or $.
Coordinate Mode
Absolute mode is when all X:Y coordinates are referenced to a common origin. Incremental mode is when each X:Y coordinate is a displacement from the previous coordinate.
Zero Suppression
No zero suppression allows coordinates to have zeroes in front or back of integers. Leading zero suppression shows zeroes only at the end of a number, trailing zero suppression shows zeroes only at the beginning of a number.
Character Set
Indicate the character text used in the file.
Special
You may enable Metric mode indicating that your files are in metric format.
If your files have Step & Repeat codes, you can choose Flatten S&R to import all the stepped and repeated images as "real data" (for example, you are importing a panel and want to have all the images editable, instead of "virtual").
Select Honor CR/LF if carriage return and line feeds should be honored as block terminators.
The Merge Polygons option controls how Polygons are handled (G36 & G37 commands, in Gerber). If you select Merge Polygons, files with multiple G36/G37 polygons that touch or overlap are combined: If positive data, 2 or more polygons become 1, if a positive polygon is overlapped by a negative polygon, it becomes a positive polygon with a void. If you do not select this option, all polygons will be individual entities. Dark and clear polarity are maintained, though the clear items will appear black in the workspace.
Assign 274-X Polarity To
If you are importing 274-X files, you can have polarity managed in two different ways. Individual Items imports each file as a single layer, and assigns polarity on an item-by-item basis. If Layer Composites is selected, then a layer with the correct polarity is created for every logical layer (LP command) in the imported file, resulting in a composite.
Arcs
Specify whether all circular interpolated arcs should be considered 360°, whether redundant coordinates should be removed from arcs, whether to convert small arcs to linear line segments, and the chord angle used in segmenting arcs found in filled polygons.
If small arcs are to be converted to linear line segments, the two parameters that affect this conversion are the angle and the delta. Min Arc Angle specifies the smallest sweep angle that an arc may be before it is selected for segmentation. Min Arc Delta specifies the smallest distance between end points of an arc before it is selected for segmentation.
Set Min/Max Board Size
VisualCAM attempts to determine the size of your design based upon various values in the file. The dimensions are indicated in the dialog box above the thumbnail view of the design. If the indicated size is significantly larger or smaller than the actual design, you can specify a size range for your design. VisualCAM will then recalculate the size, based upon those limits. If your boards typically fall within a certain size range and use the same data format, specifying a minimum and maximum board size value and saving the settings as the default values can aid the import process in the future.
Apply To All
Applies the selected settings to all imported files.
Apply To
This is the directory path and name of the Gerber file you are importing.
Set As Default
Saves the current settings as the default settings for Gerber files whose format cannot be identified by VisualCAM. If an imported file can be identified by VisualCAM, the dialog box settings are set accordingly (not to the default settings).
Use Default
Applies the saved default settings to the imported files, overriding the detected format. If you use standard settings, take note of the thumbnail view prior to completing the import process. If a design is loaded with an incorrect format specified, VisualCAM will attempt to display it with unpredictable results. If you inadvertently import a Gerber file incorrectly, use the Undo command and re-import.
When you are finished, click the OK button to import your files.