Using Files

When you save a database using the VisualCAM Save command, all the design data are contained within the single file (any original Gerber files remain untouched and are no longer needed). The File|Open command is used for opening VisualCAM database files.

Creating a New Design

To create a new design, select the File|New command. This clears your workspace and allows you to begin a new (and initially untitled) design. You may begin adding data manually or importing files into your design.

When you are ready to save your new design for the first time, VisualCAM will prompt you to choose a new filename for your design.

Opening/Importing

Any file that is not a VisualCAM (.vcam) or GerbTool (.gtd) database must be imported into VisualCAM, using an appropriate command. The following list shows supported file formats, and what command is used to import them. You can find sample files in many of the below formats in the Samples folder of your VisualCAM program folder.

The Import Wizard will recognize all of the "importable" files listed below. If you are in doubt about a file's format, the Import Wizard will tell you. If you know you are importing a non-Gerber file, such as a DXF file, we recommend you use the import command specific to that format. (It will save you the time of having to step through the various Import Wizard dialog boxes.)

When importing 274-D Gerber files, external aperture list files are required. VisualCAM provides aperture list conversion for most of the popular CAD and photo-plotter aperture list formats in use today. This conversion process will translate a CAD aperture list directly into VisualCAM, reducing data entry related problems.

There are also files that are used by VisualCAM, but do not need to be imported or opened; you simply need to tell VisualCAM where they are located, in case they need to be used. If any of the below files are provided for you in the VisualCAM program folder, the name of the sub-directory is indicated:

Drag-and-Drop 274-X and .vcam Files

All the necessary aperture information is contained within 274-X files, and VisualCAM database (.vcam) files contain all the necessary information for an entire design. Because of this, it is a simple task for VisualCAM to load these files. VisualCAM offers a simple "drag-and-drop" feature for importing 274-X files and opening VisualCAM files, allowing you to view your data quickly.

1. Open VisualCAM and the Windows File Explorer.

2. In Windows Explorer, find the 274-X or .vcam file you wish to import.

3. Click on the file and hold down your mouse button. Drag the cursor to the VisualCAM workspace, and release the mouse button. The data immediately appears in the workspace.

Troubleshooting Gerber Import

The Import Wizard automatically detects the format of your Gerber files, and imports them accordingly. Some issues with importing Gerber data and aperture tables may occur, however, so below are some tips for making sure your data are imported properly.

• Since Gerber files contain only numbers with no decimal point, a number such as X12345 could mean 1.2345 inches, 12.345 inches, or 123.45 inches. If any of your files came in too large or too small, you need to start the import process again and select a more appropriate M.N Format for your files.

• If the M.N setting is correct but a file is still not correctly imported, check to make sure the Zero Suppression setting is correct. Zeros are added to numbers in a file to make sure they fit the required M.N setting. If a number is X01234, and you use 2.3 format but suppress leading zeros, a 1.234 file will import as 12.34.

• If there is an incorrect Coordinate Mode setting, files usually read in as a long jagged line or sunburst. Absolute coordinates are used when the locations refer to a common origin (0,0). Incremental coordinates are when each coordinate is a displacement from the previous.  Double-check this setting for any errors.

• Your data may be imported correctly, but the layers are not aligned properly or the origin is set far away from the actual data extents. This is often a problem in Gerber files exported from PADS PowerPCB, which (by default) centers layers based on a page (film) format size, with the origin is based on the lower-left corner of the page. You can fix this by disabling the default setting in PowerPCB. Otherwise use the Edit|Align Layers command to align the layers, and Edit|Origin to change the origin.

Tip: A Videoclip about importing PowerPCB files is available. (Internet access required.)

Saving/Exporting

The File|Save and File|Save As commands are used to save VisualCAM database (.vcam) files. To save to any file format that is not a VisualCAM database (such as Gerber),  you must use an appropriate Export or Save command. The following list shows supported file formats, and what command is used to export them.

Gerber for Beginners

ACR Files

Aperture List Files

Sample VisualCAM Netlist (.nl) File

Text Font Files

Color List File