Importing files from Altium designer to Eagle

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I'd like to know if it's possible to import files created with Altium Designer into Eagle? 
So far i can't find any helpfull information about this specific subject online. 

Thanks in advance.

[edwin.robledo]

HI eric.bramer,

Greatly appreciate your participation on the forum.  Altium does have the capability of exporting their design files in file form called ACCEL ASCII format.  This is a data structure EAGLE is able to import.  If you wish to import a schematic, click on File/Import/Pcad, Altium, protel option.  Then follow the prompts on the dialog box.  Follow the same steps for a board.

I hope this helps.

Best Regards,

Ed

Please 'accept as solution' if my reply resolves your issue.

[Anonymous]

Hello Edwin, 

I've been attempting what I think is your suggestions with not much success. I seem to be able to get wires from my imported schematic but almost every part generates multiple errors when importing. Hundreds of errors on larger single sheet schematics. 

So much so that I generated a simple test with 1 component schematic (cer cap - C0603). I exported from Altium (Save Project as - PCAD V16 ASCII) . Imported as you outline however the component generate multiple errors. This is indicative of multiple tests I've run, including a larger schematic with multiple parts. Lost count of how many errors occurred but they were all similar to this below;

<note: path has been changed to obfuscate the pc I'm running on>

The following errors occurred on only one part. 4 errors in all. The first occurred when it appeared to be 75% complete. Not sure if that is important. 

C:/Users/someguy/Documents/test/Test.scr, Line 56:
 
Device not found: C0603
 
C:/Users/someguy/Documents/test/Test.scr, Line 61:
 
Invalid part or gate name: 'C1G1'
 
C:/Users/someguy/Documents/test/Test.scr, Line 63:
 
Unknown part: C1G1>NAME
 
C:/Users/someguy/Documents/test/Test.scr, Line 64:
 
Unknown part: C1G1>NAME

I should also note that; I am a complete n00b to Eagle. Long time user of Altium (at work) but was looking for a reasonably cost option for my home. I've been generally aware of Eagle for a number of years but first time diving in. I am hoping to be able to import some Altium schematics and possibly layouts if it proves well. 

Thoughts? Thank you.

Cheers, Kevin

[matt.berggren]

Hi Kevin!

Welcome to the dark side!  😉  ...I too have a long history with Altium and though getting used to EAGLE took me time, I find new and clever things every day (of course I have the advantage of looking at it from the source code AND the UI/UX vantage points!).  If you'd like to send me the Altium file / PCAD file, I can have a look for you.  Do you know the version of Altium you're using?  That PCAD export (from Altium) may be getting long in the tooth however we're working on Altium import and should have a much better path for the data sometime soon -ish!

You can email me the files directly.  My email is [email protected] 

Best regards,

Matt Berggren - Director

Autodesk Fusion Electronics

EAGLE

[Anonymous]

Hi Matt, 

Well, the interface is indeed different but I certainly don't mind exploring the dark side! I believe the files were created with Altium 10, some much earlier, but I'll confirm. I had an old collegue save the recent files for me to import. Indeed, a better path would be appreciated. I have several years and several designs I'd like to bring over (to the dark side) but have to admit, if it is too difficult I may need to the move to the more expensive option. Not my first or best choice. 

Sure would be nice to find that better path. Could scripting help? It's one of the things that attracted me over. I have a bit of a software background as well. Actually thought about giving kicad a whirl but honestly, my former comment about time made that path a little less ideal as well. However, I'm on the dark side for the time being. Hope I can make this work. I'll hit you up on the email addr below with my basic file, as well as my more complex one. It's actually not all that complex just a whole lot more errors. 

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly! 

Cheers, Kevin

[Anonymous]

Hi Matt,

I'm also struggling with exporting Altium board and schematics to give/manipulate in Eagle. Would I be able to send you my files and you convert for me?

Thanks!

Morris

[Anonymous]

Hi Morris, 

I hope Matt is able to help you.

Unfortunately I was not able to get to a state where I could easily import. I ended up re-creating designs. Have to say, sadly, today I think I'm moving on from Eagle. Or at least, re-evaluating ... today I learned there is NO upgrade path from Standard to Premium. I was going to take the plunge and 'upgrade' to premium and 'hope' for some resolution to importing. My experience is mostly disappointing. 

Wish you all the best in quest. 

-Kevin

[matt.berggren]

Hi Guys -

Please resend your design files to me directly.  [email protected]

Cheers,

Matt

[Anonymous]

Hello Matt.

I have emailed you regarding the file conversion to Eagle. Kindly look into it. I appreciate your help.

Thank You.

Kartik

[ron.autodeskHKXXS]

When might the importing of Altium files be supported by Eagle? I've seen "coming soon" messages for a year or more.

I have a design that needs to be converted. It would be unfortunate if I recreated it from scratch and a day later it is part of Eagle 🙂

Even an imperfect (alpha or beta level) tool would be better than starting from scratch!

[matt.berggren]

Hi Ron —

Can you email me the design files? My email is [email protected]. (Funny you bring it up, I’m actually in the code as I read this. Still a fair bit of work to do but I can see what I can do to put this thru via debugger!)

Best regards,

Matt

[drgeneral]

Any update on this? Am trying to migrate TO Eagle from Altium but without an import don't think it's going to happen. Reached out to Matt in a private e-mail a few weeks ago but no reply, so going to try this route again..

[rachaelATWH4]

---

@drgeneral wrote:

Any update on this? Am trying to migrate TO Eagle from Altium but without an import don't think it's going to happen. Reached out to Matt in a private e-mail a few weeks ago but no reply, so going to try this route again..

---

Have you looked at library.io? It looks like it'll import and convert Altium libraries on there.

Best Regards,

Rachael

[ron.autodeskHKXXS]

After Matt's invitation a few weeks ago, I sent him an Altium design, but I have not heard anything back either. I'm hoping they're working it. It would be a lot of work to recreate everything from scratch.

[drgeneral]

Thanks Rachel - promising so had a look but it looks like it only imports libraries. Tried uploading a schematic and it didn't seem to recognize any of it.

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone,

I'm very new to Eagle, except the fact I used it a short time 17 years ago !

Then, professionaly, I switched Altium Designer...

I plan to switch again to Eagle, and as many users here, I would want to import some of my "olds" Altium designs into Eagle.

I realized some interesting import theses days.

A pcb from Eagle to Altium works great.

The same pcb, from Altium to Eagle causes many error in Eagle, but by clicking OK to the end of import, the pcb is finally imported with few differences (eg polygon isolation classes are differents from the original pcb)

However,

importing schematic is a bit difficult.

During import, Eagle create a library contening only symbols, neither devices nor footprints.

Import process generate errors like

# error: 'Q?' device '2N3904' is not defined

The resulting schematic contain only wire and nets, but no symbol.

I suspect that if the library had consistent devices, the resulting schematic would contain symbols.

Attached,

you will find an archive containing a simple schematic in PCAD format created with Altium, and resulting files after import in Eagle.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Pascal

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone,

take a look at the joined archive, it contains a pcad ascii pcb, and resulting conversion in Eagle.

However, as I said above, there are non blocking errors like that:

By clicking OK until the end, it works.

Thanks a lot in advance for your help !

Pascal

[jorge_garcia]

Hi @Anonymous,

I hope you're doing well. Thank you for the file. I was able to see the exact same assert, I've created a bug report for this.

Please let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[Anonymous]

Hello Jorge,

thanks a lot for your contribution and your help.

I would be very nice for all the community that Altium importer works well !

I think this is a very usefull feature: it's like when you come to Linux from Windows 😉

[Anonymous]

Hi Jorge,

I imported Altium PCBlib file and it is properly seen on https://library.io/libraries/5997362-WiMOD_Modules_PCBLib

But when I download this library as "imported" and try to open it in Eagle 9.2.0 it complains:

"Loading /Users/bobie/Downloads/WiMOD_Modules_PCBLib (1).lbr ...

Warning(s):

line 212: invalid value '' for attribute 'name' in tag <pad>

Error:

line 212, column 130: invalid/missing attribute 'name' in tag <pad>"

Could you please check it? Since I downloaded PCB file directly from IMST.de site:

https://wireless-solutions.de/products/radiomodules/im282a.html

I hope it has proper format.

 Maciej