Cannot open EAGLE files made with old version

[cdenneyB9ZMH]

Hi folks. I have a customer who is sending us their design files (.brd and .sch) but they're using an old version of EAGLE. They haven't upgraded yet. I'm trying to open them in my version but I keep getting an error message (attached). 

I'm encouraging them to upgrade, but my fear is that if they upgrade, then they won't be able to open their old files once they do.

[rachaelATWH4]

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@cdenneyB9ZMH wrote:

Hi folks. I have a customer who is sending us their design files (.brd and .sch) but they're using an old version of EAGLE. They haven't upgraded yet. I'm trying to open them in my version but I keep getting an error message (attached). 

I'm encouraging them to upgrade, but my fear is that if they upgrade, then they won't be able to open their old files once they do.

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I assume you are trying to load then in v7 or v8?

I seem to recall there was some issue with importing really old EAGLE files (v4?) in v7 but my recollection of this is a little sketchy.... If I am right (and I might not be) I think the solution was to first convert them to XML using v6 and then bring them into the latest version.

Discaimer: This is all based on some vague memory of a forum post long long ago!

Best Regards,

Rachael

[cdenneyB9ZMH]

Interesting. How would you go about exporting them as XML?

[jorge_garcia · Accepted solution]

Hi @cdenneyB9ZMH,

I hope you're doing well your files pass through my hands and those of the developers. These particular files have an imperfection, basically you have an empty polygon which is a no go. I'm sure that Patrick has already passed the info on to you but let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[rachaelATWH4]

So it looks like my idea of what might be the issue was wrong (as I predicted it might be ), I'm glad Jorge was able to get you the correct solution quickly.

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@cdenneyB9ZMH wrote:

Interesting. How would you go about exporting them as XML?

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Just open it and then do a File->Save as... and I think it should save it out in the current XML format. I'm not 100% sure as I haven't got any old pre XML design files to test with to confirm and haven't ever had to convert any.

Best Regards,

Rachael

[cdenneyB9ZMH]

It looks like I downloaded the file incorrectly from Github. When I used the proper download tool everything worked fine. Sorry for bugging you all but thank you for your support.

-Chris

[wlb1]

I have Version 4.  Specifically Version 4.16R1.

How do I convert to XML????

And what is the whole process?

Bill

[one-of-the-robs]

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@wlb1 wrote:

I have Version 4.  Specifically Version 4.16R1.

How do I convert to XML????

And what is the whole process?

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The problem here is that V8 onwards (and maybe V7?) don't like V4 files, so you need to do something intermediate.

- First, obtain a copy of V5.12

- Load your V4 files into V5 and then save them (probably best to "Save As" to somewhere else)

- Open V7 or later and load the files you saved from V5

- Save them ("as" to somewhere else again)

You now have them in XML format. If you used V9 it will be the latest XML format but the V6 onwards are all mostly compatible.