How do I import ViewDraw schematics into Multisim/Ultiboard

[AnthonV]

Hi, we are thinking of moving some of our designs done in ViewDraw (schematic capture) and Pantheon (PCB layout) to Multisim/Ultiboard.  However there seems to be no way of porting our existing schematics to NI's solution (apart from redrawing it!).

Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks!

[Tien_P]

Hi,

Multisim can import schematic created with OrCAD and that's it, you won't be able to open ViewDraw files with Multisim and the same is true with Ultiboard and Pantheon files. Ultiboard have a built in Gerber viewer and you can use it to open Gerber files generated by Pantheon and this may be useful when you to redo layout with Ultiboard.

[AnthonV]

So my only hope is to find a ViewDraw-to-Orcad schematic converter?  Failing that I would have to redraw the schematic in Multisim.

[Tien_P]

Hi,

I would not spend too much time with this, if you can find a tool to converter ViewDraw schematic to OrCAD then sure try it but anytime you convert a file create with one tool to another there will likely be things that don't convert correctly and you are just compounding the problem by going through an additional conversion.

[AnthonV]

Hi Tien, I did not heed your warning and I have converted our ViewDraw 8 files to Orcad.  The output files are attached.

The orcad translator uses the viewdraw *.ini file and the libraries to generate the orcad *.DNS file and *.OLB (old lib files).

Once these file (*.DNS & *.OLB) are opened in Multisim, the project opens, but no components are added/placed.

(I’m not sure if it is because the Multisim we have is an evaluation package and these import features are not available?)

Could you please check these files on your side to see what the problem could be?  We need to know whether this conversion will work before we consider purchasing Mutlisim/Ultiboard.

Your help will be greatly appreciated! 

[Tien_P]

I am having trouble opening your file with OrCAD.  In OrCAD I seleced File>>Open>>Design and this is the message I got:

Follow by this message;

[Tien_P]

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