Converting/opening 2013-stable layout file in 4.0.4 stable - How? (solved)

Software
1

Hi world,

I have a problem when opening an old pcb file.

My actuel KiCad version :

Version : 4.0.4-stable, release build
wxWidget 3.0.2 Unicode & Boost 1.57.0
Platform : Windows 7 (build 7601, Service Pack P1), 64b edition, 64b

When I open the old project, all looks fine but when opening the Pcbnew, there is an error :

Error loading board
IO_Error: Layer in file “***” ‘Dessous.Adhes’ is not in fixed layer hash.
…bla bla…

Here is the first lines of my “project.kicad_pc” file :

------------------------------------ START --------------------------------
(kicad_pcb (version 3) (host pcbnew “(2013-07-07 BZR 4022)-stable”)

(general
(links 163)
(no_connects 0)
(area 57.310634 94.44494 149.435714 160.42748)
(thickness 1.6)
(drawings 49)
(tracks 915)
(zones 0)
(modules 67)
(nets 57)
)

(page A4 portrait)
(title_block
(title “SoftyBadSig “Mobile””)
(rev 2.1)
(company sebCorp)
)

(layers
(15 Dessus.Cu signal)
(0 Dessous.Cu signal)
(16 Dessous.Adhes user)
(17 Dessus.Adhes user)
(18 Dessous.Pate user)
(19 Dessus.Pate user)
(20 Dessous.SilkS user)
(21 Dessus.SilkS user)
(22 Dessous.Masque user)
(23 Dessus.Masque user)
(24 Dessin.User user)
(25 Cmts.User user)
(26 Eco1.User user)
(27 Eco2.User user)
(28 Contours.Ci user)
)

(setup
(last_trace_width 0.3)
(user_trace_width 0.6)
(trace_clearance 0.25)
(zone_clearance 0)
(zone_45_only no)
(trace_min 0.3)
(segment_width 0.2)
(edge_width 0.1)
(via_size 0.6)
(via_drill 0.3)
(via_min_size 0.1)
(via_min_drill 0.1)
(uvia_size 0.3)
(uvia_drill 0.1)
(uvias_allowed no)
(uvia_min_size 0.1)
(uvia_min_drill 0.1)
(pcb_text_width 0.3)
(pcb_text_size 1.5 1.5)
(mod_edge_width 0.15)
(mod_text_size 1 1)
(mod_text_width 0.15)
(pad_size 2 2)
(pad_drill 0.9)
(pad_to_mask_clearance 0)
(aux_axis_origin 0 0)
(visible_elements 7FFFFFFF)
(pcbplotparams
(layerselection 300974081)
(usegerberextensions true)
(excludeedgelayer false)
(linewidth 0.150000)
(plotframeref false)
(viasonmask false)
(mode 1)
(useauxorigin false)
(hpglpennumber 1)
(hpglpenspeed 20)
(hpglpendiameter 15)
(hpglpenoverlay 2)
(psnegative false)
(psa4output false)
(plotreference true)
(plotvalue true)
(plotothertext true)
(plotinvisibletext false)
(padsonsilk false)
(subtractmaskfromsilk true)
(outputformat 1)
(mirror false)
(drillshape 0)
(scaleselection 1)
(outputdirectory Gerber/))
)

(net 0 “”)
(net 1 /3.3v)
(net 2 /3v_save)
(net 3 /5v)
(net 4 /D+)
(net 5 /D-)
(net 6 /GND)

2

2013 hu?
This means that the file still depends on the old way of dealing with footprints and the layer names in that file look also different to what is current.
I have no idea if that can be converted.
I adjusted the thread title, maybe someone knows how to deal with this.

3

The whole project can be converted, but need some extra manual work.

I have translated [1] the article from Polskie Centrum KiCad about the migration projects from legacy KiCad releases, and have got the permission from my redactor in chief to put it only on this forum thread.
Illustrations not been updated to English - there was no time.
MIGRATE PROJECTS TO THE NEW VERSION.pdf (1.7 MB)
(Original article can be found at http://kicad-centrum.pl/porady/przenoszenie-projektow-do-nowej-wersji)

The table which will help you fixing French layer names you can find at https://kicad.org/help/migration-from-old-stable/

[1] The translations from Polish to English isn’t my best skills so I use automated translation from time to time. Sorry.

2 Likes
4

Many thanks guys, it’s working now ! :tada:

I have “search & replace” layers names using text editor.

:warning: It don’t work if using notepad :warning:
( I have used Notepad++ and it’s OK by selecting “UTF8 encoding” )

Thanks again for your help.
Seb.

1 Like
5

Installing notepad++ for Windows needs to be in the faq

1 Like