How to open pcbnew from earlier version in old stable version?

Software
1

how to open pcbnew file that we’ve made in eralier version (in my case v6161) than i want open that file in old stabel version (windows and linux)? i got crash when open it… but if i open pcbnew file that we’ve made in old verson, i can open it in v6161… sorry for bad eng :frowning:

TY… :slight_smile:

2

At the moment you can’t do that without extensive hand-editing of the file. Since the last PCB file version change (introduced max. of 32 copper + 32 tech layers vs. older 16+16) it has no longer been possible to guarantee a correct mapping from the new format to the old format so the tools to export to the older (*.pcb) format were removed and you cannot export to the previous version of *.kicad_pcb either.

3

ooh ok ok, thank for the answer, i really preciate thank you :smile:

but my bos didnt want to change his kicad version from old stable to new one, primitif person lol

so… i must work from zero again for 5 pcb design, holly shit :frowning:

4

Really? Tell your boss he’s burning money… How long will it take you to redo all the boards? Weeks?

5

The current website has the release candidate for installation; what does your boss think of upgrading for new projects? Porting old projects to the new formats is a different matter; that will take some care. Migration is not trivial.

6

yaa really… i tired to tell him, just go on -_-

yaa i dont understand with his mind, his last project use eagle (or else i forget), and now he told me to use kicad, but him wont to upgrade to a new one… --
i told to him new kicad more powerfull and awesome, but he just said “I have tried to install a new one but its crashes, then I do not want to try again” very very lols --

7

just try its first… :smile:

8

I usually do it to show the kicad_pcb in stable 4022:

  1. make a backup of your .kicad_pcb file

  2. open your .kicad_pcb in text editor

  3. search for
    (pcbplotparams
    (layerselection 0x013fc_80000007)
    or similar
    and change with
    (pcbplotparams
    (layerselection 3178497)

  4. trick layers nbrs to old mapping
    (layers
    (0 F.Cu signal)
    (1 In1.Cu signal)
    (2 In2.Cu signal)
    (31 B.Cu signal)
    (32 B.Adhes user)
    (33 F.Adhes user)
    (34 B.Paste user)
    (35 F.Paste user)
    (36 B.SilkS user)
    (37 F.SilkS user)
    (38 B.Mask user)
    (39 F.Mask user)
    (40 Dwgs.User user)
    (41 Cmts.User user)
    (42 Eco1.User user)
    (43 Eco2.User user)
    (44 Edge.Cuts user)
    )

to:
(layers
(15 F.Cu signal)
(0 B.Cu signal)
(1 In1.Cu signal)
(2 In2.Cu signal)
(16 B.Adhes user)
(17 F.Adhes user)
(18 B.Paste user)
(19 F.Paste user)
(20 B.SilkS user)
(21 F.SilkS user)
(22 B.Mask user)
(23 F.Mask user)
(24 Dwgs.User user)
(25 Cmts.User user)
(26 Eco1.User user)
(27 Eco2.User user)
(28 Edge.Cuts user)
)
or better adjust layer nbr to correspondent layer name, and remove layer that are not in old pcb

that should let you open your board in 4022 version…
I wouldn’t trust the back compatibility in all features …
I normally do it only for 3D view purposes or to features not related to produce the pcb.
Anyway the new release is much better than the old one… It took me looong time to decide to swap from stable to dev (stable is a very comforting word), but I wouldn’t come back :smile:

1 Like
9

wow… very thanks for tutorial, i’ll try and report again soon…

haha… yap thats word very comfort agreed… :smiley:

ty again for help :smile:

10

wow again… very very thank for maui, great… i can open the pcb in old stabel… very very thank…

how can i give a good reputation for you in this forum? :blush:

11

click on the little heart in one of his posts… it’s a ‘like’ :wink:

12

oh… yap… done and thanks… :blush:

13

i found 1 eror when opening one kicad_pcb file… its said about F.CrtYd… can help again? :blush:

EDIT:
done… i just change that f.crtyd layer to f.silk in each part… :smiley:

regards… :blush: