Using Kicad 8.0, I’m trying to import into KiCAD .PCB files created in P-CAD 2006. However, when using the standard “File / Import / Non Ki-CAD Board File…” and selecting the desired .PCB file, all that happens is a dialog briefly popping up saying “Loading PCB” and then the blank PCB remains.
Trying to open up the .PCB file with Notepad shows
“;P-CAD 2000 PCB V15.10.17
before a whole bunch of binary gobbledygook. Can KiCAD only import PCB ASCII format? Should I request the PCB gets reshared in a different format?
dsa-t
May 6, 2025, 11:45pm
2
Yes, the file should start with ACCEL_ASCII
1 Like
I’d expect at least an error message with a short explanation.
elveberg:
Using Kicad 8.0, I’m trying to import into KiCAD .PCB files created in P-CAD 2006. However, when using the standard “File / Import / Non Ki-CAD Board File…” and selecting the desired .PCB file, all that happens is a dialog briefly popping up saying “Loading PCB” and then the blank PCB remains.
Trying to open up the .PCB file with Notepad shows
“;P-CAD 2000 PCB V15.10.17
before a whole bunch of binary gobbledygook. Can KiCAD only import PCB ASCII format? Should I request the PCB gets reshared in a different format?
Ask whoever provided the file to export or save it as an ASCII format version of the P-CAD PCB file. In P-CAD 2006, they can typically do this via:
File > Save As or Export, and select ASCII PCB as the format.