Altiumr To Xpeditionr Translator User Guide Exclusive Review
For organizations that have accumulated legacy designs in Altium but have since standardized on Xpedition for new development, the translation tool provides a viable path forward. The ability to translate not just designs but also central libraries enables teams to maintain continuity while transitioning their toolchain.
Which of Altium and Xpedition are you currently running?
Before running the translator, proper preparation is essential to avoid errors. altiumr to xpeditionr translator user guide exclusive
Understanding how object primitives map between the two architectural frameworks is essential for validating the output. Object Class Altium Designer Primitives Siemens Xpedition Primitives .SchDoc Sheets, Ports, Power Ports Blocks, Hierarchical Pins, Globals Symbols Pin Properties, IEEE Symbols, Parameters Properties, Pin Components, Part Numbers Footprints Primitives, Pad Types, 3D STEP Models Cells, Padstacks, Mechanical Models Layout Polygons, Rooms, Keepouts Copper Planes, Areas, Prohibitions Special Layer Mapping Rules
: In Xpedition, use the Project Migration Wizard . For some configurations, such as PADS Professional, the translator may be located in the installation directory under SDD_HOME\common\win32\bin\mglaunch.exe if not visible in the start menu. Schematic Conversion : Point the translator to the Altium schematic files. For organizations that have accumulated legacy designs in
To ensure a smooth migration, follow this guide based on the Siemens SupportNet documentation and industry best practices. 1. Pre-Translation: The "Clean Data" Rule
Many engineers mistakenly attempt to use the ODB++ or Gerber intermediate formats. This is a catastrophic error for editable layouts. For some configurations, such as PADS Professional, the
Altium frequently embeds absolute paths. Xpedition relies on variable paths (e.g., $CENTRAL_LIBRARY ). Ensure your ee.ini or project configuration files are updated to recognize the Altium source directories.
Accurate layer mapping is critical for successful translation. The translator establishes a direct mapping between Altium primitives and Xpedition constructs, with rule-based translations for footprints and nets. For designs with complex layer stacks (including rigid-flex configurations), the translation preserves multiple board outlines and their respective layer stack assignments.
By following this guide and utilizing the tool's mapping features effectively, users can successfully migrate complex designs with minimal manual intervention.