How Do I Import Altium Files Into EasyEDA?

To import Altium files into EasyEDA, you need to use EasyEDA's import function, ensuring your Altium schematic and PCB files are saved in ASCII format.

Importing your Altium designs into EasyEDA allows you to continue working on your projects or utilize existing libraries within the EasyEDA environment. The process is straightforward, primarily involving selecting the correct files and choosing the import type.

Steps for Importing Altium Files

The key steps based on the provided reference are as follows:

1. Prepare Your Altium Files: Your Altium design files must be saved in ASCII format. This applies to both the schematic (.SchDoc) and the PCB document (.PcbDoc). If your files are in binary format, you'll need to open them in Altium Designer and save them as ASCII.
2. Select Files in EasyEDA: Within EasyEDA, navigate to the import function. You will need to select the prepared schematic and PCB files.
3. Choose Import Type: You are typically presented with options regarding what you want to import. According to the reference, you can choose to import files (which implies the entire project, schematic and PCB) or extract libraries from the design.

Detailed Process

The general flow looks like this:

• Export from Altium:
  • Open your schematic (.SchDoc) in Altium Designer.
  • Go to File > Save As... and select "Altium Designer Schematic ASCII" as the file type.
  • Open your PCB document (.PcbDoc) in Altium Designer.
  • Go to File > Save As... and select "Altium Designer PCB ASCII" as the file type.
• Import into EasyEDA:
  • Log in to EasyEDA.
  • Find the import option (often under File > Import).
  • Select the ASCII schematic file and the ASCII PCB file you saved from Altium.
  • Follow the prompts to choose whether you want to import the complete project or extract components and footprints as libraries.

Why ASCII Format is Crucial

EasyEDA's import tool relies on the human-readable structure of the ASCII file format to correctly parse the design data. Binary formats are specific to Altium Designer and are not easily interpreted by external software like EasyEDA. Ensuring your files are saved as ASCII is the most critical first step for a successful import.

Import Options

When importing, you generally have two main goals:

• Importing the Project: This brings your schematic and PCB layout into EasyEDA, allowing you to view and edit the entire design.
• Extracting Libraries: This option focuses on saving the components (symbols) from the schematic and footprints from the PCB into your EasyEDA library, which you can then use in new or existing EasyEDA projects.

Choosing the right option depends on whether you plan to continue working on the specific Altium project in EasyEDA or simply want to add the components and footprints used in that design to your personal EasyEDA library collection.

For further details and potential troubleshooting, consult the official EasyEDA documentation on importing Altium Designer files: Import Altium Designer files into EasyEDA