Importing IDF

IDF file contains the Mechanical holes and shapes. Before one can import the Mechanical holes one need to create the part netlist listing all the Reference name and packages for all the holes.

Using SKILL its possible to extract this information from the IDF file. 

I have written a skill program that has the following features:

• It creates the Netlist file for all the mechanical holes found in the IDF file and then automatically loads this in the current Allegro database.
• It removes the Board outline from the IDF file(EMN format in my case) as my Allegro database already has Board Outline.
• There are some other custom text manipulations involved.
• It then automatically imports the IDF file in the current Allegro database.

Netlist Import syntax is shown below:

$PACKAGES

[packagename]!devicetype;reference_designator

$END