Applied Parameters: None
Summary
This command is used to import a ProStep EDMD Baseline file that has been created by the mechanical designer - otherwise called the MCAD Baseline file (MCAD Baseline.idx). Collaboration between the ECAD and MCAD domains uses ProStep's Electrical Design, Mechanical Design (EDMD) standard for data exchange, that is based on XML protocol. This collaborative standard is often simply referred to by the name of the exchange file format - IDX (Incremental Design EXchange format). With this intermediate exchange file (*.idx), an electrical designer can export only changes to the board design that are needed (and of value) by the mechanical designer. Conversely, the mechanical designer can float change proposals back to the electrical designer, who can then import those changes back into their design.
For a high level overview of this ECAD-MCAD collaborative functionality, see
IDX Support.
Support for this standard of collaboration between ECAD and MCAD domains is available in Altium Designer, courtesy of the Mechanical CAD Collaboration extension. This extension allows you to incrementally exchange data between Altium Designer and mechanical CAD applications (such as SOLIDWORKS), using the ProStep EDMD exchange format. Functionality includes support for change requests, as well as the transfer of Cu geometry.
Access
This command is accessed from the PCB Editor by choosing the File » Import » MCAD IDX Baseline command from the main menus.
The command is only available once the
Mechanical CAD Collaboration software extension is installed in Altium Designer. This extension can be found on the
Purchased tab of the
Extensions & Updates view (click on the
control at the top-right of the workspace and choose
Extensions and Updates from the menu). You will need to restart Altium Designer to complete the installation.
Use
After launching the command, the Import MCAD Baseline dialog will appear from where you can browse to and specify the MCAD Baseline file (MCAD Baseline.idx) and the PCB document into which proposed changes are to be synchronized.
Once the MCAD Baseline EDMD file has been imported, collaboration proceeds through the Mechanical CAD Collaboration panel.
Tips
- Altium Designer supports IDX format version 2.0 only.
-
The Mechanical CAD Collaboration panel provides controls for keeping changes synchronized between the ECAD and MCAD domains. Changes are proposed through EDMD Changes files:
-
If the mechanical designer has proposed some changes and sent them across in a new EDMD Changes file, the panel allows those changes to be received (imported) into the PCB design, for consideration.
- If some changes have been made to the board, the panel can detect these changes (except copper changes) and list them, ready for export to an EDMD Changes file, that is subsequently made available to the mechanical designer.
