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Subject:	Re: [geda-user] Refactoring in PCB
From:	Peter Clifton <pcjc2 AT cam DOT ac DOT uk>
To:	geda-user AT delorie DOT com
Date:	Fri, 16 Jan 2015 01:14:33 +0000
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On Thu, 2015-01-15 at 17:34 -0500, Jason White wrote:
> On Thu, Jan 15, 2015 at 2:58 PM, John Griessen <john AT ecosensory DOT com> wrote:
> > On 01/06/2015 05:19 PM, Peter Clifton wrote:
> >>
> >> Importing gerber files into PCB is a "wouldn't that be nice" feature
> >> I've had occasion to want several times now. You'd never recover the
> >> footprint data properly to really edit the board, but in some cases,
> >> just having tracking information (or an outline) to start from an
> >> existing board would be a real help.
> >
> > +1
> 
> +1
> 
> I (and the company I work for) have wanted/needed this feature on
> multiple occasions.

A simple naive importer would probably be fairly easy to code up, but
there are enough details around aperture macros etc. that it is probably
best to use libgerbv as the basis for any serious importer.

In the first instance, I'd still imagine it would be most pragmatic to
just warn the user and fail to translate complex entities.. (even though
libgerbv can render them into graphics).

I'd bet most Gerber files out there in the wild are pretty simple
compared to what is theoretically possible. Its been too long since I
hacked on gerbv for me to recall what primitives it renders with
internally, but I'd guess most could translate fairly directly into
in-layer geometry.

Some extra smarts might be required to turn drill-holes into fully
fledged vias, but I doubt its difficult stuff.


PS.. I've got no bandwidth to actually _do_ any of this ;)


-- 
Peter Clifton <peter DOT clifton AT clifton-electronics DOT co DOT uk>

Clifton Electronics

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