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Supported ECAD Systems

Some of the common ECAD Systems capable of producing the IDF files required by CircuitWorks products are listed below. Even if the system you use isn't listed, it's still possible it might be capable of producing the files required by CircuitWorks. If in doubt, please try looking in the help file of your ECAD system, or contacting your ECAD vendor.

Don't forget that an IDF 2.0 or 3.0 'file' is actually two files on disk, one normally has the suffix *.emn, and one normally has the suffix *.emp, although other suffix pairs are also used. CircuitWorks needs both files in the same location with the same name to work correctly - e.g. 'example.emn' and 'example.emp'. IDF 4.0 files are normally a single file on disk with the suffix *.idf, so a typical IDF 4.0 file would be 'example.idf'.


Vendor System IDF 2.0 IDF 3.0 IDF 4.0  Website  Comments
Altium Designer Import & Export Import & Export No www.altium.com

Altium P-CAD PCB Import & Export Import & Export No www.altium.com

Kovac Software AutoTRAX EDA Export only No No www.autotraxeda.com

Cadence Allegro Import & Export Import & Export No www.cadence.com IDF 3.0 from v15.1
Cadence Orcad Layout Import & Export No No www.orcad.com

CIM-Team GmbH CADES-G Import & Export Import & Export No www.cim-team.com

I.B. Friedrich Target 3001! Export only No No www.ibfriedrich.com

Intercept Pantheon Import & Export Import & Export No www.intercept.com

Mentor Graphics BoardStation Import & Export Import & Export No www.mentor.com

Mentor Graphics Expedition PCB Import & Export Import & Export No www.mentor.com

Mentor Graphics Supermax E-CAD Import & Export Import & Export No www.mentor.com

Mentor Graphics PADS Power PCB Imports & Exports* Imports & Exports* No www.mentor.com *IDF Link module available as a cost option.
Number One Systems Easy-PC Export only* Export only* No www.numberone.com *Available as a cost option.
WestDev Limited Pulsonix Import & Export Import & Export No www.pulsonix.com

Tsien BoardMaker 3 Export only No No www.tsien.info

Yokogawa Digital Computer Cadvance No Import & Export Export Only www.ydc.co.jp


Valor Trilogy 5000 Import & Export Import & Export No www.valor.com

Valor Enterprise 3000 Import & Export Import & Export No www.valor.com

Visionics EDWin XP No Export only No www.edwinxp.com

Zuken CadStar Import & Export* Import & Export* No www.zuken.com *Not included in product. Additional software required.
Zuken CR-5000 Import & Export No No www.zuken.com


Zuken Theda Autoboard Import & Export Import & Export No www.zuken.com



Supported Thermal Modeling Systems

The IDF file format can also be used to interchange ECAD data between an ECAD System and a Thermal Modeling System. Thermal Modeling Systems are widely used by electronics designers to analyze heat transfer problems in electronic packages and boards. A list of Thermal Modeling Systems with support for the IDF file format is listed below:

Vendor System IDF 2.0 IDF 3.0 IDF 4.0  Website  Comments
ANSYS Icepak Import & Export Import & Export No www.icepak.com

ANSYS Iceboard Import & Export Import & Export No www.ansys.com/products/iceboard.asp


If you spot an error, or know of a Thermal Modeling or ECAD System that can import or export the IDF file format which isn't listed here, then please Contact Us so we can update the information.

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