26 Supported File Formats

GDSII is the de-facto industry standard for mask drawing and layout design. GDSII is a binary format that is platform independent, because it uses internally defined formats for its data types.

The Drawing Interchange Format (DXF) enables the interchange of drawings between AutoCAD® and other programs. DXF files can be either ASCII or binary formats. LinkCAD is compatible with all versions of the DXF format and has full support for REGION entities.

DWG is the native file format of AutoCAD®. LinkCAD supports direct DWG import and, in LinkCAD 11+, direct DWG export using the same geometry engine used for DXF workflows.

Gerber RS-274X is the most commonly used format for PCB photo-plotting applications. LinkCAD has full support for aperture macros and layer polarity in Gerber RS-274X files, alongside companion ODB++ workflows through the Gerber/ODB++ bundle.

ODB++ is a structured PCB manufacturing exchange format. LinkCAD 11 imports and exports ODB++ archives or extracted directory trees for modern CAD-to-CAM workflows.

PDF is widely used for documentation, review, and archival exchange. LinkCAD imports PDF artwork and converts it into editable layout geometry.

PostScript®/EPS is an industry standard for high-resolution printing. LinkCAD imports PostScript artwork and exports optimized PostScript for low-cost mask generation and documentation workflows.

OASIS (Open Artwork System Interchange Standard, SEMI P39-2004) is the successor to GDSII, offering significantly smaller file sizes through advanced compression. LinkCAD 11 supports full import and export of OASIS files including all repetition types and modal variable compression.

CIF is mostly used at universities for mask drawing and layout design. LinkCAD is the only program to import and export all known variations of CIF. LinkCAD supports an extension to the CIF format, called Cle CIF2.0+. These are special instructions that add donuts and symbol scaling to CIF.

Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) is an XML-based vector image format for defining two-dimensional graphics, having support for interactivity and animation. SVG images are defined in a vector graphics format and stored in XML text files. SVG images can thus be scaled in size without loss of quality, and SVG files can be searched, indexed, scripted, and compressed.

STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product Data) is a popular neutral 3D CAD file format that is interoperable among various CAD programs such as CATIA®, Creo®, SolidWorks®, NX®, Inventor®, and others. LinkCAD exports 2D layout data as extruded 3D STEP geometry for MCAD integration and visualization.

IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification) is a vendor-neutral 3D CAD exchange format. LinkCAD supports export of 2D geometries to the IGES format.

ACIS is a 3D solid and surface modeling library published by Spatial Technology. LinkCAD imports 3D ACIS cross-sections and also exports 2D layout data as 3D SAT models for downstream mechanical workflows.

Parasolid XT is a widely used 3D exchange format in Parasolid-based CAD systems. LinkCAD exports 2D layout data as 3D Parasolid XT geometry for downstream mechanical workflows.

DualBeam Stream Format (DBSF) is used with FIB/SEM (Focused Ion Beam / Scanning Electron Microscope) instruments such as FEI DualBeam systems. LinkCAD supports import and export of DBSF pattern files for direct-write lithography and nano-fabrication workflows.

GDS-TXT is a human-readable version of the GDSII file format. It is not meant for exchanging CAD data with other programs, but it allows you to write the drawing data in text form. GDS-TXT files can be opened and edited with a text editor, and the result can be read back into LinkCAD.

CAD software uses vector based image formats, such as DXF, GDSII or CIF. LinkCAD can import raster image files, such as your company logo or a photograph, and convert them to vector format. Each pixel is translated into a square polygon, and adjacent polygons are merged. LinkCAD supports both import from and export to bitmap image formats PNG, JPEG, BMP and TIFF.

LinkCAD supports a very simple text-based format for importing polygons. This allows you to quickly convert graphical data in tabular form into any of the supported file formats.

TETIN is the native geometry format of ANSYS ICEM CFD mesh generation software. LinkCAD exports 2D geometries to TETIN (.tin) format for direct use in CFD pre-processing workflows.

Ansoft Neutral Format is used for finite element modelling. Ansoft was acquired by ANSYS™ and, therefore, the Ansoft Neutral file format is also known as the ANSYS Neutral file format.

The IE3D Format is a text file that defines the graphics for the IE3D 3D Electromagnetic Simulator by Zeland Software. Both two-dimensional and three-dimensional polygons and interconnects (wires) are defined as X, Y & Z coordinates. Each vertex of a polygon has an X, Y & Z coordinate assigned on a separate line.

Sonnet provides commercial EDA software for high-frequency RF/MW electromagnetic analysis of planar circuits, filters, MMIC/RFIC, transitions, PCBs, LTCC, and planar antennas. LinkCAD supports both Sonnet import and export.

TLC is the file format used by the LASI layout editor, a free program distributed under the GNU General Public License. TLC uses one file per cell; a complex layout will therefore consist of several TLC files in one directory.

Compass is a commercial VLSI design tool by Compass Design Automation. It uses .ly files as its native format to describe the design geometry in terms of symbols, symbol references and polygons. LinkCAD imports Compass layout files.

MODLA is an IBM internal CAD format. LinkCAD exports MODLA files for compatible EM simulation workflows.

Binary Die Format (BDF) is a compact semiconductor die layout format used with manufacturing equipment workflows. LinkCAD imports BDF files for conversion into standard layout formats.