ODB++ Translator

ODB++ is an ASCII open-format developed by Mentor Graphics to capture CAD/EDA, assembly, and PCB fabrication information. It has become the proprietary industry standard for formatting and transferring PC board data.

AnsTranslator, allows you to utilize ODB++ and ANF file formats to perform analyses of printed circuit boards in support of Ansys SIwave™ and Planar EM. AnsTranslator takes as input an ODB++ v7.1 job structure and produces as output an ANFv4 file or an ANFv2 file and an Ansys SIwave™ component file (.cmp).

• The input to AnsTranslator is an ODB++ v7.1 job structure (either as a compressed .tgz file or an uncompressed top folder) and an optional control file (.xml).
• AnsTranslator can export to an edb directory or to a control file.
• The output from AnsTranslator is either an EDB directory or ANFV2 file and a component file (.cmp). ANFV4 is also supported. A log file (.log) is also produced.
• The information translated is a collection of geometric data that is sufficient to perform a useful analysis of the represented circuit for Ansys SIwave™ and Planar EM designs (which also supports Ansys HFSS™, Ansys Q3D Extractor®, and TPA). Note the AnsTranslator process is subject to whatever limitations exist for the ANF format to represent ODB++ content.
• If the board outline is included in the profile file, it are translated onto an assembly layer called "outline". This same polygon are used to translate negative-plane data to a positive-plane shape. If the board outline is composed entirely of disjoint segments, the Ansys Electronics Desktop (AEDT)^TM electronics systems design platform attempts to stitch the data together so long as the end points are within a nanometer of each other.
• The data can be modified through the Control File.