Connecting HP's MDS to AutoCAD with ASM 800

It's easy to move data between HP's MDS (Microwave Design System) and AutoCAD using Artwork's ASM 800 translator. Few MDS users know about this path; this application note explains the steps involved.

The block diagram shows how one exports an EGS Archive file from MDS, runs it through the EGS2DXF translator and then imports it into AutoCAD. Note that EGS Archive Export function is a built in part of MDS; no extra cost license is required.

The Archive File Format

MDS is able to import and export a file format known as Archive. This ASCII file format was first used in HP's Piglet and EGS CAD programs. In 1989 Artwork Conversion wrote a bidirectional translator between Archive and DXF called ASM 800. Over 400 copies of this translator were sold, primarily to users of EGS who had to move their database to newer programs. Both MDS and Series IV are able to read and write the Archive format.

Archive is an intelligent database and corresponds very closely to MDS's internal layout database. It also has a very good correspondence to AutoCAD's DXF file format which means that data can move between archive and DXF with minimum loss of information.

Archive File Characteristics

The Archive file supports:

Layers
Lines w width
Arcs
Circles w width
Polygons
Hierarchy
Text
Step and repeat

Exporting Archive from MDS

To export an archive file you first open up the drawing you wish to export. From the PERFORM pulldown select:

EXPORT
EGS ARCHIVE W/ PROC FILE

Your archive file will normally end in the suffix _a. The Proc option stands for Process file header. This header contains units, resolution and layer information that is needed by ASM 800 to convert to DXF so always make sure you use the Proc option.

Sample Archive File

A sample archive file with process file header is shown below. Comments are in italics.

$$                                 header starts here
$$
$$
$$

UNITS MIL,10000.0000;             units info is important
GRID 0.0500,2 0.0000,0.0000;      grid info is important
LOCK 0.0000;
TSLANT 0.0000;
RESOLUTION 0.0000;        
$$                                layer table maps layer numbers to
$$              layer   line      names, colors and pen assignments
$$  label       type    type    color    pen    layer
EQU  FDieDef      :D      :L1     :C7     :P1     1;
EQU   CapGap      :D      :L1     :C11    :P1     2;
EQU  FResist      :D      :L1     :C4     :P1     3;
EQU   FMetal      :D      :L1     :C3     :P1     4;
EQU Assembly      :D      :L1     :C6     :P1     5;
EQU Document      :D      :L1     :C2     :P1     6;
EQU   Layer7      :D      :L1     :C5     :P1     7;
EQU   Layer8      :D      :L1     :C14    :P1     8;
EXIT;

$FILES amp1, x71mil $;            list of subfiles....

EDIT;
EDIT;

EDIT x71mil;                   the first file x71mil is a microwave
SHOW #E;                       transistor...
LOCK 0.0000;
LEVEL 1;
GRID 0.0001,1 0.0000,0.0000;
ADD P1 :W0.0000 :FILL -200.0000,10.0000 -200.0000,-10.0000 200.0000,
       -10.0000 180.0000,10.0000 -200.0000,10.0000;
ADD R1 :W0.0000 :FILL -15.0000,-200.0000 15.0000,200.0000;
ADD C1 :W0.0000 :R5 :FILL 0.0000,0.0000 35.0000,0.0000;
GRID 0.0500,2 0.0000,0.0000;
LOCK 0.0000;
SAVE;

EDIT amp1;                         The amplified calls x71 mil 
SHOW #E;
LOCK 0.0000;
LEVEL 1;
GRID 0.0001,1 0.0000,0.0000;
ADD x71mil :R0 :ND 888.7913,0.2205;
ADD L4 :W95.0000 :FILL 829.0000,-316.5000 829.0000,-302.5000;
ADD L4 :W48.0000 :FILL 829.0000,-71.5000 829.0000,-262.5000;
ADD L4 :W80.0000 :FILL 1059.2559,-302.1496 1059.2559,-517.1496;
ADD L4 :W80.0000 :FILL 1059.2559,-47.1496 1059.2559,-262.1496;
ADD L4 :W120.0000 :FILL 1494.2559,-22.1496 1494.2559,-112.1496;
ADD L4 :W95.0000 :FILL 1810.2559,0.3504 1950.2559,0.3504;
ADD L4 :W95.0000 :FILL 1579.2559,0.3504 1770.2559,0.3504;
ADD L4 :W45.0000 :FILL 1554.2559,0.3504 1579.2559,0.3504;
ADD L4 :W120.0000 :FILL 1494.2559,22.8504 1494.2559,112.8504;
ADD L4 :W45.0000 :FILL 1099.2559,0.3504 1434.2559,0.3504;
ADD L4 :W80.0000 :FILL 1059.2559,302.8504 1059.2559,517.8504;
ADD L4 :W80.0000 :FILL 1059.2559,47.8504 1059.2559,262.8504;
ADD L4 :W95.0000 :FILL 924.2559,0.3504 1019.2559,0.3504;
ADD L4 :W95.0000 :FILL 829.0000,316.5000 829.0000,302.5000;
ADD L4 :W48.0000 :FILL 829.0000,71.5000 829.0000,262.5000;
ADD L4 :W143.0000 :FILL 330.0000,0.0000 805.0000,0.0000;
ADD L4 :W95.0000 :FILL 180.0000,0.0000 330.0000,0.0000;
ADD L4 :W95.0000 :FILL 0.0000,0.0000 140.0000,0.0000;
ADD P4 :W0.0000 :FILL 1434.2559,-22.1496 1434.2559,22.8504 1554.2559,
       22.8504 1554.2559,-22.1496 1434.2559,-22.1496;
ADD P4 :W0.0000 :FILL 1019.2559,-47.1496 1019.2559,47.8504 1099.2559,
    47.8504 1099.2559,-22.1496 1099.2559,-47.1496 1019.2559,-47.1496;
ADD P4 :W0.0000 :FILL 805.0000,-71.5000 805.0000,71.5000 853.0000,
       71.5000  853.0000,-71.5000 805.0000,-71.5000;
GRID 0.0500,2 0.0000,0.0000;
LOCK 0.0000;
SAVE;

Running the EGS2DXF Translator

Going from EGS to DXF is very easy since required information is normally contained in the EGS Archive process file header. Type:

$ egs2dxf amp_a amp.dxf  [enter]

EGS to DXF Converter  Ver. 4.21  (11/10/96)  
(C) 1990-97 Artwork Conversion Software, Inc. (831) 426-6163

Processing File : amp_a
Analyzing file line #   74
Generating output file.

Phase 1: 100%
Phase 2: 100%
Phase 3: 100%

Program complete.  amp.dxf file written to disk.

Source File : amp_a
Compile Time: Mon May 05 13:21:10 1997

Loading the DXF File into AutoCAD

Create a new, empty AutoCAD drawing using AutoCAD's File | New... pulldown. A dialog box will open enabling you to name the new file. Make sure that the No Prototype drawing option is checked. If you fail to check this box AutoCAD may decide that your new drawing is not empty and will not import your DXF file. This is a very common error.

From AutoCAD's File pulldown click on Import/Export | DXF In... Enter the name of the DXF file you wish to import.

AutoCAD Display

AutoCAD display of amp.dxf that was exported from MDS using archive file format. Click here to see what the MDS layout of amp looks like.

Note that the AutoCAD drawing is in units of mils because this is the units of the EGS archive file. However, you could have scaled it down to inches by adding the following statement to the EGS.CFG file:

SCALE_FACTOR
0.001

Compatibility with other CAD Programs

The DXF file produced by egs2dxf is compatible with virtually every PC and UNIX based CAD drafting package. A few programs are unable to properly support DXF blocks - in this case we have a program called BFLAT that will smash all instances and generate a flat drawing.

Evaluation of ASM 800

If you would like to evaluate ASM 800 you can jump to the data sheet where you will find links to download the program. Then contact Artwork Conversion and we will supply you with a temporary keycode.

ASM 800 is available on HPUX, SunOS and Solaris platforms (as well as DOS). We plan to port it to Windiws 95/NT in the near future.

For more information or a quotation contact:

Artwork Conversion Software, Inc. [Company Profile]
417 Ingalls St. Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Tel (831) 426-6163 Fax (831) 426-2824
email: webmaster@artwork.com