Importing Files

FlatCAM Evo imports Gerber, Excellon, G-code, vector files, PDF, images and the native board files of several PCB programs. Each import creates objects in the active project.

Where to find it

• File > Open > Open Gerber (Ctrl+G), Open Excellon (Ctrl+E), Open G-Code, Open Project (Ctrl+O).
• File > Import: the vector files and the board files, one entry for each format.
• Ctrl+I (Import File): opens the Import dialog. It lists every import in one place.
• Project selector: right-click it, then Import... to open the Import dialog.
• Drag and drop: drop the files on the main window. See Drag and drop.

Screenshot placeholder: images/Importing-Files-1.png - the File > Import submenu with the vector entries and the board entries.

Screenshot placeholder: images/Importing-Files-2.png - the Import dialog with the group tree on the left and the description on the right.

Quick start

1. Press Ctrl+I to open the Import dialog.
2. Select a format in the tree. The description shows what the import creates.
3. Press Run or double-click the entry. Select the file in the file dialog.
4. Check the new objects in the Project tab.

Parameters

Import dialog

The dialog shows the imports in three groups. The group Raster Images appears only when the Image Import plugin is loaded. The entry PDF appears only when the PDF-Import plugin is loaded.

Group	Entry	File extension	Creates
Vector Files	SVG as Geometry	.svg	Geometry object
Vector Files	SVG as Gerber	.svg	Gerber object
Vector Files	DXF as Geometry	.dxf	Geometry object
Vector Files	DXF as Gerber	.dxf	Gerber object
Vector Files	HPGL2 as Geometry	.plt	Geometry object
Vector Files	PDF	.pdf	Gerber and Excellon objects
Raster Images	Image	.bmp .png .jpg .jpeg	Geometry or Gerber object
PCB Boards	Altium PCB	.PcbDoc	Gerber and Excellon objects
PCB Boards	Proteus PCB	.pdsprj	Gerber and Excellon objects
PCB Boards	KiCad PCB	.kicad_pcb	Gerber and Excellon objects
PCB Boards	Sprint Layout 6	.lay6	Gerber and Excellon objects
PCB Boards	Eagle Board	.brd (Eagle 6 and later, XML)	Gerber and Excellon objects
PCB Boards	OrCAD/Allegro Board	.brd (binary)	Gerber and Excellon objects
PCB Boards	DipTrace PCB	.dip	Gerber and Excellon objects

The dialog has a filter box. Type a part of an entry name to show only the matching entries.

File > Import menu

The File > Import submenu has these entries, in this order: SVG as Geometry Object, SVG as Gerber Object, DXF as Geometry Object, DXF as Gerber Object, HPGL2 as Geometry Object, Altium PCB (.PcbDoc), Proteus PCB (.pdsprj), KiCad PCB (.kicad_pcb), Sprint Layout 6 (.lay6), Eagle Board (.brd), OrCAD/Allegro Board (.brd), DipTrace PCB (.dip).

Gerber and Excellon

Import	Menu entry	Shortcut	Creates
Gerber	File > Open > Open Gerber	Ctrl+G	Gerber object
Excellon	File > Open > Open Excellon	Ctrl+E	Excellon object

The parse and plot options of these imports come from the Gerber and Excellon preferences. See Preferences Gerber and Preferences Excellon.

Gerber import options (Preferences > Gerber)

Each row names the preference key in defaults.py.

Preference	Description	Default
gerber_def_units	Units of a Gerber file that does not declare its units.	IN
gerber_def_zeros	Zero suppression of a Gerber file that does not declare it. L = leading zeros.	L
gerber_circle_steps	Segments of a full circle. Used when the steps mode is fixed.	64
gerber_circle_steps_mode	adaptive: the segments follow the radius and the tolerance. fixed: every circle has the number of steps above.	adaptive
gerber_circle_tolerance	Maximum distance of a circle from its polygon, in micrometers. Used when the mode is adaptive.	2.0
gerber_clean_apertures	Removes the apertures that the file does not use.	True
gerber_simplification	Simplifies the polygons after the import.	False
gerber_simp_tolerance	Tolerance of the simplification, in mm (or inch).	0.0005
gerber_plot	Plots (shows) the object after the import.	True
gerber_solid	Draws the polygons as solid colors.	True
gerber_multicolored	Draws the polygons in different colors.	False
gerber_plot_on_select	Replots a selected object above the other objects.	True
gerber_use_buffer_for_union	Uses a buffer for the union of the polygons.	True
gerber_extra_buffering	Adds an extra buffer step to the union.	False
gerber_buffering	Buffering method of the polygons.	full
gerber_delayed_buffering	Delays the buffering until it is needed.	True
gerber_follow	Creates a follow object (path) of the Gerber.	False
gerber_aperture_display	Shows the apertures on the plot.	False
gerber_aperture_scale_factor	Scale factor of the apertures.	1.0
gerber_aperture_buffer_factor	Buffer factor of the apertures.	0.0

The keys gerber_plot_fill, gerber_plot_line, gerber_plot_line_enable, gerber_color_list, gerber_store_color_list, gerber_noncoppermargin, gerber_noncopperrounded, gerber_bboxmargin, gerber_bboxrounded, gerber_exp_* and gerber_save_filters are not import options. They set colors, bounding boxes, exports or file filters.

Excellon import options (Preferences > Excellon)

Preference	Description	Default
excellon_units	Units of an Excellon file that does not declare its units.	INCH
excellon_zeros	Zero suppression of an Excellon file. T = trailing zeros.	T
excellon_format_upper_in	Digits before the decimal point, for INCH. Tooltip: default values for INCH are 2:4.	2
excellon_format_lower_in	Digits after the decimal point, for INCH.	4
excellon_format_upper_mm	Digits before the decimal point, for METRIC. Tooltip: default values for METRIC are 3:3.	3
excellon_format_lower_mm	Digits after the decimal point, for METRIC.	3
excellon_merge_fuse_tools	Fuses the tools that have the same diameter (the Fuse Tools check box).	True
excellon_plot	Plots (shows) the object after the import.	True
excellon_circle_steps	Segments of a full circle for a drill hole. Used when the mode is fixed.	32
excellon_circle_steps_mode	adaptive or fixed, as gerber_circle_steps_mode.	adaptive
excellon_circle_tolerance	Tolerance of the circles in micrometers, as gerber_circle_tolerance.	5.0
excellon_solid	Draws the holes as solid colors.	True
excellon_multicolored	Draws the holes in different colors.	False
excellon_update	Updates the object when a value changes.	True
excellon_optimization_type	Path optimization of the drill path.	B
excellon_search_time	Search time of the path optimization, in seconds.	3
excellon_tools_table_display	Shows the tools table of the object.	True
excellon_autoload_db	Loads the tools database when an object is created.	False

The keys excellon_color, excellon_plot_fill, excellon_plot_line, excellon_drill_tooldia, excellon_slot_tooldia, excellon_save_filters, excellon_exp_* and excellon_editor_* are not import options. They set colors, tool defaults, exports or editor settings.

G-Code

Import	Menu entry	Creates
G-code	File > Open > Open G-Code	CNCJob object

The G-code parser reads the file and builds a CNCJob object. The G-code text can be edited in the G-Code Editor. See CNCJob Object and GCode Editor.

The G-code file extensions are: cnc, din, dnc, ecs, eia, fan, fgc, fnc, gc, gcd, gcode, hnc, min, mpf, mpr, nc, ncc, ncg, ngc, ncp, out, ply, rol, sbp, tap and xpi.

The G-code import has no options. The parser uses its default settings.

SVG, DXF and HPGL2

Import	Menu entry	Reads
SVG as Geometry	File > Import > SVG as Geometry Object	The paths, the shapes and the text of a Scalable Vector Graphics file. Use it for artwork that you mill, cut or engrave. You can select more than one file.
SVG as Gerber	File > Import > SVG as Gerber Object	The same content. Use it for copper, solder mask or silkscreen artwork that the isolation and copper clearing plugins process.
DXF as Geometry	File > Import > DXF as Geometry Object	The lines, arcs, circles, polylines, splines and blocks of an AutoCAD drawing.
DXF as Gerber	File > Import > DXF as Gerber Object	The same content. Use it for copper artwork.
HPGL2 as Geometry	File > Import > HPGL2 as Geometry Object	The pen moves of an HPGL/2 plot file.

The SVG and DXF menu entries open a file dialog that accepts more than one file. The DXF import of more than one file plots all the objects once, after the last import.

SVG import options

Option	Description	Default
svg_drill_detect	A white circle (0.2 to 6 mm) with a dark stroke becomes an Excellon object, not a Geometry or Gerber shape.	True
Circle steps (Gerber preferences)	Segments of each circle. The SVG import uses the same circle setting as the Gerber parser, see Gerber import options.	gerber_circle_steps_mode adaptive
Units (of the import)	The SVG file is read in the units of the application (mm or inch).	—

DXF import options

Option	Description	Default
Circle steps (Gerber or Geometry preferences)	Segments of the full circle, also for the POINT disks and the filled circles. The DXF import uses the circle setting of the object kind.	see Gerber and Geometry preferences
Text mode	stroke draws the glyph outlines as lines. outline makes filled polygons. none skips TEXT, ATTRIB and MTEXT entities. The Import dialog has no control for it.	stroke
Drawing units	The units of the DXF file come from its $INSUNITS header. A file without units is read in the application units. A drawing that becomes larger than 1 m after the scaling is imported unscaled, and a warning is shown.	from the file

HPGL2 import options

Option	Description	Default
Circle steps	The HPGL2 import uses the circle setting of the application, the same as the SVG and the Gerber import.	see Gerber preferences
Tools Dia (Milling preferences)	When the list has more than one diameter, the new Geometry object gets the first diameter.	—

HPGL2 files are read as UTF-8. A byte that is not UTF-8 in a comment is replaced. The geometry is not changed.

PDF

Import	Menu entry	Creates
PDF	Import dialog, entry PDF, or the PDF-Import plugin	Gerber and Excellon objects

The PDF import reads the vector artwork of a PDF file, for example a PCB print. Each layer becomes a Gerber object. The drill holes become an Excellon object. The PDF-Import plugin runs the import. See PDF Import.

Option	Description	Default
Hidden optional content layers	A layer that the PDF file hides is skipped. The message shows the number and the names of the skipped layers.	skipped
Unsupported content	The import lists the PDF content that it cannot read.	—
Pages	Each page of the PDF file is read. A page that cannot be read is reported with its number.	—
pdf_python_parser	True uses the built-in Python parser. Set it to False to use the optional pikepdf parser.	True
global_tpdf_tmargin, global_tpdf_bmargin, global_tpdf_lmargin, global_tpdf_rmargin	Margins of the PDF file that the G-code editor writes when it saves G-code as PDF. The PDF import does not use them. In mm.	15.0, 10.0, 20.0, 20.0

Clipping paths are applied. The clipped artwork is kept, and the parts outside the clip are removed.

Images

Import	Menu entry	Creates
Image	Import dialog, entry Image	Geometry or Gerber object

The Image Import plugin converts a raster image to polygons. It works by the black and white mask or by the trace of the outlines. Load the image and set the options in the plugin. See Image Import.

Control	Description	Default
Load Image	Loads and validates the image before the import.	—
Object Type	Gerber or Geometry: the type of the new object.	Gerber
DPI value	Resolution of the image, in dots per inch.	—
Area	Polygons inside the image with less area than this value are discarded (mm or inch).	—
Tracing control	Presets: Default, Detailed, Smooth or Photo. Options: the controls below.	—
Threshold	B/W mode only. A pixel darker than this value (0 to 255) is traced.	—
Curve	Polygon, Spline or Pixel.	—
Filter Speckle	Patches smaller than this size (in pixels) are discarded.	—
Precision and Gradient Step	Colors mode only.	—
Corner	Spline mode only. The minimum angle (degrees) to be a corner.	—
Splice	Spline mode only. The minimum angle change (degrees) to splice a spline.	—
Segment Length	Length of the segments.	—
Import Image	Imports the loaded image as a Gerber or Geometry object.	—

Board files

Each board import reads a native board file. The file extension and the file filter select the format.

Format	Extension	Notes
Altium PCB	.PcbDoc	A native Altium Designer board.
Proteus PCB	.pdsprj	A native Proteus project. If the project has more than one board, the boards import one after the other.
KiCad PCB	.kicad_pcb	A native KiCad board.
Sprint Layout 6	.lay6	A native Sprint Layout 6 board.
Eagle Board	.brd	A native Eagle board, the XML format of Eagle 6 and later.
OrCAD/Allegro Board	.brd	A native OrCAD or Allegro board, the binary format.
DipTrace PCB	.dip	Supported native DipTrace boards, including multilayer designs. Imports saved copper, pads, vias, drilling, outlines, mask, paste and documentation layers. Unsupported records and unavailable artwork are reported during the import.

Eagle and Allegro both use .brd. The program reads the file content to choose the format. An Eagle board is XML. An Allegro board starts with a binary magic number. A file that cannot be read is treated as an Eagle board. A file with another extension is treated as an Altium board.

Each board import opens a file dialog, then a dialog that lets you select the layers and the drills to import. The Proteus PCB entry reads Proteus 8 and Proteus 9 projects.

Each selected layer becomes a Gerber object. The drills become an Excellon object.

Drag and drop

Drop the files on the main window to open them.

• The window accepts only drops of files. A drop of other data is ignored.
• The file paths of the drop are passed to the same function as the files on the command line. A project opens first, in the order of the drop. The other files open by their file type.
• A drop with no local file shows the message Cancelled..

File associations

The program registers these file types for the operating system (Windows and macOS):

Kind	Extensions
Gerber	art bot bsm cmp crc crs dim g4 gb0 gb1 gb2 gb3 gb5 gb6 gb7 gb8 gb9 gbd gbl gbo gbp gbr gbs gdl gdo ger gko gml gm1 gm2 gm3 gme grb gtl gto gtp gts ly15 ly2 mil outline pho plc pls smb smt sol spb spt ssb sst stc sts top tsm
Excellon	drd drl drill exc ncd tap txt xln
G-code	cnc din dnc ecs eia fan fgc fnc gc gcd gcode h hnc i min mpf mpr nc ncc ncg ngc ncp out ply rol sbp tap xpi
SVG	svg
DXF	dxf
PDF	pdf
Project	FlatPrj (FlatCAM.Project)
Configuration	FlatConfig (FlatCAM.Config)

The Gerber, Excellon and G-code lists can be restored or removed in the Preferences. The .FlatPrj and .FlatConfig associations are fixed.

Advanced

• Opening a file from the command line. A file name on the command line opens at startup. See Command Line and Headless.
• Missing sources. When a project refers to a source file that is not found, the Missing Source Files dialog lists the files. Click Locate folder... to choose the folder that holds them. See Projects.
• Import preferences. The Import Preferences from file entry in the File menu loads a preferences file. It does not import geometry.
• Tcl. The import functions are available in Tcl scripts. See Tcl Command Reference.

See also

• Projects: saving the objects of an import.
• Exporting Files: writing the objects back to files.
• Gerber Object, Excellon Object, Geometry Object, CNCJob Object: the objects that the imports create.
• PDF Import, Image Import: the plugins for PDF and images.
• Preferences Gerber, Preferences Excellon: the import options.
• Command Line and Headless: opening files at startup.
• Tcl Command Reference: the import commands in Tcl scripts.