Orcad Layout(new file)

Beware of Orcad documetation, it's usually a couple years out of date.

10.3 still has a few features undocumented. Hopefully, 10.5 documentation covers the newer stuff. Version 10.x is developed in India, so along with the plethora of bugs and things that they broke, there is larger lag between the program and documentation than previous versions. I believe the tutorial you're using is for version 9.x or 7.x. If you want a blank workspace, go to Tools|Library Manager, then close the library manager. This will take you to a blank Layout drafting window.

To use Layout the way intended you need to do the following:

1. Create a Layout netlist file from you're schematic program. It should have a .MNL extension. Need to have proper footprints associated with your parts that can be found in the Layout footprints directory or your custom footprints directory. If you're using a non-Orcad schematic program, Layout has a few translators under the File|Import menu function.
2. File|New gives a dialog box. Fill in the following:

2a. Use a template file. This is a file with an extension of .TCH, .TPL, or .MAX. This can be one of the canned templates from Orcad (default.tch is a good one) or you can create your own. For complex board shapes, I'll create the board outline under a 2-D CAD program and import a DXF version of the board outline to Layout. 2b. Fill in the net list file name you created in step 1.

1. Hit the Apply ECO button and presto, you have a window with your footprints and a hairy rats nest.

Mark,

Thanks, it worked like a champ. Hopefully I wont run into many more of those "well now what" moments.

Matt