Before you start exporting symbols/schematics from PADS Designer to PADS I/O Designer, make sure that you have set your environment correctly.
All symbols created during symbols / schematics export from PADS I/O Designer to PADS Designer are saved as local symbols.
An error can occur if you attempt to export a PADS Designer project created in PADS I/O Designer and do not have Special Components set correctly. The error message that displays includes instructions on how to fix the error:
Cannot export schematic: 'Special Component' is not set: PORT_IN
To change offpage connector settings : run PADS Designer with current
project, choose 'Setup' from main menu than choose 'Settings', go to the
'Project' category and open 'Special Components' page.
What is Exported to PADS Designer?
Hierarchy - In case of schematics export, all dependencies between symbols are exported.
Note
During symbol and schematics export, PADS I/O Designer does not generate nets for CONFIG pins. If you want the connection to be created, you have to use the Assign PCB Signal option.
Symbol properties - During export, symbol properties information is saved to the symbol files in the sym directory. Below is the list of symbol properties available in PADS I/O Designer and their corresponding properties in PADS Designer:
Port Label: PIN
Signal Name: SIGNALNAME
Pin Number: PINNUMBER, PORTID
Pin Function: PINFUNCTION
PCB Signal Name: IMPLSIGNALNAME
Pin Type: PINTYPE
Dir: ignored
Port Type: exported
Port Shape: exported
Inverted: exported
Length: exported
Attributes: exported
Graphical attributes - Graphical attributes are saved to the symbol file. They include:
Colors
Fonts: font family, font color, and font size are all exported. However, since there are differences in fonts between PADS I/O Designer and PADS Designer, some fonts may be changed during export. The tool provides special font for use with PADS Designer called SCHEMATIC_DX. It is strongly recommended that you use this font while working with PADS I/O Designer and PADS Designer symbols / schematics.
Graphics: graphical items are all exported to PADS Designer.