3 file types use the .brd file extension.
- 1.EAGLE Circuit Board File
- 2.Cadence Allegro PCB Design File
- 3.KiCad PCB Design File
Right-click on any PCB file and then click 'Open with' 'Choose another app'. Now select another program and check the box 'Always use this app to open.PCB files'. Update your software that should actually open or Protel Printed Circuit Board Files. Because only the current version supports the latest PCB file format. Pcb-tools-extension hsa a function to load a DXF file and handle that as same as RX-274x gerber file or Excellon NC file. In this version, Only line, circle, arc, and polyline objects are recognized and are translated to gerber file or NC file.
File Type 1EAGLE Circuit Board File
| Developer | Autodesk |
| Popularity | |
| Category | Data Files |
| Format | XML |
What is a BRD file?
A BRD file is a CAD file created by EAGLE, an application used for schematic capture and PCB design. It is created with the EAGLE Layout Editor and used for developing design templates for circuitry. BRD files can be saved in the Gerber drill data format, which may be used by CAM (computer aided manufacturing) programs.
Autodesk EAGLE was formerly known as CadSoft EAGLE. The software was acquired by Autodesk in 2016.
NOTE: EAGLE is short for 'Easily Applicable Graphical Layout Editor.'
How do I open a BRD file?
You can open a BRD file in a variety of PCB design applications, including:
- Autodesk EAGLE (cross-platform)
- Altium Designer (Windows)
- Open Board Viewer (Linux)
If you do not have access to any of the above applications, the easiest way to view the circuit board design contained within a BRD file is to upload it to Altium 365 Viewer, a free, online CAD file viewer (web).
Open over 300 file formats with File Viewer Plus.
Programs that open BRD files
File Type 2Cadence Allegro PCB Design File
| Developer | Cadence Design Systems |
| Popularity | |
| Category | CAD Files |
| Format | Binary |
.BRD File Association 2
CAD file created by Cadence Allegro PCB Designer, a printed circuit board design program; contains a schematic of an electronic circuit; can be output to several industry standard PCB formats (such as Gerber) or to a .PDF document.
BRD files can be viewed with the Cadence Allegro Free Physical Viewer, which is provided for free at the Cadence website.
Programs that open BRD files
File Type 3KiCad PCB Design File
| Developer | KiCad |
| Popularity | |
| Category | CAD Files |
| Format | Text |
.BRD File Association 3
CAD file created by KiCad, a free, cross-platform electronics design automation (EDA) program; stores a PCB layout and includes electronic components and their connections as drawn on the program's design canvas.
Programs that open BRD files
Altium Viewer Online
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How to open PCB file?
After double-clicking on the unknown file icon, the system should open it in the default software that supports it. If this does not happen, download and install the DesignWorks software and then manually associate the file with it.
Step 1. Download and install DesignWorks
If there is no DesignWorks or similar software in the system that supports files with the PCB extension, you must first download and install it. Below you will find a list of the most-used applications that work with PCB. After going to the subpage of the program you will find a link to the developer's website, where you can safely download the software installer.
Programs that open files PCB
MAC OS
Step 2. Associate DesignWorks with the PCB file extension
If the user already has one of the applications installed, the next step will be to associate it with the file extension PCB. This can be done in two ways - one is to manually edit the Windows Registry and HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT keys. The second way is simpler and definitely recommended for less advanced users.
- Right click on the unknown PCB file you want to open
- Select 'Open with' from the menu
- Click 'Choose another application'
- Click 'More applications'
- Click 'Find more applications on this PC' and indicate the installation location of the appropriate program
- Finally, select the 'Always use the selected program to open PCB files' option and confirm the whole operation.
Remember! Manually editing the system registry is only recommended for advanced users, and changes made to it without proper knowledge may result in damage to the system.
Step 3. Check out other possible problems related to PCB files.
Sometimes it happens that despite having the right application and the correct configuration, there are still problems with opening the PCB files. You should then find out what is the reason of the problem.
- Check if the PCB file is not infected - When the file PCB is infected with a virus or malware, it probably will not be able to be opened correctly. In this case, scan the PCB file and take the actions recommended by the antivirus program installed on the system. Most often it is disinfection or deletion of an infected file.
- Check if you, as the operating system user, have appropriate permissions to work with the file PCB
- Check if the icon is an element of the correct file but not only a shortcut to the location where the PCB file no longer exists.
- Check that the system has the necessary resources to run the DesignWorks application and open the PCB file.
- Check if the file is complete - Sometimes it happens that the PCB file was not copied completely from the external Flash memory, or downloaded from the Internet. When the file is incomplete, it is not possible to open it correctly. In this case, please download or copy the file PCB again.
Where To Open Pcb Files
Step 4. Contact an IT expert
Open Pcb File In Powerpoint
When all of the above methods have failed, it remains to contact an IT specialist or developers of the DESIGNWORKS program.
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