Tips to open PCB file

Can't open the PCB file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open PCB files as well as a list of programs that support PCB files.

PCB file extension

File Name Printed Circuit Board Design Format
File Category Data Files

The PCB file is supported on 3 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the PCB files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the PCB file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 7
  • 3
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is PCB file?

The file with the extension PCB is the Data Files file type. Additionally, the Data Files category contains 1326 of other files. Printed Circuit Board Design Format appears on 3 operating systems as a functional file. The file will work on Linux, Mac OS, Windows systems, unfortunately not on others. It is recommended to use DesignWorks to handle this file. This is a program created by Capilano Computing Systems Ltd.. Alternatively, you can use 10 other programs. EAGLE, Altium Designer, P-CAD, PCB Browser will apply when it is not possible to use DesignWorks.

How to open PCB file?

The most common problem when using Printed Circuit Board Design Format is that a specific PCB is not associated with the program. This causes the file PCB to open by system applications not designed for this purpose, or to display a message that there is no associated program. This problem can be easily remedied.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the PCB file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install DesignWorks

The first step is to check if the computer has the DesignWorks program installed. To do this, enter the name DesignWorks into the system search engine. In the absence of an appropriate program, its installation in the vast majority of cases will fix the problem. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open PCB files.

Step 2. Create association of DesignWorks with PCB files

If, despite the installed application, the PCB file does not start in the DesignWorks application, you must create a file association. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting Properties. Information about the file and the program that the file is associated with are available here. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. The program should be visible in the window, otherwise it should be selected manually using the "Browse" button and the program installation directory should be indicated. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the PCB file with the DesignWorks program.

Step 3. Update DesignWorks to the latest version

The fault may also lie with the DesignWorks program, it is possible that Printed Circuit Board Design Format requires a newer version of the program. Some applications allow you to update from the program level, and for others you need to download the installer from the Capilano Computing Systems Ltd. page and install.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the PCB file

If the above steps do not help, you can assume that the file itself is not correct. The most common file problems are:

The affected file may be 0 KB or smaller than expected. Usually this applies to PCB files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The computer may have fallen victim to a computer virus or hacker. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. For the best results, we will scan the entire operating system, not just our PCB file. Sometimes virus-infected PCB files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
Older version of PCB file may not always be supported by the latest software version. On their websites, developers usually offer free solutions to such problems, e.g. in the form of a conversion program or an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for the failure. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged PCB files. You can restore the file from a backup or use N/A help.
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted file PCB except for the special designation, works normally, but only on the device where it was encrypted, before transferring it to another machine, decryption is required.
Some of the system directories are excluded from modification. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. If possible, you can try to move the PCB file to another location.
This problem usually affects more complex files. In this case, the PCB file is blocked by the first application to open it. Just close unnecessary programs. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the PCB file again. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the PCB file for a certain period of time. If nothing helps, please reset the device.