Gerber (RS-274X)
A Gerber File is a standard file format used by printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication houses that contains data necessary for computer controlled machines to draw exact patterns for circuit boards. These patterns are typically used to electrically connect components in electronics assemblies. The patterns usually contain features such as land patterns, signal traces, drilled holes, milling and cutting information. The Gerber Format was originally a subset of EIA RS-274-D. Later the format was then extended by the so called "Mass Parameters" and was then also called RS-274-X. The LayoutEditor supports this new RS-274-X standard. The newer Gerber format RS-274X, also known as X-Gerber or Extended Gerber, includes the aperture information into the file headers. With embedded apertures, this makes every X-Gerber file complete as to how each PCB layer should look. However, there are still problems with the interpretation of these files, such as on polygons, or the question of which file to use for which layer. Gerber file extensions are often .GBR, .GBX. Sometimes extensions such as .TOP and .BOT are used instead.
Using Gerber in the LayoutEditor
A Gerber File stores only a single layer of a design. For this reason they are handled in a different way than file formats storeing multy layers. With the open function a new cell is opened and the file data is added to the active layer. With the import function the file data is added to the current cell on the active layer. An update will replace all elements on the active layer in the current cell with the file data. A Gerber File can not handle any hierarchy. So always a flat copy of the design is saved. All used layers are saved in independent file. These files are named like filename-layername.gbx. Additionally a macro is created which loads all created gerber files.
Option: Inverse Shapes On Other Layer
Gerber files may also use a "layer polarity", which contains elements that had to be clear. These elements will be added on a one higher than the active layer, if this option is activated. If the option is not actived the boolean operation will be performed between the two layer polarities. (introduced with version 20150208)
Option: Save Arcs
If this option is activated, pathes are checked onarcs. These arc will be saved with a circular interpolytion instead of a linear interpolation.
Option: Save Optimize
If this option is activated, generated files will be optimize on a minimal non-exposure length. So this option is useful to output the file on physical machine to minimize the writing time. (introduced with version 20151023)
Option: save regular polygon as circle
The Gerber file format allows to handle circles. Circles are not supported by the LayoutEditor as basic elements nor in the GDSII file format, they are stored as regular polygons. By activating this option any regular polygon with more than 8 points will be saved as a circle element and not as a polygon. (introduced with version 20150613)