About IDF and IDX Previsualization

You can have a graphic representation of all IDF and IDX file changes before importing or exporting them to or from the current model. This lets you accept or reject changes by previsualizing them on the board layout.

See Also
Exchanging IDF Data
Pushing, Pulling, and Importing IDX Files

A dedicated change panel is displayed when importing, exporting, or comparing and updating IDF files. The panel names vary based on the command.

Table 1. IDF Panel Names
Command Name Panel Name
Import IDF IDF Import Changes
Export IDF IDF Export Changes
Compare and update IDF IDF Compare and Update

Likewise, a specific panel is displayed when importing, pushing, or pulling IDX files. The panel names vary based on the command. For example:

Table 2. IDX Panel Names
Command Name Panel Name
Push IDX EDMD Push
Pull IDX EDMD Pull
Import IDX EDMD Import

IDF and IDX files have three possible change categories:

  • Added: a new element is created.
  • Modified: an existing element is modified.
  • Removed: an existing element is deleted.
Typically, these changes pertain to boards, constraints, cutouts, holes, and components.

Previsualization of any element in the change panel can be unveiled in 3D by selecting or multi-selecting those elements in the change panel. All selected elements in the change panel are highlighted.

In the More options section of the IDF or IDX panel, select the Reframe on Changes option to reframe to the previsualization of the selected, changed elements and select the Ghost Representation of Context option to put background elements in a ghost representation. Any element in the change panel that is not selected, in other words, not used for previsualization, is shown as a ghost representation in 3D.

Note: You cannot use previsualization to manipulate the position or to modify the geometry of any element.

When an element is added or new, it is highlighted in blue on the 3DModel. Similarly, when an element is deleted or old, it is highlighted in red on the 3DModel. Modified elements are both blue and red with blue representing an element's read/write information to IDF or IDX. Red represents the element exiting the current 3D model.

The following image provides a graphical representation of an Added element:



The following image provides a graphical representation of a Removed element:



The following image provides a graphical representation of a Modified element:



Note: The blue element represents the new location from IDF or IDX. The red element represents the element in 3D.