Protel 99 Design Files

Ok. Unlike earlier versions of Protel, Protel 99 puts all of your files under a single umbrella called a design file. I will admit that they seem to have many more capabilities than I am using. If you notice anything really cool that is applicable, please feel free to edit this page.

Instructions for making/using design files:

• Make a new design by selecting File -> New Design... (or New... if New Design is not visible). Give it a name and store it somewhere.
• The design file will appear in the Explorer column on the left of your screen, and you should see the top level directories on the right.
• I have no idea about the Design Team stuff.
• You can store your individual files in Documents. Sub-folders are possible if you want to be fancy.
• To start, create a new Schematic and PCB file by selecting File -> New... for each of Schematic Document and PCB Document. These files will be placed in the current folder, so you may want to open the Documents folder first.
• You are now ready to start drawing your schematic.

• While you can install libraries at any time, I would highly suggest doing so now.
• We will first install the Schematic libraries. Open the schematic file you made above by double-clicking on it. Then click on the Browse Sch tab and select libraries from the list.  Click Add/Remove. You will want to add the miscellaneous library (which strangely enough contains most parts you will need). It is Design Explorer 99\Library\Sch\Miscellaneous Devices.ddb. Also, you should add the Phm libraries, which are in \\milliserver\resenv\projects\ProtelLibs\phmresenvlibs.ddb.
• Next add the PCB libraries.  Open the PCB file you made. Then click on the Browse PCB tab and select libraries from the list.  Click Add/Remove. You will want to add the miscellaneous library (which strangely enough contains most parts you will need) and the advanced library. They are in Design Explorer 99\Library\Pcb\Generic Footprints\Miscellaneous.ddb and Advpcb.ddb.  Also, you should add the Phm libraries, which are again in \\milliserver\resenv\projects\ProtelLibs\phmresenvlibs.ddb.
• Note that you can use old Protel schematic libraries, but old PCB libraries seem to choke.  It is usually easiest to just add them to a Design file, at which point they seem to work just fine.

• To extract files from a database for use with other versions of Protel, to send to a board house, etc, just use the File -> Export... command.
• Just like in Windows, you have to empty the recycle for stuff to go away. Otherwise, the file just balloons.