BRD to TXT Converter

BRD to TXT Conversion Explained

Converting a .BRD file to a .TXT file is a data extraction process, not a visual conversion. A .BRD file contains complex Printed Circuit Board (PCB) layout data, including traces, vias, and component footprints. When you convert .BRD to .TXT, you strip away all graphical and routing information to extract specific text-based metadata.

People perform this conversion to generate a Bill of Materials (BOM), extract netlists, or export pick-and-place (XY) component coordinates. You gain lightweight, human-readable data that is easy to share and parse. You lose the entire physical layout of the circuit board. If your goal is to manufacture the bare board, converting to .TXT is a bad idea; you must use Gerber (.GBR) or ODB++ formats instead.

Typical Tasks and Users

This conversion is primarily used by hardware engineers, PCB designers, assembly technicians, and supply chain managers. Common workflows include:

• Supply Chain Management: Extracting a BOM from the .BRD file into a .TXT or CSV format to order electronic components.
• Automated Assembly: Generating a centroid file (pick-and-place data) in plain text so robotic assembly machines know exactly where to place surface-mount components.
• Circuit Verification: Exporting a netlist to a text file to compare the physical board connections against the original schematic.
• Version Control: Converting binary board files into text representations to track design changes using Git or Subversion.

Software & Tool Support

The .BRD extension is fragmented and used by several different Electronic Design Automation (EDA) programs. The tools required depend on the file's origin:

• Autodesk Fusion 360 (formerly EAGLE): Uses an XML-based .BRD format. It includes built-in User Language Programs (ULPs) to export BOMs and coordinates to .TXT.
• KiCad: A free, open-source EDA suite that natively saves board files in a text-based S-expression format and exports text reports directly.
• Cadence Allegro: Uses a proprietary, binary .BRD format. It requires the Allegro software to export netlists and reports to .TXT.
• Notepad++ or Visual Studio Code: Can directly open and edit XML-based or S-expression-based .BRD files as raw text.

Pros and Cons of the Conversion

Pros:

• Universal Compatibility: A .TXT file opens on any operating system without requiring expensive CAD software licenses.
• Automation: Plain text files are easy to parse with Python, shell scripts, or ERP systems.
• File Size: Extracted text data is significantly smaller than a complete binary or XML board file.

Cons:

• Total Visual Loss: All traces, polygons, copper pours, and board outlines disappear completely.
• No Reversibility: You cannot convert a standard .TXT BOM or coordinate file back into a working .BRD file.
• Format Fragmentation: Because .BRD files vary wildly between Cadence, EAGLE, and KiCad, extraction methods are not universal.

Conversion Difficulties & Why Convert.Guru

The main technical difficulty in this conversion is parsing the correct data schema. Because .BRD is not a single standard, a conversion tool must first identify if the file is a binary Cadence file, an XML EAGLE file, or a KiCad file. If a parser misinterprets the coordinate origin, layer mapping, or unit scale (mils vs. millimeters), the resulting .TXT file will contain incorrect pick-and-place data, leading to expensive manufacturing errors.

Convert.Guru simplifies this process. It automatically identifies the specific .BRD flavor and safely extracts the requested text data. Instead of installing heavy CAD software or writing custom Python parsers to scrape XML tags, you can use Convert.Guru to convert brd to txt cleanly and accurately in seconds.

BRD vs. TXT: What is the better choice?

Which format should you choose?

Choose .BRD when you are actively designing, routing, or modifying a circuit board. This format is mandatory for retaining the physical geometry of your electronics.

Choose .TXT when you need to share a Bill of Materials with a purchasing department, feed XY coordinates to an assembly machine, or write a script to analyze component counts.

Avoid this conversion if you need to send files to a PCB manufacturer for bare-board fabrication. For that task, export your .BRD to Gerber (.GBR) or drill files (.DRL) instead.

Conclusion

Converting .BRD to .TXT makes sense only for specific data extraction tasks, such as pulling BOMs, netlists, or assembly coordinates from a PCB layout. The biggest limitation is the complete loss of graphical and routing data, making it a strict one-way process. Convert.Guru provides a reliable, software-free way to handle this exact conversion, ensuring accurate data extraction regardless of which CAD program originally generated the board file.