Extract text from PCB drill files (DRL)
To convert DRL drill files to another format, you need KiCad or other Cad software.
To convert other file formats to the "CNC Drill File" file type, you need software like KiCad or a similar tool.
A .DRL file primarily stores PCB (Printed Circuit Board) drilling and routing data in the Excellon format. It dictates exactly where CNC machines must drill holes for vias, through-hole components, and mounting points, as well as the specific tool sizes required. Secondarily, .DRL is used as a Drools Rule Language file by the JBoss Drools business rule engine to define enterprise logic in Java applications.
To view or edit PCB .DRL files, engineers typically rely on EDA (Electronic Design Automation) suites like KiCad, Autodesk EAGLE, or Altium Designer.
The main disadvantage of the .DRL format is its rigid, highly specialized nature. It contains raw machine coordinates (similar to G-code) that are impossible to visualize without dedicated CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) software. You cannot open these files natively in web browsers or standard operating systems. Sending a raw .DRL file to a non-engineer guarantees frustration, as they will only see lines of cryptic text. Furthermore, drill files often suffer from missing tool definition headers, which causes scale and alignment errors at the manufacturing plant.
To bypass these limitations, you need to convert the file. For visual proofing, sharing with clients, or documentation, convert .DRL to PDF or DXF. For manufacturing consolidation, convert it to a standard GBR (Gerber) or NC (Numerical Control) file. Just drag and drop your file here to analyze and convert it - free, online, and without installing heavy CAD software.
Convert.Guru analyzes your DRL file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted GKO, GBR, GTS, GTL, GBL, ZIP, ART, GBRJOB, GBO, GBS, KICAD_PCB, RAR and PHO files.
If you want to convert DRL file to DMN, JAVA, CSV, JSON, XML, YAML, YML, TOML, INI, CFG, CONF or DAT, you can use KiCad or similar software from the "PCB Manufacturing Drill Data" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert DBF, XML, SQLITE, XLSX, SQL, TSV, ACCDB, YAML, MDB, CSV, ODS or JSON files to DRL, try KiCad or another comparable tool in the "PCB Manufacturing Drill Data" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our DRL converter.