DRL to TXT Converter

DRL to TXT Conversion Explained

Converting .DRL to .TXT changes a machine-readable PCB drill file into a standard plain text file. .DRL files use the Excellon format, which is already an ASCII text format containing CNC machine instructions (G-code and M-code) for drilling holes in Printed Circuit Boards.

People convert .DRL to .TXT to make the data easier to read, share, or parse without specialized Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software. You gain universal compatibility, as any operating system can open a .TXT file natively. However, you lose automatic file association with CAM software. If the conversion process alters the raw Excellon syntax to make it more human-readable (such as formatting it into a data table), the resulting .TXT file can no longer be used by CNC machines for manufacturing. The main trade-off is human readability versus manufacturing capability.

Typical Tasks and Users

This conversion is common in hardware engineering, quality assurance, and manufacturing workflows.

• PCB Designers: Need to verify tool sizes (drill bit diameters) and hole counts for cost estimation before sending files to a fabrication house.
• Mechanical Engineers: Require drill coordinate data to align enclosures or mounting hardware, but do not have EDA software installed.
• Quality Assurance Inspectors: Use formatted text files to manually cross-reference drill coordinates during physical board inspection.
• Software Developers: Write scripts to parse drill data for automated quoting systems.

Software & Tool Support

Because both formats are text-based, many tools can open, edit, or convert them.

• EDA and CAM Software: Programs like KiCad, Altium Designer, and the open-source Gerbv natively generate, view, and export .DRL files.
• Text Editors: Notepad++ and Visual Studio Code can open both .DRL and .TXT. You can often perform a basic conversion simply by renaming the file extension.
• Programming Libraries: Python libraries like pcb-tools can parse Excellon .DRL files and output structured .TXT or CSV data.

Pros and Cons of the Conversion

Pros:

• Universal Compatibility: .TXT files open on any device without third-party software.
• Easy Inspection: Converting raw Excellon code into a structured text table makes it easy to read tool definitions and X/Y coordinates.
• Version Control: Plain text is ideal for tracking changes in Git or other version control systems.

Cons:

• Loss of Manufacturing Utility: If the Excellon syntax is modified for readability, PCB fabrication houses cannot use the file.
• Broken File Associations: Renaming .DRL to .TXT stops Gerber viewers from automatically recognizing the file as a drill layer.
• No Visual Context: Text files provide raw coordinates but offer no visual representation of the PCB layout.

Conversion Difficulties & Why Convert.Guru

The primary technical difficulty in converting .DRL to a structured .TXT file is the lack of a strict, universal Excellon standard. .DRL files often omit decimal points to save file space. Instead, they rely on external rules for leading or trailing zero suppression, absolute versus incremental coordinates, and metric versus imperial units. A naive conversion tool might misinterpret the coordinate X15 as 15 inches instead of 0.0015 inches, completely corrupting the data.

Convert.Guru handles this conversion accurately by parsing the Excellon headers and applying the correct zero-suppression and unit rules. It safely extracts the tool definitions and coordinates, translating the cryptic CNC instructions into a clean, standardized .TXT format without coordinate corruption or data loss.

DRL vs. TXT: What is the better choice?

Which format should you choose?

Choose .DRL when you are sending manufacturing files to a PCB fabrication house or loading project data into a Gerber viewer. The Excellon format is mandatory for CNC drilling machines.

Choose .TXT when you need to document hole counts, share coordinate data with non-electrical engineers, or inspect the data on a system that lacks EDA software. Avoid this conversion if your goal is to edit the PCB layout; you should modify the original CAD files instead of editing drill coordinates manually.

Conclusion

Converting .DRL to .TXT makes machine-readable PCB drill instructions accessible to humans and standard text editors. It is highly useful for documentation, cost estimation, and cross-department sharing. However, stripping or altering the Excellon formatting breaks compatibility with CNC manufacturing equipment. Convert.Guru provides a reliable solution for this exact conversion by correctly interpreting complex Excellon coordinate rules and outputting accurate, readable text.