#246 GerbV Has Trouble Loading Drill Files

[Don Stewart]

There seems to be a problem with GerbV failing to load Excellon Drill files for gerber packages that have filenames that end with ...X2 (ie. TESTX2.txt). Further, it also seems that the Comments Section of the Excellon File, where the Source file and Excellon Filenames are listed, is where the problem lies.

My layout program generates standard RS-274X Gerber plots from a source PCB layout program. It works normally as long as the source file does not contain any non-standard ascill characters, and has performed well for a couple of years.

Recently, I created a gerber package from a source file with a filename containing TESTX2. The program generated all the gerber files correctly, and GerbV loaded and displayed them properly. All except the Excellon Drill file (TESTX2.txt).

Here is the Comments Section of the Excellon Drill File (TESTX2.txt) that GerbV would not load.

; Format: Excellon NC Drill Ascii
; This File Name: TESTX2.txt
; Source File Name: TESTX2.PCB

However, if I edit the Excellon Drill TESTX2.txt file and change just the two Commented Section filenames (to break up the 'X2' reference) like this:

; Format: Excellon NC Drill Ascii
; This File Name: TESTX-2.txt
; Source File Name: TESTX-2.PCB

GerbV will load the file normally without error message! The filename of the Excellon Drill file remained unchanged (TESTX2.txt), only the commented contents of the file were changed to eliminate the 'X2' reference.

If I edit the filename extent in the comments field as follows:

; Format: Excellon NC Drill Ascii
; This File Name: TESTX2.drl
; Source File Name: TESTX2.PCB

The file will NOT load (even if I modify the filename of the excellon file to TESTX2.drl) and GerbV will throw an error message.

If I edit the excellon drill file Comment Field like this:

; Format: Excellon NC Drill Ascii
; This File Name: TESTX-2.drl
; Source File Name: TESTX-2.PCB

GerbV will load the Excellon file normally without error message.

The "....X2.ext" is the only combination of characters in the Comment Field of the Excellon Drill file that will prevent GerbV from loading the file and will give an error message. It is NOT a file extent issue.

Something is wrong with GerbV's processing of the Excellon Drill File's Comments Field.