PCB Layout: Tango, Protel...others? help?

[jadesky]

Hey, so I'm new to the PCB layout process.  I've drawn up schematic, built up boards, etc. etc., but never have drawn up a schamtic in a program and laid out the PCB.  The closest I've ever gotten is using a freeware program called Express PCB to layout schematics and make them look all pretty and computerized.  The guy I'm working with to help design a PCB layout for a pedal says I need a program that outputs Tango or Protel files in order to be compatible with his. 

So, since I've never really worked with this stuff before, I was wondering if someone with experience could explain to me the overall picture of how a program like one of these work.  I'm very familiar with graphic design software, so I would imagine these programs are structured in the same sort of fashion with an mater file in the program that your working on and when you complete the design, you output it in several layers?

I've done some googling on the programs Tango, Protel, Eagleware, and OrCAD, but from what I've been reading on their sites, I'm having a little difficulty getting the overall picture of how the flow of the program(s) work(s).  It looks like you can buy different versions of the software depending on how complex the electronic project you're designing is.  Then there are programs called "Tango" and "Protel," but my understanding is that other programs can output these file types? Kind of like Photoshop can output a .pdf file (and other files types) even though it's not Adobe Acrobat?  And is "Protel," for example, the name of the actual program, or the name of the company that makes a PCB layout design program that's called another name? ...like Adobe makes Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, etc., each which are specialized programs in different areas.

So, after someone explains to me how this all fits together, what programs that output in Tango or Protel formats would people recommend? I don' need anything extemely complex...just for simple pedal PCB's.

Thanks for any help.

[R.G.]

In all layout programs, you work on the layout at a graphic level. You move parts, make connections, etc. until you think it's correct.

The program maintains this graphical version in its internal format. As you suspected, when you're done, you can get the file out in several formats:
1. the native internal format. This is the "tango" or "protel" formats you're hearing about. The various programs can often import other "brands" and convert them to their internal format. when they were originally developed, each company came up with its own format. There is some interchange, although it's not universal. Generally the smaller, cheaper programs have to work harder and can import/export more file formats. They have to to survive.
2. Graphical output in postscript, pdf, etc. on a layer-by-layer basis or a combined basis. This output is useful only for looking at, not further PCB work. In general, it cannot be imported into another program for more PCB layout work.
3. Printer file format. Like 2, but can only go to a printer.
4. Gerber file format; used for making photo plots for PCB fabrication. All of them can do this as output, very few (maybe none) can take this in for editing. There are Gerber editors which can edit gerber only, but they are not general PCB programs, they're used only for touching up erroneous layouts before they get printed.

Indeed, "protel" was the name of a company, and "protel format" files were what their stuff put out. Other layout programs can put out "protel format" files, just like other programs can make pdf. These days, Protel Inc has changed its name to "Altium", but they still make protel format files.

If your buddy needs tango or protel format files, you gotta find a program that outputs tango or protel, although it may not be the "Tango" or "Altium" program suite.

[jadesky]

Does anyone know any programs that output Tango and Protel file formats, then?