The Conversion Workflow

LinkCAD’s main purpose is converting CAD files between formats. The conversion follows a wizard-style workflow with clear stages.

Workflow Overview

flowchart TD A[Select Input and Output Format] --> B[Configure Input Options] B --> C["Configure Export Options"] C --> D["Select Input File(s)"] D --> E[Import] E --> F[Review Import Log] F --> G[View / Edit / Repair] G --> H[Select Export Destination] H --> I[Export] I --> J[Review Export Log] J --> K([Conversion complete])

1. Select Input and Output Format

When LinkCAD opens, the conversion wizard shows both format panels side by side. Select the input format (e.g., GDSII) and output format (e.g., DXF) before proceeding.

2. Configure Input Options

Each format has specific import settings. Common options across formats:

Option	Description
Units	Physical units of coordinates in the source file
Precision	Resolution of coordinate values
Scaling	Scale factor to apply during import

Format-specific options are documented in each format’s reference page.

3. Configure Export Options

Set options for the chosen output format:

Option	Description
Output units	Physical units for the exported file
Precision	Coordinate resolution in the output
Format version	Target version (e.g., DXF R12 vs. 2000)
Flatten	Whether to expand the cell hierarchy
Layer map	Map input layers to output layer names/numbers

4. Select Input File and Import

Choose your source file:

LinkCAD reads the file and presents the Import Log. Review any warnings or errors before continuing.

5. View, Edit, and Repair

The file structure dialog shows the cell hierarchy and layer structure. Use this stage to inspect the geometry and apply optional tools from the Tools menu. Switch to the viewer to display the imported geometry.

Use this stage to:

• Inspect the cell hierarchy and layer structure
• Apply geometry tools from the Tools menu:
  • Merge Overlapping Polygons — combine touching/overlapping shapes
  • Flatten Hierarchy — expand cell references into a single level
  • Convert Quasi-Circles — detect and reconstruct circular approximations
  • Sanitize Polygons — fix self-intersecting shapes

See the Tools Reference for details on each tool.

Layer Mapping

During conversion, layers from the source format must map to layers in the target format. This can happen:

• Automatically — LinkCAD preserves layer names/numbers where possible
• Via Layer Map — a CSV file defining the mapping rules

See Layer Maps for details.

6. Select Export Destination and Export

Choose the output file path and click Export. Review the Export Log for any issues.

The conversion is complete when the export log shows no errors.

Batch Mode

To convert multiple files at once, enable Batch Mode at the initial screen. In batch mode, LinkCAD processes all files in a directory using the same import/export settings.

See Batch Processing for the full workflow.