VOGONS


First post, by myne

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I figured it out!
Consider this basically a beta, because it has practically zero creature comforts and basically hacked its way into a format kicad could open.

  1. Developed/tested on "ASUS_Motherboard_P2B_1.12" which the enterprising will be able to find.
  2. No guarantees it will work on others, but it should.
  3. ASUS because it gets the component values from their BOM file.
  4. If other boardviews have that data, or you don't care go ahead and modify it.
  5. I will probably play with a few others, but I don't expect to spend much more time on it.
  6. Edit the script at the top to change a couple of options (eg bom file)
  7. It did require one notable edit of the original files. For some reason some files had PENT and others had PENTIUM. It had to change.
  8. I may have missed some things but it looks complete at a glance

It could be useful for getting footprints from old boards, or if you really love a board, recreating it.

How to use.
Run from powershell, in the directory with the ASCs, and BOM
Wait.
In kicad, start new project > pcb editor > append board (or try with the raw file attached)
Symbols will have to be assigned/created to get it into a schematic.
Unfortunately "update schematic from PCB" just laughed at me.

Attached:
P2b recreated from the ASC file
Script

Just tested on TuV4x_101.
It complained, and some manual fixing of something wrong in the file where kicad complained, but... Attached.

Already found a typo. I expect more. line 608 $device should be $pdevice to add component values.

Attachments

Last edited by myne on 2024-12-12, 15:46. Edited 1 time in total.

I built:
Convert old ASUS ASC boardviews to KICAD PCB!
Re: A comprehensive guide to install and play MechWarrior 2 on new versions on Windows.
Dos+Windows 3.11 auto-install iso template (for vmware)
Script to backup Win9x\ME drivers from a working install
Re: The thing no one asked for: KICAD 440bx reference schematic

Reply 1 of 15, by myne

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If you add a tab between SLOT1A, SLOT2A, SLOT3A adn the (t) in the pins.asc you get the full isa slots as attached
Again, buggy - and the inputs aren't perfect either.

Attachments

  • Filename
    P2B_1.12.zip
    File size
    85.42 KiB
    Downloads
    11 downloads
    File comment
    p2b fix #1
    File license
    Public domain

I built:
Convert old ASUS ASC boardviews to KICAD PCB!
Re: A comprehensive guide to install and play MechWarrior 2 on new versions on Windows.
Dos+Windows 3.11 auto-install iso template (for vmware)
Script to backup Win9x\ME drivers from a working install
Re: The thing no one asked for: KICAD 440bx reference schematic

Reply 2 of 15, by myne

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Updated.
Fixed quite a lot and made it faster.
Also, it default flips the board upsidedown (right way up in all the ones I've seen)

I'll add more details if anyone's curious enough

Attachments

  • Filename
    BX112.zip
    File size
    84.55 KiB
    Downloads
    12 downloads
    File comment
    board
    File license
    Public domain
  • Screenshot 2024-12-11 192721.png
    Filename
    Screenshot 2024-12-11 192721.png
    File size
    701.25 KiB
    Views
    677 views
    File comment
    pic
    File license
    Public domain
Last edited by myne on 2024-12-12, 15:45. Edited 1 time in total.

I built:
Convert old ASUS ASC boardviews to KICAD PCB!
Re: A comprehensive guide to install and play MechWarrior 2 on new versions on Windows.
Dos+Windows 3.11 auto-install iso template (for vmware)
Script to backup Win9x\ME drivers from a working install
Re: The thing no one asked for: KICAD 440bx reference schematic

Reply 3 of 15, by myne

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For all 2 of you who care:

Figured a few more things out.
Some user interaction around filenames
Front/back component locations.
Device locations don't start relative to 0,0 so changing footprints actually works in a not retarded way now.
Throughhole vs smd

Attachments

I built:
Convert old ASUS ASC boardviews to KICAD PCB!
Re: A comprehensive guide to install and play MechWarrior 2 on new versions on Windows.
Dos+Windows 3.11 auto-install iso template (for vmware)
Script to backup Win9x\ME drivers from a working install
Re: The thing no one asked for: KICAD 440bx reference schematic

Reply 4 of 15, by myne

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I may have got a bit carried away.

My next attempt will be symbols.
Then... If I still have the motivation, a crude schematic.

Attachments

I built:
Convert old ASUS ASC boardviews to KICAD PCB!
Re: A comprehensive guide to install and play MechWarrior 2 on new versions on Windows.
Dos+Windows 3.11 auto-install iso template (for vmware)
Script to backup Win9x\ME drivers from a working install
Re: The thing no one asked for: KICAD 440bx reference schematic

Reply 5 of 15, by myne

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Symbols were faster than I expected.

Seems to work on the following boards (attached):
A7V600-100A
A7V8X201
Asus P2B BX112
LV101
M2N-MXR105G
P5GV-MX R104
TUV4X101

Attachments

I built:
Convert old ASUS ASC boardviews to KICAD PCB!
Re: A comprehensive guide to install and play MechWarrior 2 on new versions on Windows.
Dos+Windows 3.11 auto-install iso template (for vmware)
Script to backup Win9x\ME drivers from a working install
Re: The thing no one asked for: KICAD 440bx reference schematic

Reply 6 of 15, by rasz_pl

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Looks great!
Browsing symbols at first I was confused by WINBOND associated with AS97127F but looking at the BOM there it is 😮

WINBOND AS97127F PQFP100
ASIC (REV."D")
HOLTEK AS97127F PQFP100
ASIC (VER."B")

Winbond and Holtek were manufacturing Asus Asics 😮

Looks like boardview has capacity for storing via/hole size, but nobody bothered? Only some tht parts (caps/inductors but not pin headers) have bigger hole coded in, and no pad shapes. Converted footprints will be very handy for picking correct ones, much faster than starting from scratch.

I stopped my manual conversion mid way realizing there must be a better way than toiling one pdf page at a time. Made a script guessing SVG zoom/dimensions from mean average line start/stop distances so I no longer have to sit there guessing up to third number after a dot 😀 and made progress with automating text import to Kicad schematic. In theory this should work on more pdf diagrams, at least all other intel reference ones (430TX VX FX).

https://github.com/raszpl/FIC-486-GAC-2-Cache-Module for AT&T Globalyst
https://github.com/raszpl/386RC-16 memory board
https://github.com/raszpl/440BX Reference Design adapted to Kicad
https://github.com/raszpl/Zenith_ZBIOS MFM-300 Monitor

Reply 7 of 15, by myne

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Glad someone appreciates it.

If what someone said is correct, these are files sent to a bed of nails style testing machine. Which explains why it's all upside down, and the hole size isn't relevant.
Unless I'm misunderstanding you,and you're referring to the hole sizes I chose?

Going to try a p1 board too, eh?

Did you work up the bravery to run the script? Even if only in a vm?
W10+ has sandbox mode

I built:
Convert old ASUS ASC boardviews to KICAD PCB!
Re: A comprehensive guide to install and play MechWarrior 2 on new versions on Windows.
Dos+Windows 3.11 auto-install iso template (for vmware)
Script to backup Win9x\ME drivers from a working install
Re: The thing no one asked for: KICAD 440bx reference schematic

Reply 8 of 15, by rasz_pl

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myne wrote on 2024-12-16, 03:52:

If what someone said is correct, these are files sent to a bed of nails style testing machine.

That would be me 😀 and yes, .dat file even says TR-518F ICT+FUNCTIONAL ATE, model number for http://www.miko.hk/TRI/tr518f.htm. Asus was still using those machines up to at least 2009 (ASUS P6T).

myne wrote on 2024-12-16, 03:52:

Going to try a p1 board too, eh?

I just want to make it easier to transfer pdf-eeschema with text first.

myne wrote on 2024-12-16, 03:52:

Did you work up the bravery to run the script? Even if only in a vm?

No, but I read the code, does that count? 😀

https://github.com/raszpl/FIC-486-GAC-2-Cache-Module for AT&T Globalyst
https://github.com/raszpl/386RC-16 memory board
https://github.com/raszpl/440BX Reference Design adapted to Kicad
https://github.com/raszpl/Zenith_ZBIOS MFM-300 Monitor

Reply 9 of 15, by myne

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Lol did you see the back door I left? ;p

Oh, wait, you can't. It ran on your brain when you read it! Mwuahahahaha!

I built:
Convert old ASUS ASC boardviews to KICAD PCB!
Re: A comprehensive guide to install and play MechWarrior 2 on new versions on Windows.
Dos+Windows 3.11 auto-install iso template (for vmware)
Script to backup Win9x\ME drivers from a working install
Re: The thing no one asked for: KICAD 440bx reference schematic

Reply 10 of 15, by myne

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Bug.
Not worth spinning a new ver

$boardMaxX=convertx
$boardMaxY=converty
$boardMinx=convertx
$boardMinY=converty
to
$boardMaxX=convertx($boardMaxX)
$boardMaxY=converty($boardMaxY)
$boardMinx=convertx($boardMinx)
$boardMinY=converty($boardMinY)

$pcbedge='(gr_rect(start ' + $boardMX+' '+$boardMY + ') (end ' +$boardMnX+' '+$boardMnY +')' + $kicadboardfooter
to
$pcbedge='(gr_rect(start ' + $boardMaxX+' '+$boardMaxY + ') (end ' +$boardMinX+' '+$boardMinY +')' + $kicadboardfooter

I built:
Convert old ASUS ASC boardviews to KICAD PCB!
Re: A comprehensive guide to install and play MechWarrior 2 on new versions on Windows.
Dos+Windows 3.11 auto-install iso template (for vmware)
Script to backup Win9x\ME drivers from a working install
Re: The thing no one asked for: KICAD 440bx reference schematic

Reply 11 of 15, by myne

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Script updated. Every time I think I've got kicads rotation figured out, it says yeah...nah.

P2b with most footprints.
"asus library" adapted from existing. Mostly rotations.

Attachments

  • Filename
    P2b,script,library.zip
    File size
    920.61 KiB
    Downloads
    11 downloads
    File comment
    fdasadsf
    File license
    Public domain

I built:
Convert old ASUS ASC boardviews to KICAD PCB!
Re: A comprehensive guide to install and play MechWarrior 2 on new versions on Windows.
Dos+Windows 3.11 auto-install iso template (for vmware)
Script to backup Win9x\ME drivers from a working install
Re: The thing no one asked for: KICAD 440bx reference schematic

Reply 12 of 15, by rasz_pl

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Looking at random 0603 resistor Asus-Extracts:R0603 doesnt differ from R_0603_1608Metric_Pad0.98x0.95mm? Same for Asus-Extracts:JP-3 and Connector_PinSocket_2.54mm:PinSocket_1x03_P2.54mm_Vertical. I dont see roundrect_rratio in your script, did you match all of those by hand? Wouldnt it make more sense to use standard kicad footprints if there is a match?

https://github.com/raszpl/FIC-486-GAC-2-Cache-Module for AT&T Globalyst
https://github.com/raszpl/386RC-16 memory board
https://github.com/raszpl/440BX Reference Design adapted to Kicad
https://github.com/raszpl/Zenith_ZBIOS MFM-300 Monitor

Reply 13 of 15, by myne

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It is the standard one.
But Asus use a different rotation as standard.
Asus likes 1 down for simple components kicad likes 1 left. There's also the center. All of the automatic ones are at the centroid. Kicad varies between centroid and pin 1.

I could "fix" the board, but there's no guarantee their standard is consistent, so it's easier to rotate, center, and save. Yes, manually. In theory though, once the library is big enough, it's just a find and replace in the pcb file. Find footprintname, replace with asuslibrary:footprintname.

Go ahead and change one to the standard kicad one. Be prepared to ctrl-z.

I built:
Convert old ASUS ASC boardviews to KICAD PCB!
Re: A comprehensive guide to install and play MechWarrior 2 on new versions on Windows.
Dos+Windows 3.11 auto-install iso template (for vmware)
Script to backup Win9x\ME drivers from a working install
Re: The thing no one asked for: KICAD 440bx reference schematic

Reply 14 of 15, by myne

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Rasz, any thoughts on pad sizing?
I'm almost done with the library, but while I can figure out the hole sizes, I have nfi what to do about pad sizes on throughhole.

I built:
Convert old ASUS ASC boardviews to KICAD PCB!
Re: A comprehensive guide to install and play MechWarrior 2 on new versions on Windows.
Dos+Windows 3.11 auto-install iso template (for vmware)
Script to backup Win9x\ME drivers from a working install
Re: The thing no one asked for: KICAD 440bx reference schematic

Reply 15 of 15, by myne

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Updated script and library.

Add library,
Run main script,
Then run:

$file=".\BX112.kicad_pcb"
(get-content $file) | % { $_ -replace 'footprint "', 'footprint "Asus-Extracts:' } | set-content $file

Open in kicad
Tools > Update footprints from library > update

Voila!

Oh, and the symbols are now one library and it only does parts that aren't obviously boring like caps/resistors.

Attachments

I built:
Convert old ASUS ASC boardviews to KICAD PCB!
Re: A comprehensive guide to install and play MechWarrior 2 on new versions on Windows.
Dos+Windows 3.11 auto-install iso template (for vmware)
Script to backup Win9x\ME drivers from a working install
Re: The thing no one asked for: KICAD 440bx reference schematic