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Studio Documentation

Exporting ODB++ Files

How to export ODB++ design files from KiCad and Altium Designer for use with FixturFab Studio's DFT Tool.

The Design for Test (DFT) Tool in FixturFab Studio accepts ODB++ files exported from your circuit board design tool. This guide explains the format and provides export instructions for popular ECAD software.

What is ODB++?#

ODB++ is an intelligent PCB manufacturing data format originally developed by Valor (now part of Siemens). Unlike single-purpose formats, ODB++ packages your complete board design — copper layers, drill data, netlist, component placement, and test point information — into a single structured archive.

The format contains:

  • Complete netlist and connectivity data
  • Component placement and package information
  • Layer stackup and copper geometry
  • Drill and route data
  • Test point definitions with X/Y coordinates

ODB++ captures richer design context than single-purpose formats, which helps Studio's DFT analysis identify testability issues more accurately.

Export Instructions by ECAD Tool#

KiCad 8+#

ODB++ export is available in KiCad 8 and later.

  1. Open your PCB in KiCad's PCB Editor
  2. Navigate to File → Fabrication Outputs → ODB++
  3. Configure output settings (defaults work for most designs)
  4. Click Generate to create the ODB++ archive
  5. The output is a .zip or .tgz archive — upload it directly to Studio

Earlier KiCad versions do not support ODB++ export. Use IPC-D-356 instead.

Altium Designer#

  1. Open your PCB document
  2. Navigate to File → Fabrication Outputs → ODB++ Files
  3. Configure the output job settings as needed
  4. Click Generate to produce the ODB++ archive
  5. The output directory contains the ODB++ structure — compress it to a .zip for upload

For detailed configuration options, consult Altium's documentation on ODB++ output generation.

File Verification#

Before uploading to Studio, verify your ODB++ export:

  • File should be a .zip or .tgz archive containing the ODB++ directory structure
  • The archive should contain steps/, symbols/, and matrix/ directories at the expected level
  • Open the archive to confirm layer data and netlist information are present

Next Steps#

Once exported, upload your ODB++ file to FixturFab Studio to generate your DFT Report. The tool will analyze your design and identify optimal test points for fixture development.

If your ECAD tool doesn't support ODB++, you can use IPC-D-356 instead — both formats work with Studio's DFT analysis.

For support with file exports, contact hello@fixturfab.com.

Last updated:March 5, 2026