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Handbook Version v2026.04.17.1 Released 2026-04-17
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Export and Share

Goal

Help you turn the current 2D view or the current board into something you can deliver, share, or continue processing elsewhere.

Supported Platforms

  • iOS
  • macOS

Intended Audience

  • Users exporting board views or board-file outputs for delivery and sharing
  • Testers validating capture export, original-source export, and converted export behavior

Prerequisites

  • A managed board document is already open in 2D
  • If full export is expected, export access should already be unlocked
  • If export access is still locked, treat purchase-center redirect as the expected pre-export behavior

Steps

  1. Return to 2D and confirm the current visibility state, framing, and export target.
  2. Choose the export format and destination that match the task.
  3. Complete the export and open the result, or confirm that the purchase-center redirect appears when export access is still locked.

Result

  • The current board view or board data is delivered through the appropriate capture, original-source, or converted export path.

Currently Supported Export Formats

Capture exports

  • PNG
  • PDF

Original-source exports

  • DSN
  • KiCad
  • IPC-2581
  • ODB++
  • Gerber/Drill

This path returns the original source files or source-file set stored with the current revision:

  • single-file formats are returned as the original file, without regeneration
  • multi-file formats are returned as a ZIP, with the original paths and bytes preserved

Converted exports

  • DSN
  • KiCad 8

Current Export Preconditions

  • export can only be started from 2D Viewer
  • a board file must already be open
  • export access must already be unlocked on the current device or account; otherwise the purchase center opens first
  • a new export request is blocked while another export is in flight

Export Scope

PNG / PDF

You can choose:

  • Viewport
  • Fit All

DSN / KiCad 8

These are converted exports. They are not screenshots, and they are not simply returning the original source files. The app exports the whole board and does not expose a viewport-based partial scope here.

Original-source exports

Original-source exports also do not use viewport scope:

  • if the current revision is already stored in that format, the app returns the original source first
  • for example, if the current revision is KiCad .kicad_pcb, exporting KiCad returns the original KiCad file
  • if the current revision is DSN, exporting DSN returns the original DSN file
  • if the current revision is a multi-file manufacturing package, export returns a ZIP containing the original source set

Platform Differences

iOS

  • PNG: export to Files / Other Apps / Photos
  • PDF / original source / DSN / KiCad 8: export to Files / Other Apps

Notes:

  • Photos is only available for PNG
  • Other Apps uses the system share sheet

macOS

  • all formats export only to Files
  • the app shows a save dialog so you can choose the destination path
  • if you have not chosen a save location yet, confirming export opens the save dialog before the export really starts
  • the save dialog prefills a default file name; the current suggested location is ~/Documents

File Naming

The default file name uses the current source name with an _export suffix:

  • board_export.png
  • board_export.pdf
  • board_export.dsn
  • board_export.kicad_pcb

If you are using original-source export:

  • single-file exports prefer the original file name
  • multi-file exports prefer the current document name and produce a .zip
  1. return to 2D
  2. if export access is still locked, complete the purchase or restore flow first
  3. adjust visibility, framing, and zoom
  4. choose the format and destination
  5. open the result immediately after export and verify it

Common Questions

Why can’t I export from 3D or Data?

Because the current implementation only allows export to start from 2D.

Why did export open the purchase center first?

Because export is currently gated behind a separate export unlock. The workspace checks access both before opening the export configurator and before actually starting export. If access is still locked, it redirects to the purchase center.

Why do image exports and board-file exports offer different options?

Because PNG / PDF are viewport captures, while board-file export is now split into two paths:

  • Original source export: returns the original files stored in the current revision
  • Converted export: generates a new target format from the current workspace content

Why can an image go to Photos on iOS, but PDF cannot?

Because the current implementation only wires the Photos destination to PNG.

Last Verified

  • 2026-04-17