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Document Version v2026.08.31.0
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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, you can still view the export configuration; confirming export opens the purchase center

Steps

  1. Return to 2D and confirm the current visibility state, framing, and export target.
  2. Select the export button in the bottom floating toolbar, then choose the format and destination that match the task.
  3. Confirm 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 project files or design-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

Export sheet options

Current Export Preconditions

  • export can only be started from 2D Viewer
  • a board file must already be open
  • the export configuration can be opened directly; when export is confirmed, access must be unlocked on the current device or account or the purchase center opens
  • 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 project files. The app exports the whole board and does not expose a viewport-based partial scope here.

If a KiCad board has dynamic copper zones (zones / dynamic planes) whose editable semantics must be retained, conversion to DSN fails explicitly rather than silently flattening the current filled outline and losing dynamic semantics. Use KiCad 8 converted export or original-source export instead.

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 project files

Platform Differences

iOS

  • PNG: saves only to Photos
  • PDF / original source / DSN / KiCad 8: delivered only through Other Apps

Notes:

  • images are not written to Files first; saving requests the system’s photo-library Add permission
  • files do not attempt to write to a directory the app cannot access; Other Apps uses the system share sheet

macOS

  • all formats export only to Files
  • selecting the path field opens the save dialog so you can change the destination path
  • if the path is unchanged, confirming export asks the system for access to the prefilled location; after approval, it exports directly instead of reopening the save dialog
  • the save dialog prefills a default file name, and the default directory is ~/Documents

File Naming

The default file name uses the current source name and purpose, followed by a local-time _MMddHHmm suffix:

  • board_export_12020430.png
  • board_export_12020430.pdf
  • board_dsn_export_12020430.dsn
  • board_kicad_export_12020430.kicad_pcb

For example, _12020430 means December 2 at 04:30. A filename changed in the macOS save dialog is the final filename; export does not generate another name afterward.

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 version 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 lets you open the export configuration; if access is still locked when you confirm export, 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 iOS image delivery is connected to the photo library; the other export formats are files and are delivered only through the Other Apps system share sheet.