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Format guide · IPC-D-356Open and view IPC-D-356 netlists – free on Windows.
Received a test netlist for a board? EFA CAMverse opens IPC-D-356(A) natively – no cloud upload – and shows test points colour-coded by access side, plus the netlist with highlight. As one of the very few viewers that read it at all.
IPC-D-356 – the electrical reference of the bare board.
What is IPC-D-356? ..
IPC-D-356 (and the extended IPC-D-356A) is an ASCII format that describes the electrical reference netlist of a bare PCB with test points: per net the associated pads and vias with coordinates, access side (top/bottom) and drill/pad details.
It is published by IPC. The format hands netlist and test-point coordinates to the bare-board tester (bed-of-nails or flying probe) – the fabricator uses it to verify the finished, still unpopulated board against the design: for opens and shorts.
How to open an IPC-D-356 file ..
Install EFA CAMverse
Download for free and install – a native Windows application (10/11, 64-bit), free to use as a viewer.
Open the file
Open the file (.ipc, .356, .d356) directly – the format is detected from the content. The .ipc extension is shared with IPC-2581; EFA CAMverse tells both apart automatically.
View and verify
Review test points by access side, highlight nets in the netlist pane, measure positions – and open the matching layout next to it if needed.
What EFA CAMverse shows you from the test netlist ..
Test points
All test points at their coordinates – colour-coded by access side (top/bottom).
Netlist & highlight
The reference netlist in the netlist pane – double-click to zoom to a net, bidirectional highlight between list and image.
Access sides
See at a glance which test points are reachable from top, bottom or both sides – important for fixture and flying-probe planning.
Side by side
Open the test netlist next to the Gerber or ODB++ data of the same project – review the electrical reference and the layout in the same tool.
Measure & inspect
Measure distances and test-point positions precisely.
100 % local
A native Windows application – no cloud, no upload. Your test data stays on your machine.
From the IPC-D-356 netlist to a DXF drawing ..
From the IPC-D-356 netlist, EFA CAMverse creates a DXF drawing with all drill holes and test points – as a basis for designing test fixtures and jigs in your CAD program.
- Drill pattern: all drill holes – separated into plated and non-plated, tooling holes on their own layer.
- Test points per side: the probing pads of the netlist on top and bottom – each on the side it is accessible from.
- Fits your CAD program: in millimetres or inches, with layer names and colours as you specify.
- For depaneling: outline and milling paths come from the layout data – pass on the Gerber, ODB++ or IPC-2581 data of the same project as DXF.
IPC-D-356 netlist.ipc
Test points · drill holes · nets
DXF.dxf
Drill holes · tooling holes · test points top/bottom
Passed on for …
- Designtest fixture, jig
- Documentationdrill and test point plan
The test netlist in your workflow ..
Open next to the layout
EFA CAMverse opens different formats of the same project in one interface – the IPC-D-356 netlist next to the Gerber or ODB++ data. Review the electrical reference and the layout together, without switching programs. Why one tool →
Export the netlist
The netlist can be exported as CSV or Excel – for test planning, comparison and documentation in spreadsheets or your own tools. All features →
IPC-D-356 in context ..
What IPC-D-356 is not
Neither an image nor a full-model format: it contains no layer graphics like Gerber and no complete product model like ODB++ or IPC-2581 – only test points, nets and access sides. It complements the manufacturing data, it does not replace it. Editions: IPC-D-356, today's usual 356A and the successor 356B.
The .ipc extension trap
The .ipc extension is also used for IPC-2581 files – 2 completely different formats with the same extension. EFA CAMverse detects the format automatically and opens the file correctly. To the IPC-2581 guide →
And when the next customer delivers something else: EFA CAMverse also opens 8 more PCB/CAM formats – in the same tool, with the same way of working.
EAGLE
ODB++
GenCAD
PADS
KiCadA test netlist on your desk? See it in 2 minutes ..
EFA CAMverse is free to use as a viewer – unlock advanced features whenever you need them. Native on Windows, your data stays local.
EFA CAMverse 2026 · free viewer · Windows 10/11 · 64-bit