Removing the “throw it over the wall” mentality in the design of ECAD is a serious advantage to the EDMD schema currently being implemented at many companies. This schema can be implemented both stand alone or in conjunction with a WindChill implementation. The EDMD schema relies on the exchange of data between the ECAD and MCAD design domains using the IDX file format. IDX is a total replacement of the IDF (.emn and .emp) format. This Step format, describes an ECAD dataset more completely than any other structure. The format was originally developed to transfer changes of design data sets from the ECAD to MCAD space. We can now track and update data sets on either the Mechanical Tools or Electrical Tools – assuming the tools will accommodate reading the format.

Currently the Following tools have some kind of capability to read IDX:

ECAD Tools

Mentor Expedition
Mentor PADs Layout
Mentor Board Station XE
Cadence Allegro

MCAD Tools

Creo
Solid Works
CATIA