The file extension PCB is not exclusive to one computer program. Files with extension PCB are used for at least two purposes: storing information about printed circuit boards, and the toolbars for Microsoft PowerPoint. Changing the data in either type of file can have detrimental effects on the programs with which the file is associated -- don't alter these files unless you are very savvy about their use.
Printed Circuit Boards
- The file extension PCB is most commonly used with printed circuit boards, which are thin plates of metal on which electronic chips and other components are attached. A PCB file is written and saved in ASCII text format, and is chiefly used to create and store the layout of the printed circuit board.
Reading PCB Files
- Files with the extension PCB can be opened using more than one program, on both Mac and PC computers. Programs for Mac users include McCad, CadSoft EAGLE and Osmond PCB. PC users can use programs such as ExpressPCB, Altium P-CAD and Mentor Graphics Board Station to open a PCB file. Linux user can only use one program, CadSoft Eagle, to read a PCB file.
PowerPoint Files
- Microsoft PowerPoint also uses the file extension PCB for certain files. PowerPoint is a presentation software that comes as a part of the Microsoft Office package. PowerPoint documents are comprised of individual slides, which contain information ranging from written text to images and Web links. The PCB files in PowerPoint relate to information about the toolbar that runs across the top of a PowerPoint screen.
PowerPoint Toolbar
- The PowerPoint toolbar provides a variety of tabs that enable a user to add a design to his presentation, insert a photo or chart, or edit the font of presentation text. The toolbar for each version of PowerPoint is assigned a unique PCB file -- for instance the toolbar PCB file for version PowerPoint 2003 is PPT11.pcb. When a toolbar is edited, the changes are saved to the PCB file.
