CF2 Files

CF2 (Common File Format 2, also CFF2) is the file die makers, die saws, rule benders and lasers read most often. Import it with File › Import › Import…, and save one with File › Export › Export…, choosing CF2 Die Files.

Line types

Each CF2 line has a line type: a number that says what the rule does. They come in onto these layers:

CF2 type	What it is	Layer
1	Cut	Cut
2	Crease	Crease
3	Perforation	Perforation
4, 5	Score, half cut	Partial Cut
6	Reverse crease	Reverse Crease
7	V-cut	V-Cut
42	Cut-crease	Cut Crease
46	Dimensions and notes	Dimension
40	Matrix (Rillma)	CF2 40 Matrix (Rillma)
41	Zipper	CF2 41 Zipper
43	Draw only	CF2 43 Draw only
44	Burn only	CF2 44 Burn only
45	Safety edge	CF2 45 Safety edge
99	Punch	CF2 99 Punch

Types 1 to 7, 42 and 46 are only some of the numbers in use: any other type also gets a layer of its own, named CF2 and its number. The layers of their own keep the line type, so it is written back unchanged, and they still behave as what they are: a zipper perforates, a punch cuts.

When you export, the layers are written the other way round. Lines on the Tape layer are left out, as CF2 has no glue type. Lines on DDES3 layers are written as the nearest CF2 type (a counter as a matrix line, a machined line as burn only, and so on).

What else comes across

Rule thickness (pointage, in points) becomes each line's line width, and is written back from it; lines without one are written with the Rule thickness in the export options (2 pt). For a matrix line, where the pointage names the tool rather than a thickness, it is kept as it is.
Bridges (nicks): the number of bridges and their width are kept on each line and written back.
Auxiliary types (the size of rule, or the arrows on a dimension line) are kept and written back. Dimension lines with arrows are drawn with their arrow heads.
Text (T records) comes in as text on its line type's layer, in the built-in vector font. On export, each line of text is written as a T record; mirrored text, or all text with Text as outlines, is written as the outlines of its letters.
Subroutines (SUB sections and the C calls that place them) come in as parts: each call that places its subroutine full size (turned and moved) is a part at the call's position, turned by its angle, and a subroutine that calls others has them as parts within it. A call that scales or mirrors its subroutine is drawn in place instead, as the file says (with Subroutines as parts off in the import options, every call is). When you export, each part is written the other way round: its drawing as one subroutine (however many times it is placed, with this drawing's values for the variables it shares), and each part as a call placing it. Parts within parts are subroutines calling subroutines. Switch off Parts as subroutines to write everything in the main design.
Arcs and circles come across exactly. Other curves are written as lines and arcs; full circles as two half arcs, as some readers can't take a single full-circle arc (unless Circles as two half arcs is off).
Units: the file's millimetres (UM) or inches (UI) are converted to your drawing's. Exports are written in your drawing's units, unless you choose the other in the export options.
The file itself: the export options also set the design name (the file's name unless you give another), the first line ($BOFF, as most die-making software writes, or $BOF), the line endings and the decimal places.

The order section

A CF2 file can start with an ORDER section: the customer, job number, board grade and other details the die maker needs. ParametrIQ CAD shows it in the messages after the import, keeps it with the drawing, and writes it back when you export.

The order lines often refer to standard messages by number (%1, %2 …). If a CFF2 message file named cff2.msg, cf2.msg or standard.msg is in the same folder as the CF2 file (or beside ParametrIQ CAD itself), the numbers are shown as their messages, in your language where the file has it.