Are top copper gerbers the same?

[cupoftea]

Hi,
We have two Altium Projects, with similar PCBs.
If we get the gerber files from them..then
how can we check that the top copper gerber file for one project, is the same as the top copper gerber for the other project?

Open both in notepad++ and do a comparison?

 

[KlausST]

Hi,

using a Gerber-Viewer?

What do you want to achieve?
* To check if the gernated Gerber data is identical?
* or to check that the PCB looks identical?

For sure, if the all the file data is dientical, the PCB wil be identical, too.
But if it uses a different order in traces to be processed .. then the fil will not be identical, but the PCB my be identical.
Or different sizes, patterns, filling strategy ... or, or, or....

Klaus

 

[cupoftea]

Thanks, we wish to check if the actual overall top copper shape is the exact same or not.

 

[FvM]

You can visualize artwork difference in gerber viewer. Display both gerbers with different color in transparent mode. Differences get other color.