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In Altium’s documented workflow, ECAD defines the harness wiring and connectivity, while MCAD defines its three-dimensional route. CoDesigner sends connectors, splices, from-to connectivity, and harness topology to MCAD; after routing, it can return physical wire, cable, and harness-segment lengths to the ECAD Harness Layout Drawing. The routed harness can also appear in a multi-board assembly with enclosure parts.
What ECAD and MCAD actually synchronize
The workflow divides logical definition from physical routing. In Altium, an ECAD Harness Wiring Diagram (*.WirDoc) captures the initial wiring or schematic. Its logical connectivity is transferred into a Harness Layout Drawing (*.LdrDoc), where the physical implementation—such as wires, cables, crimps, and connectors—is defined. The ECAD layout editor does not define the harness’s three-dimensional geometry; that work takes place in MCAD. Altium’s harness synchronization documentation describes this division and the data exchanged.
ECAD to MCAD: definition and topology
The forward handoff includes connectors, splices, from-to connectivity, and harness topology. Here, topology means the connection points and the sets of wires or cables that pass through them. MCAD uses that information as the basis for creating the physical route in 3D.
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MCAD to ECAD: physical lengths
After routing, the return handoff provides physical lengths for wires, cables, and harness segments to the ECAD Harness Layout Drawing. That length information supports ECAD documentation and bill-of-materials work; it is not a substitute for defining the harness’s topology in ECAD.
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How the harness fits a multi-board assembly
A routed harness can be synchronized as a 3D model within a multi-board assembly, alongside mechanical enclosure parts. This connects harness routing to the larger assembly context: the assembly can include PCB placements, enclosure geometry, and the harness model rather than treating the harness as an isolated drawing. Altium’s CoDesigner overview identifies multi-board assembly synchronization support for PTC Creo and SOLIDWORKS.
That statement is specific to the documented platforms and feature. It should not be read as proof that every CoDesigner capability is available on every MCAD platform.
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Compatibility and prerequisites
Altium’s harness documentation names two supported endpoints and minimum CoDesigner versions. The availability of a capability also depends on the customer’s Altium solution and installation, so verify the current compatibility information for the actual products and versions in use.
| MCAD endpoint | Minimum CoDesigner version stated for harness sync | Additional prerequisite stated |
|---|---|---|
| PTC Creo | 3.5 and later | No additional MCAD module or companion software is named in the harness documentation. |
| SOLIDWORKS | 3.6 and later | Routing Electrical is required; Altium identifies it as included in SOLIDWORKS Premium. Microsoft Excel must also be installed to read harness connectivity information. |
These are the minimum CoDesigner versions stated in Altium’s harness synchronization documentation; they do not establish compatibility with every later product configuration or Altium license. Check the live availability information for the customer’s exact Altium solution and installation before selecting a platform.
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For component linking, separate documentation describes constraints on supported Altium clients and workspaces and excludes Autodesk Fusion from MCAD-to-ECAD component linking. That is a component-linking limitation, not evidence that Fusion is unsupported for every CoDesigner function. Altium’s component-linking documentation covers that distinct feature.
Setup checklist before the first synchronization
- Confirm the ECAD environment. Check the Altium client, MCAD CoDesigner add-in version, and whether the customer’s Altium solution and installation include the required harness and multi-board capabilities.
- Confirm the MCAD endpoint. Verify whether the project uses PTC Creo with CoDesigner 3.5 or later, or SOLIDWORKS with CoDesigner 3.6 or later, against current compatibility details.
- Check SOLIDWORKS dependencies if applicable. Confirm Routing Electrical and Microsoft Excel are available.
- Prepare the ECAD harness documents. Establish wiring and connectivity in the Harness Wiring Diagram, then define the physical harness implementation and required topology in the Harness Layout Drawing.
- Decide the synchronization scope. Determine whether the job needs a harness layout only or also a multi-board assembly containing PCB placements, enclosure geometry, and the routed harness model.
Topology is the critical return-sync caveat
Before synchronizing a routed harness back from MCAD, make sure its topology is specified in the ECAD Harness Layout Drawing. Altium explicitly cautions that CoDesigner does not build that topology in the ECAD drawing from the MCAD return. The return synchronization supplies physical lengths; it does not create the missing topology. If topology is absent, the return handoff will not fill that gap, so resolve it in ECAD before syncing back.
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What the documentation does—and does not—establish
The documented workflow explains the data exchanged and names supported harness-sync endpoints and prerequisites. It does not establish comparative time savings, error-rate improvements, or a neutral performance ranking between MCAD platforms. Altium also notes that support for other MCAD platforms may be added in future updates; that is not a current compatibility guarantee.
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