Free IPC2581 Viewer

Collaboration with IPC

DownStream is working closely with the IPC standards committee to ensure the viewer, as well as the overall IPC-2581 standard, always remain free, supported and independent of corporate agendas. Both IPC and DownStream plan to make Vu2581 available on the IPC website, www.ipc.org as well as on DownStream’s corporate web site www.downstreamtech.com, and the IPC Consortium’s website, www.ipc-2581.com. DownStream also plans to release the product in Japanese and Chinese language versions in 2012.

“IPC welcomes Downstream Technologies’ introduction of Vu2581 to facilitate the implementation of the IPC-2581 data transfer standard without the long-term concerns associated with a “single-source” solution. We are pleased to offer this viewer, and any subsequent fully-validated viewers as they become available and encourage our members and the industry overall to choose the viewer most appropriate for their needs and preferences,” said Marc Carter, Technology Transfer Director of the IPC. He added, “We applaud all the consortium members multi-year effort to bring a truly open, neutrally-maintained global standard into being.”

Vu2581 Features

Load IPC-2581 Format Files

  • Vu2581 performs XML file checking and parsing against IPC-2581 standard schema definition
  • Support for spec Version 1.0 with Amendment 1 - 2007
  • Support for spec Version 1.0 with Revision A proposed updated - 2012
  • Support for Zuken CR5000® and Allegro® IPC-2581 outputs


    • Visibility Filtering

  • Net visibility and color highlighting
  • Component visibility and color highlighting
  • Part Decal visibility and color highlighting
  • Layer visibility and color setting
  • Data type visibility and color setting by layer
  • Drill visibility and color setting by size, layer and plated


    • Search window

  • Search for Component, Decals, Nets by name
  • Search for Drills by size
  • Cross probing using list of all found items
  • Auto-jump to actual found or selected items


    • Measure Tool

  • Displays value of measure distance at cursor
  • Snapping to CAD objects


    • Multiple File View

  • View multiple IPC-2581 files simultaneously


    • Proceed to download Vu2581