WILSONVILLE, OR -- A Mentor Graphics spokesman today said the EDA company "plans to support" the IPC data transfer format.

Addressing a LinkedIn PCB Designers group, Julian Coates, director of business development for Mentor's Valor division, wrote: "[C]ertainly Mentor plans to support IPC2581 into its manufacturing tools; we are committed to following what our customers need, according to overall market-priority."

It was Mentor's most public display of pending support for IPC-2581. Previously, Mentor's comments had suggested it would focus on its proprietary format, ODB++. However, Coates had previously noted on a PCD&F comment board that Mentor would support IPC-2581 input into its manufacturing-level tools from Mentor (Valor division) and Frontline.

Coates made the comment in response to postings from individuals supporting IPC-2581. On March 26, Coates will moderate an open chat on the data transfer issue at PCB Chat.