MUNICH -- An updated version of Gerber, this with attributes, is being reviewed and could be available for review in as soon as two weeks, says the keeper of the standard.

Gerber, the leading electronics data transfer format, has flaws, admits Karel Tavernier, managing director of Ucamco, but the company is working on an updated version containing attributes related to the image within the Gerber file.

The attributes will show drill holes, component pads and any other data related to the image itself, Tavernier told PCD&F today during the biennial Productronica trade show here.

A second goal is to provide a specification on how to archive a Gerber file.

What it won't do, he added, was include netlists, which are already adequately covered by IPC-D-356. Furthermore, Ucamco has "no intention" of doing materials or components, both of which are covered by IPC-2581.

"It's not intended to be complete, Tavernier said, "but it will be accurate. Gerber will also be easy to implement by users and developers of Gerber input and output."

Readers that cannot read the data will provide an error message indicating an unknown parameter, he added.