RM Schematics
Board-level repair · 4 min read

Boardview file formats: how to open .brd, .bdv, .fz, .cad and .tvw

Which program opens which boardview format — OpenBoardView, FlexBV, Tebo-ICT viewer — plus tips for using a boardview together with a schematic.

ANBy Torry's Delphi · Updated

A boardview is a map of the physical motherboard: every component outline, every pin and every test point, with net names. It lets you click on PU1 from the schematic and see exactly where it is on the board. The catch is that there are many formats.

Formats and programs

ExtensionWhat it usually isOpen with
.brdSeveral different boardview formats share this extension (and Cadence Allegro uses it too)OpenBoardView, FlexBV; real Allegro files — Allegro Free Physical Viewer
.bdvHonhan BoardViewer formatOpenBoardView, FlexBV
.fzAsus boardview (compressed)OpenBoardView, FlexBV
.ascASUS TSICT text formatOpenBoardView, FlexBV
.cadGenCAD / test-fixture CADOpenBoardView, FlexBV
.tvwTebo-ICT view format (common for Gigabyte)Tebo-ICT viewer, FlexBV
.bv, .bvrBoardview (various tools)OpenBoardView, FlexBV
.pdfSchematicAny PDF reader — use search (Ctrl+F) for net names

Which one to install

OpenBoardView is free and open-source and opens the majority of files you'll find here. Start with it. FlexBV is a paid program that opens nearly every format, links a schematic PDF to the board and is popular with professional repair shops. For .tvw files without FlexBV, use the Tebo-ICT viewer.

Tips

  • Files arrive as .rar or .zip — unpack first (7-Zip opens both).
  • Search by net name (for example +3VALW or VCORE) to highlight every point on that rail — perfect for finding where to measure.
  • Use the schematic to understand what should be there and the boardview to find where it is. See schematic vs boardview.
  • If a .brd won't open in one program, try the other — the extension alone doesn't tell you the real format.

Keep reading

How to find your laptop motherboard number5 min readSchematic vs boardview: which one you need for repair3 min readWho really makes your laptop board: Compal, Quanta, Wistron and other ODMs4 min readLaptop won't turn on? A schematic-based troubleshooting plan6 min readKiCad libraries explained: symbols, footprints and 3D models7 min readMoving from Eagle to KiCad: importing boards, schematics and libraries6 min read
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Editor

Torry's Delphi Editor & curator

Hi, I'm Torry's Delphi. For more than ten years I've been writing software that collects and organises data — scrapers, catalogues, automation pipelines. Repair documentation turned out to be the perfect mess to clean up.

The files listed here were collected by the community in the Telegram channel @schematicslaptop, plus a Google Drive archive. I wrote a parser that reads every file name, recognises the brand, the ODM manufacturer (Compal, Quanta, Wistron…) and the board number, and turns it into pages you can search and browse.

Next to the catalogue I keep a small set of practical notes on electronics and PCB work — KiCad libraries, moving designs from Eagle, making prototype boards at home, LCDs and EEPROMs. If something is sorted wrong or a note is unclear, write to me and I'll fix it.

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