This standard specifies the XML schema that represents the intelligent data file format used to describe printed board and printed board assembly products with details sufficient for tooling, manufacturing, assembly, and inspection requirements. This format may be used for transmitting information between a printed board designer and a manufacturing or assembly facility. The data is most useful when the manufacturing cycle includes computer-aided processes and numerical control machines.

The data can be defined in either English or International System of Units (SI) units. The format is a convergence of the IPC-2511 “GenCAM” and the Valor Computerized Systems “ODB-X” format structure.