CAD and CAM systems are often produced by different companies, so, it is necessary to agree on a CAD-to-CAM data exchange format. ODB++ is such a format and arguably the closest to a global industry standard. Developed and released by Valor Computerized Systems, Ltd. in 1995, it was and still is continuously improving to meet the evolving needs of PCB designers, fabricators, and assemblers.

In 1997 together with component names the ++ suffix was added in reference to C++ and in 2000 development of an XML version started, which ended in 2008 when this new ODB++ format, called ODB++(X), was donated to the Association Connecting Electronics Industries (IPC) in an attempt to merge GenCAM (IPC-2511) and ODB++ into a new format called IPC-2581. ODB++ is the de facto standard for intelligent PCB data exchange containing all data necessary to fabricate, assemble and test in a single hierarchical file structure which makes it superior to the only format more popular: Gerber.

Some of the major benefits of ODB++ include:

• minimization of supply-chain risks related to data transfer errors and potential introduction of errors through integration of data from different sources (both occurring because of different interpretation of various file formats)
• enabling shorter processing times and the highest-possible levels of automation
• supported by all major vendors of CAD, DFM and CAM tools

The aforementioned reasons explain why ODB++ is the standard format of PCB-Investigator, which is always used internally even if the data were imported in a different format.