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  <title>PCB Libraries Forum : Automate Footprint Creation with Text Files</title>
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  <pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 05:37:52 +0000</pubDate>
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   <title><![CDATA[Automate Footprint Creation with Text Files : You can create any footprint,...]]></title>
   <link>https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/automate-footprint-creation-with-text-files_topic3464_post13756.html#13756</link>
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    <![CDATA[<strong>Author:</strong> <a href="https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/member_profile.asp?PF=1">Nick B</a><br /><strong>Subject:</strong> 3464<br /><strong>Posted:</strong> 23 Jan 2025 at 1:18pm<br /><br /><div>You can create any footprint, regardless of the complexity, in just minutes using Excel and a Text file. The ability to transform a simple text file into an accurate solder pattern is available in Footprint Expert. The text file can be easily created in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, and must contain these features to fully automate PCB library construction:</div><div><ul><li>Pin Name</li><li>Pad Orientation</li><li>X Coordinate</li><li>Y Coordinate</li><li>Pad Size X</li><li>Pad Size Y</li><li>Pad Diameter</li></ul></div><div>Note: The Pad X, Y and Diameter data is for the creation of surface mount pad stacks.&nbsp;</div><div>Tip to automate the Pin Names, enter the first Pin Name in cell A1</div><div><br></div><div><img src="uploads/1/_a250123-Excel_A1.png" height="225" width="269" border="0" /><br></div><div><br></div><div>After Click and Drag, Excel will step the pin numbers</div><div><br></div><div><img src="uploads/1/_a250123-Excel_Pin_Numbers.png" height="227" width="90" border="0" /><br></div><div><br></div><div>Next, add the pad rotation. Pad stacks are usually created long in the horizontal or X direction. If only one rotation is required, enter the angle in cells B1 and B2 and select both cells.</div><div><br></div><div><img src="https://www.pcblibraries.com/forum/uploads/1/_a250123-Excel_B1.png" height="245" width="341" border="0" /></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>After Click and Drag, Excel will add the pin rotation</div><div><br></div><div><img src="uploads/1/_a250123-Excel_Pin_Rotati&#111;n.png" height="225" width="154" border="0" /><br></div><div><br></div><div>Next, enter the X coordinate in cell C1 and the step value in cell C2</div><div><br></div><div><img src="uploads/1/_a250123-Excel_C1.png" height="234" width="404" border="0" /><br></div><div><br></div><div>After Click and Drag, Excel will add the X coordinates and step the values according to the difference between cell C1 and C2.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div><img src="uploads/1/_a250123-Excel_Pin_X_Coordinate.png" height="229" width="219" border="0" /><br></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Here is a Molex Surface Mount USB Type B Connector P/N 47346-1001 Datasheet:<br><a href="https://www.molex.com/pdm_docs/sd/473461001_sd.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.molex.com/pdm_docs/sd/473461001_sd.pdf</a>&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Capture 3 dimensions for Length 7.5, Width 5 and Height 2.45</div><div><br></div><div><img src="uploads/1/_a250123-MOLEX_47346-1001_Pkg.png" height="362" width="341" border="0" /><br></div><div><br></div><div>Create an Excel spreadsheet with the Mfr. Recommended Pattern X/Y coordinates and pad sizes and Rotations. The footprint Origin is in the center of the component package.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div><img src="uploads/1/_a250123-MOLEX_47346-1001_Pattern.png" height="389" width="440" border="0" /><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Excel spreadsheet contains Pin Number, Pad Rotation, X &amp; Y placement Coordinates and X &amp; Y Surface Mount Pad Stack sizes. Using the Mfr. Recommended Pattern, it takes 5 minutes to create this. Every component manufacturer should provide this file to all their customers to automate accurate PCB footprint creation. Using Footprint Expert, this PCB library part can be created in 2 minutes and exported to 25 CAD tools.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div><img src="uploads/1/_a250123-ExcelData.png" height="264" width="436" border="0" /><br></div><div><br></div><div>Select File &gt; Save As &gt; Tab Delimited (Excel) or Tab Separated (Sheets) text, and save as a .txt file. If you view the TXT file in Notepad, it will look like this:</div><div><br><img src="uploads/1/_a250123-MOLEX_47346-1001_Text.png" height="272" width="483" border="0" /><br></div><div><br></div><div>Open Footprint Expert, select "Designer" and enter the package dimensions for L, W and H.</div><div><br></div><div><img src="uploads/1/_a250123-MOLEX_47346-1001_Pkg_Dimensi&#111;ns.png" height="321" width="411" border="0" /><br></div><div><br></div><div>Select OK and Footprint Expert will auto-generate the Silkscreen, Assembly, Component, Courtyard and Origin drafting outlines. Entering 3 dimensions takes less than a minute.</div><div><br></div><div><img src="uploads/1/_a250123-Footprint_Outlines.png" height="305" width="440" border="0" /><br></div><div><br></div><div>After selecting the OK button, the Pad Stack Designer menu opens. Close it because the text file will auto-generate all 5 pad stacks.</div><div><br></div><div>Open the Import Placement panel and search for the .txt file on your computer.</div><div><br></div><div><img src="uploads/1/_a250123-FP_Designer_Import_Placement.png" height="372" width="422" border="0" /><br></div><div><br></div><div>Mouse over the Yellow Highlighted Headers and a message appears "Right-click to select a definition for this column".</div><div><br></div><div><img src="uploads/1/_a250123-FP_Designer_Define_Columns.png" height="375" width="422" border="0" /></div><div><br></div><div>Select the proper function for each column from the pop-up list.</div><div><br></div><div><img src="uploads/1/_a250123-FP_Designer_Identify_Column_Functi&#111;n.png" height="394" width="422" border="0" /><br></div><div><br></div><div>Do this for each column and then select and Confirm Units.</div><div><br></div><div><img src="uploads/1/_a250123-FP_Designer_C&#111;nfirm_Units_Warning.png" height="134" width="340" border="0" /><br></div><div><br></div><div>Select Units, Confirm Units and Add to Design</div><div><br></div><div><img src="uploads/1/_a250123-FP_Designer_C&#111;nfirm_Units.png" height="241" width="333" border="0" /><br></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Here is the footprint with the proper pad stack location, size and rotation for 5 different pad stacks.</div><div><br></div><div>The Silkscreen Outline is auto-trimmed per your personal Option settings, the Assembly Outline has a Pin 1 Polarity Chamfer and the Placement Courtyard auto-sized and contoured around pads.</div><div><br></div><div><img src="https://www.pcblibraries.com/forum/uploads/1/_a250123-Final_Footprint.png" height="302" width="440" border="0" /></div><div><br></div><div><i>Download the sample XLSX, TXT, and FPX file for the part above from <a href="uploads/1/_a250123-MOLEX_47346-1001.zip" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><b>HERE</b></a>.</i></div><div><br>Save the footprint to your Master FPX file and output to any CAD format!</div><div><br></div><div><div><br></div><div><div></div><div><div><div><img src="https://www.pcblibraries.com/Products/FPX/img/FPX_Case1_26pod.png" height="234" width="176" border="0" align="left" /></div><div><div><b>PCB Footprint Expert</b></div><div>Simplify your PCB design process with the Footprint Expert, the ultimate tool for automating footprints from simple TEXT files! Automation helps ensures accurate, consistent, reliable footprints with minimal introduction of human error. Let the Footprint Expert handle your CAD library so you can focus on creating flawless PCB designs faster and more efficiently!</div></div><div><br></div><div><div>Get your&nbsp;<i>FREE</i>&nbsp;<b>Footprint Calculator</b>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<b>Footprint Expert</b>&nbsp;Evaluation License:</div><div><a href="https://www.pcblibraries.com/Register" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><b>https://www.PCBLibraries.com/Register</b></a></div><div>Call:&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>847-557-2300</b></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div>]]>
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   <pubDate>Thu, 23 Jan 2025 13:18:47 +0000</pubDate>
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