Include case code in footprint name or description

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   Hi
We use Footprint Expert to create footprints for Altium.

Most of the time footprints are referenced with their case code in datasheets. 

So searching for an existing footprint in Altium is based on this. 

You have this case code in your library, but this information gets lots by exporting to Altium as only "Footprint Name" and "Physical Description" are supported by Altium footprints.

Is it possible to include this information automatically? 

We thought about manually editing the description but would prefer an automatic solution.

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alexanderOttComlab Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New User Joined: 13 Aug 2020 Status: Offline Points: 8	Post Options Post Reply Quote alexanderOttComlab Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Include case code in footprint name or description Posted: 18 Oct 2022 at 2:05am
	Hi We use Footprint Expert to create footprints for Altium. Most of the time footprints are referenced with their case code in datasheets. So searching for an existing footprint in Altium is based on this. You have this case code in your library, but this information gets lots by exporting to Altium as only "Footprint Name" and "Physical Description" are supported by Altium footprints. Is it possible to include this information automatically? We thought about manually editing the description but would prefer an automatic solution.



Tom H Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 05 Jan 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Status: Offline Points: 5716	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tom H Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 Oct 2022 at 8:57am
	All non-standard footprint names are MfrName_MfrCaseCode. These parts are created in FP Designer. You can compare an Excel spreadsheet BOM with an FPX library for a Case Code match. You can search www.pcblibraries.com/POD for a Mfr. and Case Code. The Case Code is the way to go for most PCB designers as one Case Code could be assigned to thousands of logical part numbers. You can edit the Physical Description to add the Case Code at the end of the description, but you need to be careful editing (updating) a row.
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Tom H Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 05 Jan 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Status: Offline Points: 5716	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tom H Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 Oct 2022 at 12:19pm
	It is very important for every mfr. to assign a Case Code to every package. Some don't and some use the same Case Code number for different package dimensions. An example of this is "Diodes, Inc.". They have multiple package dimensions for an SOT-23 but they call all of them SOT-23.
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alexanderOttComlab Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New User Joined: 13 Aug 2020 Status: Offline Points: 8	Post Options Post Reply Quote alexanderOttComlab Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 Oct 2022 at 10:47pm
	Thanks for the answer and the hint regard "Diodes, Inc". That's somehow not OK. Is it possible to update the description or name automatically with MfrName_MfrCaseCode? Replace it completely or append at the end. The name doesn't need to be unique for A365 (Altium cloud) anymore and could be replaced completely.

Tom H Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 05 Jan 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Status: Offline Points: 5716	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tom H Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Oct 2022 at 7:57am
	It would be best that you rename all your Footprints to this naming convention for several reasons. Your footprint names in your library will be 100% consistent Your library will sort alphabetically by the Mfr. Abbreviation You only need one Case Code to use with thousands of Part Numbers It's really easy to find parts in your library
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alexanderOttComlab Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New User Joined: 13 Aug 2020 Status: Offline Points: 8	Post Options Post Reply Quote alexanderOttComlab Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20 Oct 2022 at 10:38pm
	My question was if it's possible to do this automatically with a setting or script? With 2022.12 I didn't found a solution. And the "Footprint Name" is limited to a few characters as the Altium footprint script or your tool crashes if you use a ",:;(" in the name. So the Footprint Name isn't an option or I have to rename it manually in Altium. Adding a option to automatically prepend or append MfrName_MfrCaseCode to the physical description would be a quickfix and also helpful. So I'm limited to manual edits at the moment?

Tom H Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 05 Jan 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Status: Offline Points: 5716	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tom H Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 Oct 2022 at 7:59am
	There is a way to do it automatically. Move all your Calculator Footprints to FP Designer and fill out the "Specifications" panel: Physical Description Manufacturer Case Code Part Number The program will auto-generate the component manufacturer name abbreviation and auto-generate a Footprint Name with either the Case Code or Part Number (whichever you choose). You will have to manually insert the Silkscreen Pin 1 Polarity Marker, but many people do that anyway in the Calculator.
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