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Include case code in footprint name or description

Printed From: PCB Libraries Forum
Category: PCB Footprint Expert
Forum Name: Questions & Answers
Forum Description: issues and technical support
URL: https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3180
Printed Date: 25 Nov 2024 at 4:37am


Topic: Include case code in footprint name or description
Posted By: alexanderOttComlab
Subject: Include case code in footprint name or description
Date 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.


Replies:
Posted By: Tom H
Date 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 http://www.pcblibraries.com/POD" rel="nofollow - 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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Posted By: Tom H
Date 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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Posted By: alexanderOttComlab
Date 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.

Posted By: Tom H
Date 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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Posted By: alexanderOttComlab
Date 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?

Posted By: Tom H
Date 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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