Multiple Librarians Edit Same FPX

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   The old LP Wizard that Mentor bought was able to do this.  We kept the library file on the server and everyone in the company that was creating parts would have them added automatically to this single library file.  It could be viewed by everyone in real time as well.

It seems that the file would be opened only when needing to write the data.  PCB Library Expert Pro seems to keep the files open at all times (or something like that) preventing multiple people from accessing it.  Last access overwrites everything.

I'm not saying there wouldn't be the possibility of collisions, but we never experienced it and it worked well enough. The cost was similar to PCB Library Expert Pro.

Regards,

Chris

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GrungyRemnant Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Advanced User Joined: 17 Oct 2013 Status: Offline Points: 91	Post Options Post Reply Quote GrungyRemnant Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 11 Aug 2015 at 8:04am
	The old LP Wizard that Mentor bought was able to do this. We kept the library file on the server and everyone in the company that was creating parts would have them added automatically to this single library file. It could be viewed by everyone in real time as well. It seems that the file would be opened only when needing to write the data. PCB Library Expert Pro seems to keep the files open at all times (or something like that) preventing multiple people from accessing it. Last access overwrites everything. I'm not saying there wouldn't be the possibility of collisions, but we never experienced it and it worked well enough. The cost was similar to PCB Library Expert Pro. Regards, Chris



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: 5718	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tom H Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 11 Aug 2015 at 8:09am
	We like suggestions and we know what you need and agree with you. It's just difficult to create a text editor that allows multiple users to simultaneously edit text without overwriting each others entries. In the CAD world, the only way they allow multiple PCB designers to collaborate on the same database is to "partition" the file and then eventually bring it back together again. So in reality, multiple people are not really working on the same database. They are each working on a section and they cannot enter into any other section, just the section of their allocated specific partition. So I need a different example that we can use as an example.
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Nick B Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Status: Offline Points: 1908	Post Options Post Reply Quote Nick B Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 11 Aug 2015 at 8:16am
	We're exploring the possibility of updating the v2016 release so that files will get marked/checked out, and when this happens they go in read-only mode for everyone else. I'm not sure exactly how this will pan out, but it's one thing we're considering at this point. Your feedback is appreciated!
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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: 5718	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tom H Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 11 Aug 2015 at 1:39pm
	One of the things that we may introduce with V2016 is direct access to POD to allow the user to compare their BOM with the maser database of millions of part numbers and then batch build the parts for your PCB Layout using your personal preferences. i.e.: POD would be your main library repository that you have continuous access to. This way you have access to all the content updates and new data instantly. Multiple users can access POD simultaneously. Since we're adding schematic symbols, enhancing footprint design with new features like irregular shape pad geometry and enhancing 3D STEP, the future FPX file has to change and unfortunately the file size is going to grow to accommodate all the new features. However, the SQL database on POD can easily manage millions of parts simultaneously with zero degradation. The search & find speed is off the charts. Think of POD and the SQL database of the future as your personal library repository. POD is currently growing at the rate of over 10,000 new part numbers a week and that is going to steadily increase over time. Of course you can still download parts to your personal FPX file but the speed will not be as fast as a SQL server with redundant backup systems.
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Oregon101 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New User Joined: 28 Nov 2015 Status: Offline Points: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote Oregon101 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 Nov 2015 at 4:10pm
	I just sent an email...when will you have schematic symbol support? This will be a great tool to purchase for the Allegro/Cadence tool. Thanks again for this effort. Steve

Nick B Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Status: Offline Points: 1908	Post Options Post Reply Quote Nick B Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 Nov 2015 at 4:13pm
	Alpha version is planned for release in Q1 2016.
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cioma Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Advanced User Joined: 17 Jul 2012 Status: Offline Points: 149	Post Options Post Reply Quote cioma Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 Nov 2015 at 7:15am
	Gentlemen, As I understand FPX in a text file so just use version control system (e.g. SVN) and you'll get your (semi-)concurrent access. The chance of data loss would be close to zero. Besides you'll get a bunch of nice features (e.g. history, comments, forking/merging etc).

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: 5718	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tom H Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 Nov 2015 at 8:13pm
	Multiple Librarians cannot simultaneously access the FPX file. You need to build al new parts in a new FPX file. Then create the parts to CAD tool. Then import the new FPX file into the company master FPX. That's the way I would do it.
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