Custom Footprint Fields Reset when Saving to Lib.
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=1254
Printed Date: 23 Nov 2024 at 4:14am
Topic: Custom Footprint Fields Reset when Saving to Lib.
Posted By: vicorjh
Subject: Custom Footprint Fields Reset when Saving to Lib.
Date Posted: 08 Feb 2014 at 4:56pm
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When modifying a footprint from the "user default" settings, such as nominal to most, and importing the footprint into a new library, the values are reset to the "user default" settings. Any changes made to the footprint appear to be lost when the library footprint is subsequently utilized. This behavior seems to defeat the purpose of creating custom fpx libraries and could be problematic if your not paying attention  . Is this intended?2013.18. Thanks. |
Replies:
Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 08 Feb 2014 at 5:03pm
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There are several reasons why you should never mix Least, Nominal and Most parts in a CAD library. It's best to keep them separate. As far as an FPX library file, the FPX file does not contain (or save) any Footprint data. Footprint data is auto-generated on the fly. An FPX file contains (stores) the following data -
The Library Expert works when component dimensions mingle with User Preferences to auto-generate a Footprint library part.
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Posted By: vicorjh
Date Posted: 08 Feb 2014 at 5:20pm
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Ahhh, understood. Thank you. Background. I have an occasional situation where we need to deviate from a nominal environment to "some other" environment due to manufacturing "desirements". E.g. when pushing on alivh and such. I guess it makes sense to save a custom user default setting file for these situations. This makes it relatively simple to port libraries based on the process needs. We'll just need to ensure that we version control the user defaults file for the particular custom project. Thanks again. |
Posted By: Ryan Rutledge
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2014 at 4:09pm
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Am I using the program wrong? This is a real hassle. I have some components that are fine pitch that I want to use Least style to generate, but otherwise I want to use Nominal. Do I really have to keep two separate libraries with two separate default rule files? Ryan R. |
Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2014 at 5:36pm
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By default, the FPX file saves this data but you can add as many attribute columns as you want.
The FPX file is very generic. All of your footprint creation settings are stored in your "User Preferences" file. This includes environment settings. When your User Preferences are combined with your FPX data the program auto-generates a footprint. The only "Custom Footprint" data that is stored in FPX is the "Mfr. Recommended Footprint" dimensions located in the "Footprint" tab. When you enter these dimensions the indicator light in the upper left corner of the footprint view window turns Yellow. What's the hassle? ------------- Stay connected - follow us! https://twitter.com/PCBLibraries" rel="nofollow - X - http://www.linkedin.com/company/pcb-libraries-inc-/" rel="nofollow - LinkedIn |
Posted By: Ryan Rutledge
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2014 at 8:44pm
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Well, the hassle for me is that I cannot double-click on my library entry and have it bring up what I entered last time, just what the OP was complaining about. Your advice to him was to not combine Least and Nominal libraries in the same fpx file, right? Well, that means I have to maintain one FPX file for Least footprints, and one for Nominal, and another one for most, yes? Or, even if I have one FPX file, I still need 3 different preference files to save L N M preferences, because (unless I'm wrong, and I hope I am) custom solder mask expansion is not saved for the different environments like some other things are. Basically, "Setup" settings seem to be per-environment, while "Terminal" settings seem to be global. Edit: I just want to double-click on my library and have it pop up exactly the way it looked when I saved it. That's all I really want. Ryan R. |
Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2014 at 5:10am
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We used to tell customers not to mix Least, Nominal and Most, but with the new "PCB Library Expert" there is no such thing as saving Least, Nominal or Most in the same FPX as the only piece of information in the FPX file that the calculator uses when determining a footprint is the component dimensions. The other information (like environment) is in the User Preferences. So now you can put ALL your library data in a single FPX and output any environment you want. Here is how the program works -
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Posted By: Dale
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2014 at 4:09pm
Which I read as "We used to tell customers not to mix Least, Nominal and Most, but they could. With the new "PCB Library Expert" we have improved compliance by making it difficult to do otherwise." That may be appropriate in many situations, but not all. The main selling points for the tool is "one-world PCB library -regardless the CAD software you use!". The way I see it, that only works if common settings are used for *all* parts. i.e. there is no support for customising the rules for individual parts, and then later being able to create the *same* footprint for a different layout tool. To improve its usefulness I believe this tool needs to remember custom rules used to create each footprint (on a per-footprint basis) as well as the ability to operate as it does now. I am thinking of a build-time option - use custom rules (if they exist for a part), or use default rules - but always preserve the custom rules. |
Tom H wrote:Posted By: Ryan Rutledge
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2014 at 5:25pm
That isn't actually very informative. My problem is I want to have certain tighter features, such as 50 um solder mask clearance for 0.4mm pitch parts but 75 um for 0.5mm pitch parts of a certain type. It feels almost a waste to have options for solder mask clearance in the footprint generator if they will just be overridden by the defaults next time I pull the footprint up. |
Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2014 at 5:29pm
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Dale - The great thing about PCB Library Expert is that you can create as many different Preference rule files as you want and load them and output an entire PCB library with custom rules. But what you are saying is that you would like the ability to apply rules to a specific component and save those rules in the FPX file. Individual parts would have individual rules. The only feature that Library Expert has for that is saving the Pad Size and Spacing in the FPX file by selecting the Footprint Tab and enter in custom pad sizes and spacing. Then all your "Drafting" rules for line widths and text sizes would be in your User Preference files. Also, we are seeing a lot more "Unique" component packages with strange footprint patterns. In this case we use the manufacturer's recommended pattern using the FP Designer module. In the new V2014 release tomorrow Wednesday March 26 there is a new PADS Layout input to any CAD tool export. This will allow us to really get creative with those extremely difficult component packages that require a unique footprint. The PADS ASCII files will be placed on-line in "Parts on Demand" (POD) for all of our customers to download. SolidWorks 3D models, STEP models and schematic symbols will also be available on POD. Eventually there will be millions of library parts for our customers to download. ------------- Stay connected - follow us! https://twitter.com/PCBLibraries" rel="nofollow - X - http://www.linkedin.com/company/pcb-libraries-inc-/" rel="nofollow - LinkedIn |
Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2014 at 5:39pm
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Ryan - in a normal world, you download an FPX file from "Parts on Demand" or manually enter all the component dimensions and attributes yourself, fine tune all your rules and build the library part. The FPX data then becomes your Search Engine to quickly locate footprint names and access datasheets. I have never needed to build a part more than once. However, we do have Batch Create to apply an large FPX file with component dimensions with personal rules. The original question was do you mix Least, Nominal and Most environments in a single FPX file and the answer is FPX does not save environment data. The Library Expert allows you to auto-generate a complete PCB library with the Least Environment and then create another library with the Nominal Environment or create another library for Wave Solder and another for Flexible Boards or a specific assembly shop. You can create a thousand different libraries with the same FPX file.
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Posted By: Ryan Rutledge
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2014 at 8:17am
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Tom, Yes, but I may never want wave solder library entries for 0402 resistors, for example. I could surely have 3 different environment configurations, but each of those may only be applicable to some subset of my FPX file. I don't want extra library entries for components that are untenable. To what extent can Batch Create apply personal rules to the generation of libs from the FPX file? Ryan R. |
Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2014 at 12:17pm
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The FPX file can save your Footprint data in the FPX file in both the calculator and FP Designer. When using the Calculator, select the Footprint Tab and then select "Use Mfr. Recommended Pattern" check box. You can leave the IPC-7351 calculated data in the fields or enter your modifications, then save to FPX. Then you can Batch Create your large FPX file and the program will always use your settings. Or you can create your parts in FP Designer and customize them there and save to FPX. Then whenever you Batch Create your FPX file it will always use your personal pad stacks and drafting outlines. ------------- Stay connected - follow us! https://twitter.com/PCBLibraries" rel="nofollow - X - http://www.linkedin.com/company/pcb-libraries-inc-/" rel="nofollow - LinkedIn |