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Multiple Librarians Edit Same FPX

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=1743
Printed Date: 23 Nov 2024 at 1:05pm


Topic: Multiple Librarians Edit Same FPX
Posted By: msanti
Subject: Multiple Librarians Edit Same FPX
Date Posted: 03 Aug 2015 at 1:05pm

Can multiple librarians simultaneously edit an FPX file?  Does the software warns FPX file is already open? Does it prevent this type of data loss?


Replies:
Posted By: Nick B
Date Posted: 03 Aug 2015 at 1:19pm
We don't have collision control in this version, but we're considering it for v2016.

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Posted By: msanti
Date Posted: 03 Aug 2015 at 1:23pm
Please implement it.
We just had hours of work lost because, last save won.
At least let me know the file is opened by another user.  For know, we will work on our own file and once the footprint is done we can copy the FPX entry to our corporate FPX file.  Thanks

Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 03 Aug 2015 at 2:13pm
The best way to manage FPX files is to have multiple people adding data to their own FPX file.
 
Then pass the FPX file to the Master Librarian.
 
Then the Master Librarian opens the company FPX file and select "Import FPX".
 
You can never lose data this way and you'll even have backups of the data.
 


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Posted By: GrungyRemnant
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2015 at 7:02am
Add me to the list of people who would also like to see multiple user access to a master FPX.

Another related question, is there a way to have the parts that are built automatically added to the  FPX? I know it sounds trivial but the amount of times that people don't press the Add Comp button then move on and lose the part info is surprisingly high.

Automatic addition of built parts to a network located FPX library file is my most desired feature.

:)

Regards,
Chris

Posted By: msanti
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2015 at 7:33am

I agree with GrungyRemnant, there should be a way to have parts that are built automatically added to the  FPX.

There is also a  lot of work is lost when you have to change from SMT to PTH or Lib Editor menus.

It would be great if the software could remember temporary data entered to any of these 3 menus (so the user can go back and forth if required).  

Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2015 at 7:42am
Can you have more than one person working on the same Excel Spreadsheet?
Or the same PCB Layout?
Or the same Power Point presentation?
Name me a program that allows multiple users to access and edit the same Master file.


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Posted By: msanti
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2015 at 7:45am
Mentor Graphics DxDesigner - ExpeditionPCB
Uses a database...
 

Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2015 at 7:51am
Not for less than $75,000 for the main seat and $25,000 for each additional seat.
 
So if you want 4 people to work on the same PCB design the cost is $75K + $75K = $150K
 
So if we added that feature, no one would mind paying a little extra?
 


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Posted By: msanti
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2015 at 8:01am
I don't need to debate about this. You asked for an example.
I like your software; will continue to use it.
Just thought you welcome suggestions.
 

Posted By: GrungyRemnant
Date 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

Posted By: Tom H
Date 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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Posted By: Nick B
Date 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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Posted By: Tom H
Date 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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Posted By: Oregon101
Date 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

Posted By: Nick B
Date Posted: 28 Nov 2015 at 4:13pm
Alpha version is planned for release in Q1 2016.

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Posted By: cioma
Date 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).

Posted By: Tom H
Date 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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