This page of the Libraries dialog provides access to Footprint libraries, allowing you to view and edit the library contents.
How to Use This Dialog
Current Library
The top part of the dialog allows you to choose which libraries to view. The drop-down list will include all the library files found in the folders you specify on the Folders page.
Any library files that are set on the Folders page as ‘Disabled’ will not appear in the drop-down list.
The list will only include ‘Enabled’ libraries, and the special entry
If the Vault is used, the drop-down list will additionally include Vault entries. Each Vault folder that contains schematics symbol items will be listed and the special entry [Vault Only] allows all schematics symbols from the Vault to be exclusively viewed.
Attributes
The Attributes button runs the attribute editor, which allows you to edit the attributes on all the footprints in a library or libraries at the same time.
Styles Tool
[Only on PCB and Schematic Symbols pages]. This launches the Manage Library Styles dialog which presents a spreadsheet style overview of the various type of styles used in the chosen symbols. These can be selected symbols in the current library or all symbols from enabled libraries. You can rename the styles (to something sensible) or merge them with other styles. You can also select a particular pin style to use for all schematic symbols and select a specific line style to use on each of a footprints’ layers. Any changes you make can then be applied to all the chosen symbols. You need to have a technology file selected for this option to be available.
New Library
To create a new library, press the New Library button. A standard File Browser dialog will be displayed. Enter the name of the new library file and press OK. If you have chosen to create your new library file in a folder which is not in the list of folders, an additional dialog is displayed which will ask you to choose whether or not this folder should be added to the folder list.
If you choose not to add a newly chosen folder to the list of folders, your new library will not appear in the list of ‘known’ libraries, and therefore any items added to that library will not be available either here in the Libraries dialog or when inserting new items into designs.
Report
The Report button opens up the Library Reports dialog from where you can produce different reports and lists of the selected symbol libraries.
Index
The Index button causes the library index to be rebuilt. The index is used for searching libraries without having to read the entire contents each time. This is done automatically for you and should only be used if you wish to update the attribute list within it; the index only stores a limited set of attributes so that it is fast for access.
Contents
The Contents area of the dialog shows the items contained in the library (or libraries) selected in Current Library, sorted into alphanumeric order by Library first and then contents within that library.
Centre Console Buttons
The buttons down the centre of the dialog to the right of the Contents list provide the options needed to modify the library items. Most operations can be performed on one or more items. These buttons will be enabled or disabled depending on whether or not any of the items are selected.
| New | Create a new footprint |
| Edit | Edit existing footprints |
| Delete | Delete a existing footprints |
| Rename | Rename a footprint |
| Copy | Copy footprints within or between libraries |
| Move | Move footprints within or between libraries (i.e. Copy, but Deleting the originals) |
| Import | Import footprints from libraries or designs. Simply Open the data file. Many different formats are supported. |
| Load Tech | Apply the selected technology to the selected footprints. Enables you to get a consistent set of styles. |
| Wizard | Use the footprint wizard to simply create complex footprints |
| To Doc Sym | Move symbols to a doc symbol library. This can be used to move items imported into the Footprint libraries to a PCB Doc Symbol library. |
| Refresh | Refreshes the list of sorted items |
Additionally, if you are using the Vault, the buttons described below will also be shown. Whether these buttons are available is dictated by the vault status of the selected item. For example, the Check Out button will only be enabled if the item is from the vault and not already checked out.
| Check In | Book a new or edited footprint into the vault |
| Check Out | Get an editable copy of a footprint from the vault |
| Copy Out | Get a read only copy of the footprint from the vault |
| Uncheck | Cancel that a footprint is checked out from the vault |
Footprint Content Filter
To help in locating the items you require, a Filter can be applied to select those items with names which match a wildcard pattern and/or a specified number of Pins.
Press the Filter Apply button to update the contents list.
Use the Clear button to clear the contents of the Filter.
Preview
The Preview section of the dialog optionally displays an image showing the item currently selected in the list. This preview will only be shown when a single item is selected in the list. The preview allows you to browse through the libraries without having to open each item to confirm its appearance.
Vault Information
If you are using the Vault and the item currently selected in the list is from the vault, its vault reference information will be shown below the preview window.
Vault Revision
The Vault Revision box will show which version of the vault item is currently displayed. By
default, the
Technology
When adding or editing footprints, the Technology file currently selected in this drop-down list will be used. This defines the styles that will be available.
Close Dialog On Edit
If this box is checked it will cause this dialog to close when you edit the item. If left unchecked, the dialog remains open allowing to to open other items, or to switch to other pages of the dialog to view or edit items of a different type.
Related Topics
Folders | Libraries dialog | Understanding Libraries | PCB Technology | Footprint Editor | Footprint Wizard | Attribute Editor | Part Editor