Connect Pulsonix to your corporate database using the Pulsonix Database Connection. The Database Connection is a cost option for the standard Pulsonix application that allows you to interact with a component information system or similar database to carry out parametric searches for components with particular properties (attributes).
How it fits together
Three basic elements are combined:
- Corporate database containing component information (suppliers, order numbers, etc.)
- Pulsonix libraries (parts, footprints, symbols)
- Pulsonix designs.
The connection to the database is made through ODBC, which allows connection to a wide variety of database and file types.
Once set up, you can search the database for the components you need, based on a variety of fields and values. Having found the component you want, it can then be added to your Pulsonix design, and automatically annotated with the required attributes.
The default link between the database and the Pulsonix library is the Part Name. You specify which field in the database contains the Part Name, so that selecting the required database record in the search results can find the right part to add to the design.
For other scenarios it is also possible to use a nominated attribute to provide the link between the database and the Pulsonix library.
Database Setup
The Database Connection Setup dialog you to setup your connection between Pulsonix and the database. How you will work will be governed by your starting position. You would setup Pulsonix from one of two possible situations:
- You have an existing Parts database, maybe a company database or one already used for managing and ordering Parts. You wish to connect to it to access the Parts and information within each Part. The Setup dialog allows you to map the fields from your database tables to those used in the Pulsonix Parts libraries.
- The second scenario is where you have the need for a database but do not have one yet. In conjunction with the Database Transfer dialog (you send your existing Pulsonix Parts library data to the new database to create the tables and contents, the Setup dialog can be used to again map the fields between the database and the Parts Libraries. In either case, this mapping must take place.
Commands and Program Elements
Insert Component From Database
Available from the Insert menu, this command displays the Database Bar which allows you to search the database for the desired component.
Database Bar
The Database Bar is a Dockable Window which contains the database search fields, where you can choose the fields and values on which you want to search the database.
Database Connection Setup
Available from the Setup menu, use the Database Connection Setup dialog to prepare your connection to the database, including selecting the database, choosing tables, and mapping table fields to attributes. The configuration can be saved as a file that can then be shared across all users, and if required can be made ‘read only’ to allow only administrators to change settings.
Database Transfer
Available from the Libraries dialog, Database button, use the Database Transfer dialog to transfer data between your database and the Parts library and vice-versa. This process has to be used in order to align the two data sources. The database holds the attribute information and the Pulsonix Parts library contains the links between the Schematic Symbol libraries and Footprint libraries.
Check Against Database
Available from the Tools menu, the Check Against Database option allows you to verify the current state of the components in the design against the corresponding entries in the database, and optionally refresh the attribute values on the components.
Report Maker
Available from the Output menu, additional features in the Report Maker allow you to access database fields, even including fields from the database that are not stored as attributes on components in the design. This might allow you, for example, to add up-to-date costing and availability information to your Bill Of Materials (BOM) reports.
Getting started - selecting and connecting to the database
Before using the Database Connection for the first time, you will need to set up the necessary information that the Pulsonix program needs to connect to the database. This is done through the Database Connection Setup dialog, which is accessed from the Setup menu or from the Database Bar. The basic steps are:
- Select the database type
- Enter the connection parameters (these vary depending on the type of database)
- Connect to the database
- Specify which tables are to be available for component searches.
- Set up field mappings and important fields for these tables.
System Requirements
The Database Connection should only require a suitable ODBC driver to access your database. Suitable drivers may already be installed as part of Windows or database application software, or you may need to acquire the necessary driver from your database vendor. You may also need to know database names, servers, port numbers, usernames and passwords, depending on the type of database you are using and the database security levels that are in place.
Related Topics
Database Bar | Database Transfer | Database Connection Setup | Check Against Database | Report Maker