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Create a new component (best practise)

The drawing of custom components

Draw your own package and symbol in the Schematic view. Two general steps are needed:

FIRST: Start drawing the package(= land pattern of the soldering pads including outline of the device)!

• In schematic view select menu item Create a new component in menu Components. From the colored bars use the "Pencil" (orange) in order to "Draw an own package". Say No to the sugggestion of using a template and ignore the suggestion to start with the magic wand. From the bar to the left select an adequate grid, metric or imperial (recommended: 0,635 mm = 25,00 mil = 1/40 inch). Click M2 to the blue soldering pad and set its properties. Now place the required number of pads by click. Draw the outline of the package using lines or the rectangle. Place each name [!N] and value [!V] to appropriate spots if you wish a lettering in the layout. Now use the lowest button to place a handle cross by click and save the package to the data base. Give it a meaningful package name. If the dialog to edit the package pops up you can either do it or just close the dialog. Your package is now saved.

SECOND: Draw the symbol (= showing the electrical function in the schematic)!

• In schematic view select menu item Create a new component in menu Components. The last saved package shows up. Say "Yes, use his package." Place as many pins as you have pads.

Double click each pin to add its function (e.g. Power) and name (e.g. GND).

Leave the grid 0.635 mm = 25 mil = 1/40 inch. Use the required functions from the Drawing tool . After having finished select all, hover the cursor to the desired handle cross position and merge it by the use of keybord key [y] to a sYmbol. Remark: A component as a whole can be made of several symbols e.g. gates. That's why we need the [y] procedure first. Now select the symbol(s) by a Capture Window and eXport it by pressing keyboard key [x] to the database. VIDEO on symbol drawing

• When exporting the symbol to the data base assign a matching package to it. For example the one you had drawn in the first step. This is not a must. You can assign any package to it but it is a common way.
  

Adjustment of existing parts

• new project with schematic. You find yourself on an empty schematic page in pointer mode.
• look at sidebar to the right in section "Settings": Release this button:
• open the Component database by [F2] (in earlier versions the Library Browser opens)
• click M2 on the image (symbol, package or 3D image) you like to change. A context menu opens.
• use the option you desire to do changes.
• only symbol elements:
  • My symbol consists of several symbol-entities like several gates: Highlight one of them completely, hover the cursor to the position where its handle shall appear and press [y]. Then highlight the next gate and do the same and so on. At the end highlight them all for merging them to one symbol, press [x] and export the symbol to the data base.
  • My symbol consists of only one symbol-entity like a capacitor or a resistor: Highlight it completely and hover the mouse to the place where the handle shall appear. Now press [x] in order to export it (no [y] neccessary).

For packages:

• after all adjustments have been made, place the cursor at desired handle position
  
• save to the data base by [x] and follow the dialog of the data base dialog.
  
  

Edit components by the use of the symbol and package assistant

The package and symbol assistant is meant for packages and symbols having a higher number of pins/pads.

• open the Symbol assistant in Menu Components or the Package assistant in Menu Packages
  
• edit any element by the use of a script and save it again
  
  

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