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olga
United Kingdom
107 Posts |
 Posted - 09 Sep 2008 : 17:27:35
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I'm not sure if I'm missing something here, or if it's a bug.
When I try to place components into the schematic using the [Current Design] option, it does not always get the package right. Sometimes it lists nothing in the package box, but the part places OK.
Other times it lists the correct package & that's fine too.
However, sometimes it lists a generic package (like SM or SMT) and then I get the error 'Cannot find package "SMT" in component "470nF" in library <path to my capacitors library>'. The reason it can't find it is because it doesn't have that package, it has the packages C0603 & C0805, but these do not come up in the drop-down for that part.
As I usually duplicate parts from the design, this is not too bad an issue for me, but it can be a bit annoying when I do use this option!
Best wishes,
Olga. |
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Scazon
United Kingdom
66 Posts |
Posted - 11 Sep 2008 : 09:39:17
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| This sounds like you have multiple definitions of the component in your libraries. Since V12, it searches the libraries in order- the folders in the order defined in the Libraries tab, then the files alphabetically (I think), and only uses the first definition found. It takes no notice of libnames.txt. An annoyance. |
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Peter Johnson
United Kingdom
499 Posts |
Posted - 11 Sep 2008 : 11:27:54
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It's considerably more subtle than that. The [Current Design] option looks only at component and symbol definitions already in the design. Only the package types actually associated in the design are shown. If the package is missing, it's because it's missing within the design, and the part is logically 'schematic only' (even if it isn't really). As Scazon has said, if the component found when the libraries are searched has the same name, but a different set of packages associated with it, then this is indeed the type of symptom you would see.
Using the [Find] function from the library manager is an effective way of discovering just how many matching components or symbols you have, where they are, and which one will be used. |
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olga
United Kingdom
107 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2008 : 16:13:01
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OK, here we go...
I've removed all duplicates from my libraries. (Well, apart from ones duplicated between the default libraries, but I don't generally use those, and I don't think they're at issue here.)
I've opened a brand new schematic & placed a component that I know had a problem in my other schematic (10uF Cer - a ceramic capacitor).
This component has two packages defined, C0805 & C0603.
When I come to place components from the current design, I only get offered SMT (which is not a package that this component has defined).
When I try to place it, I get the error message as mentioned in my original post.
(I've also checked again with a part which came up with no package, and that's still doing the same thing too. This one only has SM defined as a package, comes up with nothing defined, but places in the schematic just fine.)
Since I don't have any duplicate components, either within my own defined libraries, or between them & the default ones, I'm now at a loss to know what's going on. Either that, or I haven't understood the new system!
Best wishes,
Confused aka Olga. |
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Peter Johnson
United Kingdom
499 Posts |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 11:42:35
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I'm also confused, because you're mixing terminology. SM, or SMT is a perfectly valid package. After all that's just the mnemonic used to label a particular footprint option. This is distinct from the pcb symbol that is actually used. I would expect an error message like 'Can't find symbol abc in library xyz', but not package.
There's a further issue here in that the [Current Design] option doesn't look at the libraries. It lists only those components present in the current design, and the options being used by them. That means that they're very likely to be a subset of the full component in the library. This could explain the missing package options. |
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olga
United Kingdom
107 Posts |
Posted - 19 Sep 2008 : 15:02:18
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My apologies, I think I'm not explaining myself very well.
When I said that a particular capacitor has 2 packages defined (C0603 & C0805) it /only/ has them. The capacitor which has a package type SM defined /only/ has that one.
(I use C0805, C0603, etc. for the packages rather than SMT, SM etc, because it makes it much clearer to me which package I'm selecting.)
The cap with the C0603 package in use in the schematic comes up with SMT as the ONLY option when I try to place it from the 'current design'. This part does not have this package defined at all.
This problem only seems to affect the schematic side of things. I've just checked, and the PCB offers the package which is in use in the design, and brings the part in just fine.
I hope that's a bit clearer... if not, please let me know! |
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Placing components from current design