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jlawton
United Kingdom
108 Posts |
 Posted - 07 Apr 2014 : 17:51:23
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A colleague is using PCB Library Expert from http://www.pcblibraries.com/ with his Orcad/Allegro package.
PCB Library Expert looks useful and is a source of IPC-7351B library parts as well as a means of creating and modifying your own parts. As I understand it the created parts can be exported into the libraries of a number of CAD vendors, including, wait for it, Pulsonix and DesignSpark. Unfortunately once again (as with ModelSource) not Easy-PC :(
Apparently Westdev have been approached for details of their library format. Seems they haven't decided. Ideally an ASCII import facility could be added for the purpose.
Once again I seem to have fewer features with Easy-PC than I would with DesignSpark which doesn't seem right. Of course I could upgrade to Pulsonix to get these features....
Westdev/NumberOne: Could you please facilitate interaction with PCB Libraries software?
John Lawton Electronics |
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Benno
Netherlands
79 Posts |
Posted - 07 Apr 2014 : 20:43:53
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Hi,
I use Library expert lite and was able to generate and export PCB footprints as Designspark and import these footprints into a new created PCB footprint library.
In my case I had to choose the intermediate library format when importing (a simple OK click) but that worked OK.
I do need to setup a proper technology file however, because the components exported from library expert have some layers that are not in the standard EasyPC libs. One example is a boundary around the component for proper placement.
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edrees
United Kingdom
779 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2014 : 08:55:23
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EPC make a lot of money from selling their updated libraries every year to registered (i.e. subscription paying) EPC Users.
Using a third Party library source would rob them of this income.
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jlawton
United Kingdom
108 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2014 : 09:18:37
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quote:
Using a third Party library source would rob them of this income.
So how does the DesignSpark model work, where components are available from ModelSource via the RS Components website?
John Lawton Electronics |
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jlawton
United Kingdom
108 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2014 : 09:21:39
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quote:
Originally posted by Benno
Hi,
I use Library expert lite and was able to generate and export PCB footprints as Designspark and import these footprints into a new created PCB footprint library.
In my case I had to choose the intermediate library format when importing (a simple OK click) but that worked OK.
I do need to setup a proper technology file however, because the components exported from library expert have some layers that are not in the standard EasyPC libs. One example is a boundary around the component for proper placement.
Thanks, that's interesting. I believe PCB Libraries are looking to make an Easy-PC version, hopefully, ultimately this will not require the intermediate ASCII translation.
John Lawton Electronics |
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edrees
United Kingdom
779 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2014 : 09:47:53
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quote:
So how does the DesignSpark model work, where components are available from ModelSource via the RS Components website?
Perhaps they receive another income source from their RS Contact?
A successful method of importing third Party libraries into EPC was posted here some time ago, but the Post was deleted by the powers to be, and my lips are sealed! |
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jlawton
United Kingdom
108 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2014 : 10:16:38
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quote:
A successful method of importing third Party libraries into EPC was posted here some time ago, but the Post was deleted by the powers to be, and my lips are sealed!
Hah! You can tell me.
The help file in Easy-PC tells how to convert Eagle files into ASCII intermediate files which can then be imported. Is that what you meant?
John Lawton Electronics |
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jlawton
United Kingdom
108 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2014 : 10:39:56
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One of my reasons for making this posting is that I want to be able to collaborate with my colleague. It looks like Pulsonix might be able to import his CAD designs so we might have to both move to that package, but that would be at some time in the future.
For now, he uses PCB Library Expert which looks like a good tool. Yes, it might be looked on as competition for the EPC ibraries, but as I understand it, the PCBL libraries are charged for so it isn't a free option, unlike the ModelSource parts with DesignSpark.
It seems to me that unless Westdev keep Easy-PC well ahead of DesignSpark on features I'm not sure it has a great future.
John Lawton Electronics |
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edrees
United Kingdom
779 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2014 : 11:48:57
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| Couldn't possibly say one way or other John! |
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Benno
Netherlands
79 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2014 : 19:15:32
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in my case i simply exported from lib expert to designspark. Then in libary - pcb footprints open (the top button). Select your saved file, click yes and voila your new footprint.
that worked for me in v15. It is similar to saving to eip and then import.
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FEATURE REQUEST - support for PCB Libraries