Reusing symbols across many components - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: chrisbrown
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2013, 03:08:43 am
content: What I'd like is to have a set of generic schematic symbols that I can attach to real-world components - the same way one can attach footprint models. Are there any other ways to get this functionality besides the vault? My access to Altium comes from my school and it doesn't include the vault server. It doesn't appear to be a subscription either because I am unable to download the personal vault from the Altium website.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2013, 05:58:22 am
content: ?!? not sure what you meanlike a generic resistor symbol with 100 different values ?there is two ways to do that : using a database driven (can be an excel spreadsheet) library.or by simply dusplicating a part in the library.i have a master library that has a symbol like 0805R-GENERIC.this is a generic 0805 resistor with the PCB footprint attached.whenever i place that i can assign buying information to it. once i do that i clone it back into the library. Over the years i have grown my own massive library of parts.you downalod my library atwww.siliconvalleygarage.com

author: chrisbrown
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2013, 01:54:59 am
content: Well funnily enough, your library is part of the reason I'm asking. Say I modify the generic resistor symbol: I want all the other resistor symbols in the library to be updated with that change. In other words, all resistor symbols in the library should link back to one generic resistor symbol that gets used throughout the project. I understand that's not possible just by duplicating components. The database approach looked promising but it's not going to work either: it supports Footprint Ref and Library Ref but not Symbol Ref. I'm starting to think that components are tightly coupled to their symbols and this might not be possible.QuoteThanks, this is helpful. That's probably what I'll do.

author: Cubrilo
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 15, 2018, 05:33:51 am
content: I find it fundamental, so I decided to answer.The beginner is warned inP-CAD Import WizardthatSchematic Component Naming Formatcorresponds to principle that each component has its own symbol, whereasPCB Footprint Naming Formatshows that footprint name is not related to a single component!

author: julianhigginson
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2018, 10:15:31 am
content: If you have a database library that links one generic schematic part due all resistors, you can do this... Though it's not trivial to update an existing schematic sheet, every part you place after changing the schematic part will have the new schematic part design.

author: Gibson486
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2018, 02:40:47 pm
content: There are many ways to do it. It really depends on your needs. I usually just duplicate the part. For example, SM0805R-1K-1P is a symbol for an 0805 resistor that is 1K and 1% tolerance. You get a huge database of parts, but it pays dividends when all you have to do it make a BOM with a click of a button.

author: ehughes
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2018, 12:26:18 pm
content: You want a database library. You can use a spreadsheet as the datasource. It is useful for large libraries of passives, etc.I just did a library of all TDK, YAGEO and Samsung AEC-Q200 ceramic capacitors last week :-)

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2018, 03:00:51 pm
content: simply install a vault