Is there a better search ULP

Op Sat, 22 Sep 2012 18:27:23 +0200 schreef fred <email@address.com>:

 

I've been using eagle for about 2 weeks now and am very impressed.

I have been able to create my own component (package) first time with

very little difficulty and am finding the interface very usable

(contrary to advice I was given elsewhere)

 

My biggest problem however seems to be in component selection from

the extensive libraries.

 

Whilst I'm familiar with the obvious ones (3M Amphenol microchip etc)

when I come to select say a volatge regulator but dont

have the big names available locally - how can I search the entire

libraries for say "voltage regulator" to pull up makes I may never have

heard of?

 

Some libraries are named of course and can be searched after "USE [x}"

but others are not so obvious as to their content. Doing "use *" helps

but does mean confusing the in-use list.

 

Is there a better way to do this (if I have explained clearly enough)

 

It did occur to me to export the libraries to mySQL or similar somehow

but I dont know if there are license issues involved there.

 

 

Hello,

you don't always need an ULP for this. When you "ADD" an component to the 

schematic, you can use the search area near the bottom, to type in (part 

of) a component name. You can use wilcards and/or placeholders here.

So if you type: lm3?7, you get lm317, lm337, lm307, lm387. If you type 

78*, you'll get every part that starts with 78. You get the idea. Ticking 

off the box to search in the description, usually helps to shorten the 

list to something more meaningful.

HTH,

Richard

SorryRichard - perhaps I was being too verbose.

I'm looking for a way to search through all libraries for a component

BEFORE  the the library has been "use[d]" 

ie. do exactly what you suggest but on all libraries that are NOT in

use. A full text search on all libraries on the system in other words.

I cant see a way to do that.

Op Sun, 23 Sep 2012 13:06:08 +0200 schreef fred <email@address.com>:

 

SorryRichard - perhaps I was being too verbose.

 

I'm looking for a way to search through all libraries for a component

BEFORE  the the library has been "use[d]"

 

ie. do exactly what you suggest but on all libraries that are NOT in

use. A full text search on all libraries on the system in other words.

 

I cant see a way to do that.

 

Hello Fred,

Ok. But then I have to ask: Why?

What's the problem with having libraries in USE? It all comes down to 

beeing able to (quickly) find the component you want. Why does it matter 

if you have 10 or 100 libraries in use?

After you use Eagle longer you'll probably develop your own libraries with 

often used and tested components and searching the 'system' lib's will 

only happen once in a while, usually as an starting point to develop your 

own devices.

So, while searching the lib's may be important now, it will become less 

important. Up till that point I think that 'USE *' and using the search 

within Eagle will do the job.

Or am I still missing something?

Richard

For those that come across this thread.

To search for a specific component

Open up the eagle control panel right click on the library folder as shown in figure 1, an option to search will be available select it and a search box will appear at the bottom as shown in figure 2. Type in your parameters such as " voltage regulator lm* ", use of wildcards is allowed and it will display the results and allow navigation. This is handy to see if the component exists in your library and to make sure you don't duplicate your efforts by creating a new one.

Figure 1 right click on folder

Figure 2 searching for a component " voltage regulator lm* "

If you do create a new library it is recommended that you edit the directories list to add in an external library and store it there so when an upgrade occurs you will  not have to copy and paste into the new version of the software,

More information, libraries,scripts and instructions can be found on my github here.

I find it much quicker and more satisfying to make my own components, symbols and footprints.

Especially in the mud and snow!

yes it is more satisfying to create your own just need to make sure you have the right dimensions as per the datasheet wether it be imperial or metric, but it would be good to have a template system where you just pick the package and all you do is put in the pin assignments.

Yep, that's one of the things what the IPC association does.

You can get a calculator for PCB footprints on the Net.

For those playing at home here is the site IPC--Association Connecting Electronics Industries

you can also look at eevblog for Engineering and pcb manufacturing.