Don't fully understand how editing libraries, devices, symbols and packages work

Question

I have only used Eagle for a couple of days, and think it was very intuitive to draw schematics using the devices from the libraries. But now I want to edit existing and creating new libraries, devices, symbols and packages. And after several hours with trial and error I still don't fully get how things work together. This is two cases I still haven't solved:

1. I edited a device, both the symbol and the package. I thought that I could delete the library I edited and move an unedited version of the library to the lbr-folder to get everything back to where it was. But no matter what I did, the edited version appeared both in the control panel browser, the device that was inserted in my project and when I deleted the device in my project and inserted it again. At last I actually deleted all the libraries, uninstalled Eagle, cleaned the PC for everything associated with Eagle and reinstalled Eagle. But even then, the edited version of the symbol appeared. What did I do wrong?

2. When I edit a package, save it with a new name using Library-Package-New-OK, both the new and old version of the package are edited. This also happens if I load a device, choose to make a new package variant and edit the new variant. Both the package I started with and the edited version I gave a new name are changed. And hence all the devices that use that package. Again: What am I doing wrong?

I am new to this library, device, symbol and package-thing so my issues are likely because I lack some basic understanding. Any help is appreciated!

kikoun · Accepted Answer

Hi,

First, when you use a device (or package) from library in a schematic (or a board) eagle will 'copy' the device ( package) into the schematic (or board). So even if you edit or delete the library file, the old version of the library is used in your schematic (board). If you edit a device/package in a library, you have to force eagle to update the schematic and the board. The main advantages of this, are :

- No need to have the library file for working on a design, very useful when you send a design to someone else (to a PCB manufacturer for instance).

- No risk with old design: if I open an old design,it always will be the same, even if I have changed my library.

How to do that. Usually, when I finish to edit my library, I check that the board and the schematic are both open, and in the control panel, on the library name, I do "right click" + "update". Doing so the schematic and board will now have the new version of the library. if in library, I made some change in a package that is used in the design, Eagle will report a warning, and invite user to run DRC...

Second point, I don't really understand how you proceed ? when I want to create a new version of a package, i do :

- Menu > "Library"> "package", then I enter the name for the package I want to copy (or I select it in the list),

- I select all the layer, do a "group all" and copy.

- Menu > "Library"> "package", then I enter the new name for my package. Now I have a new empty package. I simply paste .

- I edit the package.

Guillaume.