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

Former Member

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!

  • 0

    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.

  • 0 in reply to kikoun

    It was good to have a clarification that devices are copied and stored in the projectfile. I was not sure about this. I have worked a lot with music production software and there audio sourcefiles are not stored in the project file, only how they are used. But audio is complete different as the files are very large. I assume it is only the device and not the complete library that it belongs to that is stored in the project?

     

    Also, it was very useful to be explained how to update the devices in a project from the control panel browser.

     

    When it comes to making new packages based on existing ones, I didn't select all layers before copying. It may also be that I misunderstood the Menu-Library-Package-New button. I thought the package with any modifications was saved when I entered a package name and clicked on new. But instead I need to start the editing after this and save the changes as in a standard windows program.

     

    Then both question 1 and 2 are answered. Thanks a lot!