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Why do I need to draw the same symbol N times?

autodeskguest

More often than not the same chip is available in different packages,

quite often with different number of pins and the packages with fewer

pins omit some of the lesser used signals.

 

Currently, you need to create a different symbol for every package: if

you have a chip that comes in 5 different packages, with a few pin

differences, you need a symbol drawn for ABC1234-SOIC, ABC1234-BGA,

ABC1234-TSOP and so on. It's the same damn chip, just on some packages

some pins are missing.

 

I wonder if I'm alone with the wish of having just one symbol, with

every possible signal drawn. Then, when it gets placed to the schematic

with a package selected, the not bonded pins grey out and don't allow

wires to be connected to them?

--

Zoltán Kócsi

Bendor Research Pty. Ltd.

 

 

Parents

  • On 23.09.2016 09:31, Rik Steenwinkel wrote:

    Quote:

    You dont need to redraw the symbol. You just create a new component

    and

    add the symbol + all the packages that work with this symbol at the

    same

    component, then connect them correctly. This works, even if some

    packages have more gnd/shield pins, cause every package is connected

    separately.

     

    That won't work if one or more of the package variants has less pins than

    the symbol.

     

    It would help if the Table of Contents view of the library allowed copying

    a symbol, so that you can draw the most extensive symbol for the component,

    copy it, delete some pins from the copy (repeat for all variants).

     

    The way I work around this is by drawing the symbol, saving the library and

    exiting the library editor, then opening the library in a plain text

    editor, find the symbol you just added, then copy/paste it (between <symbol

    name="..."> and </symbol name>), with a modified name for the copied

    symbol. Then reopen the library editor, edit the copied symbol and delete

    the pins not used in that variant.

     

     

    It works for many packages, not for all.

    Your symbol should not have the same name over again, like multiple GND

    pins. Just draw one and merge all the pins of a package onto the

    same symbol pin. This way you can reuse a symbol for same-function packages.

     

    I guess you do know you can use copy/paste to copy a symbol and paste it

    onto a new one, then make changes. Just group all , copy group, create a

    new symbol and paste.

     

    Or paste these commands into the command line when you got the symbol

    you want to copy open:

     

    group all;

    copy (>c0 0);

    edit newname.sym;

    paste (0 0);

     

    All of a sudden you have a copy. (It doesnt copy the description tho)

     

     

Reply

  • On 23.09.2016 09:31, Rik Steenwinkel wrote:

    Quote:

    You dont need to redraw the symbol. You just create a new component

    and

    add the symbol + all the packages that work with this symbol at the

    same

    component, then connect them correctly. This works, even if some

    packages have more gnd/shield pins, cause every package is connected

    separately.

     

    That won't work if one or more of the package variants has less pins than

    the symbol.

     

    It would help if the Table of Contents view of the library allowed copying

    a symbol, so that you can draw the most extensive symbol for the component,

    copy it, delete some pins from the copy (repeat for all variants).

     

    The way I work around this is by drawing the symbol, saving the library and

    exiting the library editor, then opening the library in a plain text

    editor, find the symbol you just added, then copy/paste it (between <symbol

    name="..."> and </symbol name>), with a modified name for the copied

    symbol. Then reopen the library editor, edit the copied symbol and delete

    the pins not used in that variant.

     

     

    It works for many packages, not for all.

    Your symbol should not have the same name over again, like multiple GND

    pins. Just draw one and merge all the pins of a package onto the

    same symbol pin. This way you can reuse a symbol for same-function packages.

     

    I guess you do know you can use copy/paste to copy a symbol and paste it

    onto a new one, then make changes. Just group all , copy group, create a

    new symbol and paste.

     

    Or paste these commands into the command line when you got the symbol

    you want to copy open:

     

    group all;

    copy (>c0 0);

    edit newname.sym;

    paste (0 0);

     

    All of a sudden you have a copy. (It doesnt copy the description tho)

     

     

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