I need help with modifying library parts

Question

I've used Eagle extensively in the past, like version 3.5. I need to make some boards so rather than try to recover my original purchased files I just downloaded the latest version. I had a set of notes for copying a part into my library, modifying it, and saving the new part. It was never easy, but I had notes that made it easy. Now everything looks different, I can't get anywhere. I have tried several online tutorials but they are too old, or they leave out important details.

All I want to do is copy some pin headers to my library and change the pad size to a smaller size for an arduino shield I want to draw up. I can not get it to see the modified part when I add parts. I'm sure I did something wrong.

rachaelp · Answer

Hi Jim,

veryfungi wrote:

All I want to do is copy some pin headers to my library and change the pad size to a smaller size for an arduino shield I want to draw up. I can not get it to see the modified part when I add parts. I'm sure I did something wrong.

Have you found the part you wish to copy in one of the standard libraries? If so it's fairly easy to copy it into another library for editing.

Firstly open your target library (where you wish to copy the part to) in the library editor.
With that editor still open, switch to the EAGLE control panel and navigate the tree on the left to find the part you wish to copy.
Right click on that part and choose the "Copy to Library" option from the context menu.
Switch back to the library where you will find the copy of the part which you can then modify as you wish.

Best Regards,

Rachael

rachaelp · Answer

Hi Jim, I'm wondering if your new library isn't in the library paths specified in Options->Directories in the EAGLE control panel? Remember that EAGLE will not recursively follow sub-directories so if it's not in an explicitly defined directory it will not be seen. Also, if you are trying to add a part from the board, you'll only see packages and not the actual devices. Also, when you do get the pin header into your board, make sure the pad sizes reflect what you are actually expecting. If not then it's likely due to the restring setting in the DRC but we'll worry about that if it turns out to be an issue when you get to that point. Best Regards, Rachael

rachaelp · Answer

Hi Jim, It looks like it's in the root of a specified folder so that's ok and it's correctly "used" as can been seen from the green dot to show the library is enabled. My guess is your library is there in the add dialog but you aren't seeing what you want because you are trying to add in the board and it's only showing packages. Also it might not be easily found because of the huge amount of libraries which come with EAGLE can obscure things and make them hard to see/find. So try the following: USE -*;
USE my-library; Now when you click on the add button you should see a list which contains ONLY your library. If you still can't find what you are looking for then, show me a screen capture of the add dialog box with your library expanded out to show what you see in there. Once you've finished, if you want to make sure you can see all the libraries again issues the following: USE *; Best Regards, Rachael P.S. Download v8.4.3 as there are quite a few bug fixes since v8.4.1 which resolve some crash/stability issues.

rachaelp · Answer

Excellent, glad you have found it and can now progress If you have any further issues feel free to ask. To answer the other thing you asked in an earlier post, generally it's better to start from a schematic and then create the PCB from there. You should always then have both open simultaneously and then anything you change in the schematic will automatically be inserted in the board. It's a lot more effort to subsequently create the schematic and get it correctly synced with the PCB afterwards. Best Regards, Rachael