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How to set the columns for a pick and place file?

Sorry if this has an obvious answer somewhere but so far I haven't found it. This document: Pick and Place Data Format shows the default which assumes a part number in the comment field (which IMHO is kind of a bad default as the comment field seems to be the only way to get a text field between schematic and layout for labeling things like connectors, etc. so can't be used for part info).

However my part numbers are in a custom "Part ID" field this is used to map between schematic components and the real world. I can't find a template file or dialog to set this.

How do you set the configuration of the generator to use the correct data field?

Altium Designer help shows a dialog to select the fields, I can't find that in CS.

0 voltsandjolts over 7 years ago

Use the BOM generator to generate a PnP file as described here:

http://valhalla.altium.com/Learning-Guides/OG0104%20Pick%20and%20Place%20Output%20Options.pdf

Note:
At the bottom of the BOM setup dialog, tick "Include parameters from PCB".
That will add component position parameters to the list of available fields (centre X, centre Y etc) so you can build a custom formatted PnP.
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0 lamabrew over 7 years ago in reply to voltsandjolts

Yeah I saw that option discussed in a couple of places and is going to be my fallback.

Though a tad annoying that a program for creating PCBs can't easily create the files needed to assemble them. There's a lot to like about CS but this one really does have me confused in a what were they thinking kind of way. But you seem to be confirming what I see elsewhere that the custom BOM generator is the best solution.

Thanks for the advice.
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0 lamabrew over 7 years ago in reply to lamabrew

Self followup for anyone else looking for more info. I think these are the most helpful directions on how to use the BOM generator to create a pick and place file.
https://resources.altium.com/pcb-design-blog/creating-a-custom-pick-and-place-file

I couldn't find a way to attach the .XLT file but these are the columns I used:

Column=Designator Column=Footprint Column=Center-X(mm) Column=Center-Y(mm) Column=Ref-X(mm) Column=Ref-Y(mm) Column=Pad-X(mm) Column=Pad-Y(mm) Column=Layer Column=Rotation Column=CSPID

Replace the last one with whatever your part number field is. (don't' forget the ' on the entries so Excel doesn't think they're equations).
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