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Annotate schematics quietly messes up components with multiple parts

cromind_jsc

Hi everybody!

 

I was looking if there is a similar post but couldn’t find another one. Sorry, if it's a repeated question.

 

I have just started a new design where I have first created a library component consisting of three parts (a micro with 208 pins). When placed I assigned the name to IC1A, IC1B and IC1C. Then I placed tons of caps for the power supply section and hit "Annotate schematics quietly" button. The function has named all the caps alright but it messed up my controller. E.g. Part C (in this case its a power supply section) which was already fully wired was now replaced with Part B. The wiring remained the same but Part C was not there and Part B was partially lying on top of the wiring.

 

Why is CS trying to reannotate the component which has already a designator? Did I mess something up when creating a library component with multiple parts?

I'm just at the very beginning of a new design and I'm not very keen on editing each components designator manually to prevent this mess from happening.

 

Any help will be much appreciated.

 

Best regards,

Johann

  • 0

    In this case I think you've originally mislabeled your ICs.  When you use a designator ending in a letter, it applies to components that have multiple parts internally such as a quad op-amp like the LM324 or other various types of components.  The part will be labeled as U1 and each individual op-amp will be A, B, C, or D.  So you will see U1A, U1B, U1C, and U1D.  All of these designators point to U1 as the only component to be placed.  I'm sure you understand that when you create components, use the Question Mark (?) after the designator so when you automatically annotate them, it will fill them with numbered designators from top-left to bottom-right, page 1 through the end.

     

    Here's a link to the wikipedia reference designators.  You should follow this standard in all of your future projects:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reference_designator

  • 0 in reply to adamwebber

    Hi James!

     

    Thank you for your reply. I forgot to mention, I work with the latest CS version (1.5.2, Build 30). The component itself seems to be fine (at least I think it is. It is not the first component with multiple parts I created and it is also not my first PCB). And yes, I leave the "?" mark etc.

     

    I started a new empty project to evaluate the issue this morning. I placed all three parts of the component and hit “Annotate schematics quietly" button right after placing.

    image

    image

    image

     

    Now weird thing happens. The first time I did it, CS has placed correct designators.

     

    image

     

    Now I moved the components and placed one part on another schematic sheet. When I press “Annotate schematics quietly" button again, CS says “there are 2 designators requiring update”.

    image

     

    When I press “proceed with the changes” he will mess up both parts. This is what it then looks like:

    image

    If I had circuitry involved it would stay but the component parts would be swapped and placed on top of the circuitry (connections to the IC are broken of course).  

     

    Do you have any more Ideas on where I go wrong?

    Thanks,

     

    Johann

  • 0 in reply to cromind_jsc

    Another weird thing. I put all three parts of the IC back on one single sheet. Please note the parts are labled correctly (automatically, not manually!)

    image

     

    Now I place "part B" slightly higher than "A". and hit "annotate quietly" again.

    image

    Now CS says there are 2 designators requiring update.

    image

    If I proceed with the changes the mess happens.

    image

    When I place part "B" below part A everything works (annotates) as it should. Same thing happens when I place part C higher than B or A.

     

     

    I just made the same test with another component which I have been using in a couple of other projects. Same thing! I didn't have this issue because the parts are smaller and fit on one page with the whole circuitry.

     

    Best Regards,

    Johann

  • 0 in reply to cromind_jsc

    Johann,

    You've got a little conundrum.  I'm not sure that I can be of much help here.  There are only two possible options that I can think of that may interfere with the annotation:

    1-The sheets in your project are not linked.  So when you move 'IC1B' to a different sheet, CS doesn't associate it as the same component.  For this, you should create a separate sheet that contains all of the sheets in the project.  Use the 'Sheet Symbol' button to add sheets.  But I'm guessing that you've already done this and the problem is something else.  Here's a picture for your reference.

    image

    2-There is a problem with the component in your library.  It should look like the example below but I'm guessing that you've already created it correctly. 

    image

    Note that there are four Op-Amps in the component and each is labeled as A,B,C and D.  According to the way you first lay out and annotate the microcontroller, it appears that you have designed the library component correctly.  I sincerely doubt that your problem is with the library component design but I just have to put this out there.

     

    I wish I could be of more help.  This sounds more like an issue with CS than anything you are doing.  Maybe someone else will be able to diagnose your problem a little better.

  • 0 in reply to cromind_jsc

    Hi Johann, are you able to supply your test design for investigation? I have tried reproducing your results but have not yet been able to get things to go wrong so if you could you email your library through to software@element14.com I will take a look.

  • 0 in reply to e14softwareuk

    HI Peter,

    I just sent you the libs.

  • 0 in reply to adamwebber

    Hi James,

    (1) I was thinking about the sheet issue. But I also have the problem, when working on the same sheet.

    (2) The components in the library look the same.

     

    But thank you anyway!

  • 0 in reply to cromind_jsc

    ok, issue is silved!

    Peter provided a library which has not caused this behaviour. I checked for differences and found it! The "locked" option must be enabled. If it is, the automatic annotation works just fine. Thanks a lot for helping everybody!

    image