PCB Design: All Data Reload

The Library Reload of all library elements ensures that the design is fully synchronized with the content of the Master Library. Depending on whether the data has design-level changes for padstacks and pads, the relevant procedure, shown below should be followed.

• If the design data has design-level changes for padstacks and pads, then see: Design-level Changes Exist for Padstacks and Pads
• For all other designs, see: No Design-level Changes for Padstacks and Pads.

Regardless of whether there are design-level changes for padstacks and pads, the Cleaning up the Design Library procedure can be followed after migration to clean up the design library. It explains how to delete unwanted padstacks from the design library which are not used by any footprints.

Design-level Changes Exist for Padstacks and Pads

Follow this procedure if design-level changes exist in the design for padstacks or pads. These include Pin exceptions in CADSTAR. This will prevent the loss of design-level changes, and ensure that the design is not altered and that data is not lost after reload.

1. Launch eCADSTAR PCB Editor.
2. Select File > Open to launch the Open dialog.
3. Browse to the location of the migrated design, and select the [design].pdes file.
4. Click Open to load the design into eCADSTAR PCB Editor.
5. In the Component tab, Library group, click Reload. The Reload dialog is displayed.
6. In the Reload dialog, select Part in the Type box.
7. In the Update time box, select Not compared.
8. Click in the list of parts, and then press Ctrl and A to select all the parts.
9. Ensure that the Keep edited padstacks and Keep edited pads check boxes are selected. This prevents local pad changes being lost during the reload. If selected, then the padstacks and pads remain in the design and are prefixed with “p_”.

 

 

10. Click Apply to continue.

 

 

11. Click Yes in the confirmation dialog. The parts and footprint data are reloaded, and the Reference dialog is displayed. This describes the updates.

 

12. Click Close in the Reference dialog.
13. Click Cancel in the Reloaddialog.
14. Select File > Save to save changes to the design.

No Design-level Changes for Padstacks and Pads

This section describes how to synchronize the design completely with the master library. Follow this procedure if there are no design-level changes for padstacks or pads in the CADSTAR data. If these changes exist, then they are lost on reload.

1. Launch eCADSTAR PCB Editor.
2. Select File > Open to launch the Open dialog.
3. Browse to the location of the migrated design, and select the [design].pdes file.
4. Click Open to load the design into eCADSTAR PCB Editor.
5. In the Component tab, Library group, click Reload. The Reload dialog is displayed.
6. In the Reloaddialog, select Part in the Type box.
7. In the Update time box, select Not compared.
8. Click in the list of parts, and then press Ctrl and A to select all the parts.

 

 

9. Click Apply to continue.
10. Click Yes in the confirmation dialog. The parts, footprint, padstack and pad data are reloaded, and the Reference dialog is displayed. This describes the updates.

11. Click Close in the Reference dialog.
12. Click Cancel in the Reloaddialog.
13. Select File > Save to save the changes to the design.

Cleaning up the Design Library

Regardless of whether the data has design-level changes for padstacks and pads, this procedure can be followed to clean up the design library after migration. It explains how to delete unwanted padstacks from the design library if they are not used by any footprints.

1. After reloading the library for a migrated design: in eCADSTAR PCB Editor, click Delete on the Component tab, Library group. The Delete from Board Library dialog is displayed.
2. In the Delete from Board Library dialog, ensure that the Show only objects that can be deleted check box is selected.

3. In the Type box, select Padstack. Padstacks are listed that are not being used by any part footprints in the design. These padstacks can safely be removed from the board library, which reduces its size. Click Ctrl and A to select all the padstacks.

4. Click Apply to continue.
5. The Delete from Board Library dialog is displayed, and shows the padstacks which have been removed.

6. Click Close to return to the previous dialog.
7. In the Type box, select Pad. Pads are listed that are not being used by any footprints or padstacks.
8. Click Ctrl and A to select all the listed pads.

9. Click OK to delete all the selected pads. A confirmation dialog is displayed.
10. Click Close to close the Delete from Board Library dialog.