Attribute Manager

The Attribute Manager dialog allows you to add, rename and delete user-defined attributes in eCADSTAR Library Editor. They are saved in the relevant library, and are included if the library is copied. User-defined attributes are attributes which you create, rather than being pre-defined in eCADSTAR. They allow you to store relevant information for parts in eCADSTAR Library Editor. After saving the settings in eCADSTAR Library Editor, this information can then be synchronized with eCADSTAR Schematic Editor and eCADSTAR PCB Editor by executing the Reload command.

User-defined attributes can also be transferred between these applications using the Back Annotation and Forward Annotation commands. The attributes that you specify can be selected in the Attribute table in the Library Searcher. They can be set as read-only in eCADSTAR PCB Editor and eCADSTAR Schematic Editor, but can always be edited in eCADSTAR Library Editor.

After adding them to eCADSTAR Library Editor, you can then set a value for a specific part in the User Part Attributes section of the Part Editor Panel: Properties tab, and in the Library Editor Panel: Parts tab. The Attribute Manager dialog is displayed by clicking Home > Editors > Attribute Manager on the ribbon in eCADSTAR Library Editor.

Attribute Table

Value     Description
Label     Displays the name of the attribute that you add by clicking Add Attribute. New attributes are assigned a unique name using the "NewAttribute-[n]" format. You can rename an attribute by clicking it, typing a name and then pressing Return. However, if it is used by a part in the library, then you cannot rename it and a dialog is displayed which states the name of the associated parts. When you click OK or Apply in the Attribute Manager dialog, the label is updated for any item in the library that is using it. If you select Display in the Library column for a relevant attribute in this dialog, then it is displayed in the User Part Attributes section of the Part Editor Panel: Properties tab, and in the Library Editor Panel: Parts tab. To display a new attribute in eCADSTAR PCB Editor or eCADSTAR Schematic Editor, you must update the association between the objects on the board and in the library, by executing the Reload command.
Note
  • Attribute labels are not case-sensitive: for example, adding "value" and "Value" is forbidden.
  • For a list of prohibited characters for labels, refer to the User-defined attribute label row in the Banned Characters.pdf document.
  • By default, new attributes are displayed as read-only in the Attribute Manager dialog for eCADSTAR Schematic Editor and eCADSTAR PCB Editor.
  • An attribute that is read-only is not displayed in eCADSTAR PCB Editor or eCADSTAR Schematic Editor after you execute a library reload, unless a value is assigned to the associated part in eCADSTAR Library Editor.
Library     Allows you to specify whether relevant user-defined attributes are displayed for parts in eCADSTAR Library Editor.
  Display   Allows you to specify whether a relevant attribute is displayed for parts in eCADSTAR Library Editor. This setting is specified in the Display dialog, which is launched when you click the Display check box.
    Selected In eCADSTAR Library Editor, the relevant attribute is displayed for parts in the User Part Attributes section, of the Part Editor Panel: Properties tab and in the Library Editor Panel: Parts tab.
    Not selected In eCADSTAR Library Editor, the relevant attribute is not displayed for parts in the User Part Attributes section, of the Part Editor Panel: Properties tab and in the Library Editor Panel: Parts tab.
Schematic     Allows you to specify whether a relevant user-defined attribute can be modified for the specified object in eCADSTAR Schematic Editor, and whether it is displayed in eCADSTAR Schematic Editor and Symbol Editor.
  Read Only   Allows you to specify whether the relevant user-defined attribute can be modified in eCADSTAR Schematic Editor. You must execute the Reload Library command in eCADSTAR Schematic Editor to apply this setting.
    Selected The relevant attribute cannot be modified in eCADSTAR Schematic Editor. The Value column in the Properties panel is made unavailable for this attribute.
    Not selected The relevant attribute can be modified in eCADSTAR Schematic Editor. The Value column in the Properties panel is made available for this attribute.
  Display   Allows you to specify whether a relevant attribute is displayed in the Properties panel, Library Searcher and Component Browser in eCADSTAR Schematic Editor, and the Symbol Settings dialog in Symbol Editor. This setting is specified in the Display dialog, which is launched when you click the Display check box. You must execute the Reload Library command in eCADSTAR Schematic Editor to apply this setting.
    Selected In eCADSTAR Schematic Editor and Symbol Editor, the relevant attribute is displayed for the objects that you select in the Display dialog. When selected, this check box can be displayed as follows:

: all objects are selected in the Display dialog. The relevant attribute is displayed for these objects.

: some of the objects are selected in the Display dialog. The relevant attribute is displayed for these objects.
    Not selected : in eCADSTAR Schematic Editor and Symbol Editor , the relevant attribute is not displayed for any of the objects in the Display dialog.
PCB     Allows you to specify whether a relevant user-defined attribute can be modified for the specified object in eCADSTAR PCB Editor, and whether it is displayed in the relevant dialogs.
  Read Only   Allows you to specify whether the relevant user-defined attribute can be modified in eCADSTAR PCB Editor. You must execute the Reload command. in eCADSTAR PCB Editor to apply this setting.
    Selected The relevant attribute cannot be modified in eCADSTAR PCB Editor. The Value column in the Properties panel is made unavailable for this attribute.
    Not selected The relevant attribute can be modified in eCADSTAR PCB Editor. The Value column in the Properties panel is made available for this attribute.
  Display   Allows you to specify whether a relevant attribute is displayed in the Properties panel, Library Searcher, Constraint Browser and Attributes dialog for a specified object in eCADSTAR PCB Editor. This setting is specified in the Display dialog, which is launched when you click the Display check box. You must execute the Reload command in eCADSTAR PCB Editor to apply this setting.
Note
    Selected In eCADSTAR PCB Editor, the relevant attribute is displayed for the objects that you select in the Display dialog. When selected, this check box can be displayed as follows:

: all objects are selected in the Display dialog. The relevant attribute is displayed for these objects.

: some of the objects are selected in the Display dialog. The relevant attribute is displayed for these objects.
    Not selected : in eCADSTAR PCB Editor, the relevant attribute is not displayed for any of the objects that are listed in the Display dialog.
Type    

  • Allows you to specify whether the relevant attribute is a string, numeric value or hyperlink. This defines the type of values that you can enter for the attribute. You can further define the allowable values for the attribute by specifying values in the List column.

    • Text: any alphanumeric value can be specified for the attribute.
    • Numeric: an integer must be specified for the attribute.
    • Decimal: a numeric value must be specified for the attribute. Decimal values can be specified.
    • Hyperlink: a hyperlink can be specified for the attribute. If a hyperlink is specified, then launch it in your default browser or associated application by right-clicking and selecting Open Hyperlink in the following locations.
    • Library Editor Panel: Parts Tab
    • Part Editor Panel: Properties Tab
    • Library Searcher
    • The assist menu for a component in eCADSTAR Schematic Editor and eCADSTAR PCB Editor
    • Component Browser
    • The Properties panel in eCADSTAR Schematic Editor and eCADSTAR PCB Editor
    • Constraint Browser

    The following are examples of various formats of hyperlink.

    • http:\\www.zuken.com
    • c:\Documents\DataSheets\SN74LS04D.pdf
    • \\server1\Datasheets\SN74HCT74N.pdf

    If a hyperlink is not specified, then the Open Hyperlink command is made unavailable.

    The hyperlink can also be accessed using the COM interface. See: COM Interface: PropertyValueType. The hyperlink value is saved if the Save As command is used to revert to an earlier version of eCADSTAR.

    Note

    • You can change this setting from Text to Hyperlink, and from Hyperlink to Text, even if a value is associated with a part in the library. However, you cannot make any other changes to this setting if a value is associated with a part in the library for the attribute. A dialog is displayed which states the parts in which it is used. You can change values that are used in other eCADSTAR applications.

    • If you specify values in the List column that are not compatible with the selected Type value, then the Type value cannot be changed and an Error dialog is displayed.
List     You can further define the allowable values for an attribute by specifying a list of values which you must select from. Specify this setting in the Edit List dialog, which is launched when you point the cursor in this column and then click the displayed button. The format of the specified values must be compatible with the selected Type value. If you enter a value in an incorrect format, then an Error dialog is displayed.

 

Value Description
Moves the selected attribute up by one place in the Attribute table. The selected attribute is listed in the specified position for all relevant locations in eCADSTAR. These include relevant Properties dialogs, the User Part Attributes section of the Part Editor Panel: Properties tab, and the Library Editor Panel: Parts tab. You can select multiple attributes using the Ctrl or Shift keys.
Moves the selected attribute down by one place in the Attribute table. The selected attribute is listed in the specified position for all relevant locations in eCADSTAR. These include relevant Properties dialogs, the User Part Attributes section of the Part Editor Panel: Properties tab, and in the Library Editor Panel: Parts tab. You can select multiple attributes using the Ctrl or Shift keys.
Add Attribute Adds a new attribute to the Attribute table. Alternatively, right-click in the Attribute table and select Add Attribute on the assist menu. A new row is added below the currently-selected row. Press Return to use the default label, or specify a new label and press Return. By default, the "NewAttribute-[n]” label is used, where [n] is the next available number used by attributes in this format. The value [n] is incremented to ensure that the attribute labels are unique. Attributes are added in the "selected" state, which allows you to type a unique label. If you attempt to enter a duplicate label, then an Error dialog is displayed when you press Return.
Note
  • Attribute labels are case-insensitive: for example, adding "value" and "Value" is forbidden.
  • By default, new attributes are displayed as read-only in eCADSTAR Library Editor, eCADSTAR Schematic Editor and eCADSTAR PCB Editor.
  • You can add a value for a user-defined attribute in the User Part Attributes section of the Part Editor Panel: Properties tab, or the Library Editor Panel: Parts tab. These values are added to eCADSTAR Schematic Editor and eCADSTAR PCB Editor when you execute the Reload command in the respective application.
  • In eCADSTAR PCB Editor, a newly-added attribute is not displayed in the Properties panel until it is assigned a value. In eCADSTAR Schematic Editor, however, it is displayed in the Properties panel, regardless of whether a value is assigned to it.
Delete Attribute If an attribute does not have a value assigned to it in  eCADSTAR Library Editor, then clicking Delete Attribute removes it from the Attribute Manager dialog. You can delete multiple attributes using the Ctrl or Shift keys. An attribute that is deleted in eCADSTAR Library Editor is still available in  the Properties panel and in the Attributes dialog in eCADSTAR PCB Editor. However, in eCADSTAR Schematic Editor, it is deleted from the Properties panel.
Note
  • If an attribute is used by a part in the library, then this attribute cannot be deleted. A dialog is displayed which states the parts in which the attribute is used.
  • Attributes can be deleted from eCADSTAR Library Editor that are used in the other eCADSTAR applications.
OK Saves the settings that you specify in the Attribute Manager dialog, and closes the dialog.
Cancel Closes the Attribute Manager dialog without saving your changes.
Apply Saves the settings that you specify in the Attribute Manager dialog. The dialog remains open.

 

Note
  • Any new library that you create will initially contain no user-defined attributes.
  • If you copy a part from one library to another, then any user-defined attributes on the part are added to the target library.

 

Related Topics
Edit List Dialog
Display Dialog
eCADSTAR PCB Editor: Reload Command
eCADSTAR Schematic Editor: Reload Library Command