Use the Add Library command to manage your library settings. You can activate, deactivate or change the search order of the libraries in the selection table.
Libraries contain 3D models of the PCB assembly components and are used when you import a PCB assembly from the ECAD format.
This command returns a separate Libraries browser. By default, the Libraries browser lists the libraries specified in your sdpbc_customize file.
Use the Add Library command to specify additional libraries you want to use in your current session. Be sure that the library and its directory exist in your directory structure. If you want to include newly added libraries in your personal configuration for future sessions, be sure to specify each of these libraries in your sdpcb_customize file.
You can see examples on configuring libraries for Creo Elements/Direct Modeling IDF Data Adapter (PCB I/F) in $INSTALLDIR/personality/sdpcb/sdpcb_customize.template.
The following definitions apply:
Name
Name of the library. You can specify any useful name. This name helps you to identify a given library without having to remember its complete pathname. The library name does not have to be included in the directory path.
Type
This is one of the following:
• Model — This library type contains 3D mechanical models of EE parts for use in imported PCB assemblies.
• PCA — This library type contains expanded parts for use in imported PCB assemblies.
Library Specification
This is one of the following:
• Directory — This is a file-based library and contains MIBS files. You must specify the path of the folder that contains the model files which you wish to load.
• DB Lib — This is a Creo Elements/Direct Model Manager library. The library parts belong to the standard LIBRARY_3D library class and the library objects. The name of a stored component model in Creo Elements/Direct Model Manager is made up of 3 parts joined with underscores. For example, if the name is SDPCB_MODEL_Extruded_plcc20, SDPCB represents the PCB I/F library root name, MODEL represents the type (Type is automatically applied and interpreted), Extruded represents the Creo Elements/Direct Model Manager library and plcc20 represents the actual model name.
Dir DB Lib
You can use Dir DB Lib to specify a default Creo Elements/Direct Model Manager library name for models loaded from the file-based library. The possible library names consist of already added Creo Elements/Direct Model Manager libraries plus the file-based library names.
Libraries cannot be stored in a subdirectory of another library.
Selection mechanism
When you import a PCB assembly file, Creo Elements/Direct Modeling IDF Data Adapter (PCB I/F) uses the following order of precedence for applying 3D models to the parts of the PCB assembly:
1. Creo Elements/Direct Modeling IDF Data Adapter (PCB I/F) checks the LIB_PART containers for loaded models. When a model is found in PCB_TOP/LIB_PART, no model of the same name will be loaded from a library.
2. If no models are found in the LIB_PART container, Creo Elements/Direct Modeling IDF Data Adapter (PCB I/F) scans the Libraries browser from top to bottom for active libraries, provided that the library path is set. A model will be loaded from the first active library in which it is found. Use Move Up and/or Move Down to change the sequence of libraries in the Libraries browser. Be sure to activate any libraries from which you want to load models.
3. If no models are found in the LIB_PART container or in any active configured library, Creo Elements/Direct Modeling IDF Data Adapter (PCB I/F) uses the default "surrounding box" models generated from the part outline and part height specified in the imported file. For EIF only: If no profile exists, Creo Elements/Direct Modeling IDF Data Adapter (PCB I/F) creates a default part consisting of a disk 1 mm in diameter and 1 mm high.
4. If no models are found in any active configured library and there is no extruded model information, a warning message is displayed in the Output Box.
Use Set Library to select the library or libraries from which you want to load models or which will automatically be applied to parts of imported PCB assemblies. Proceed as follows:
1. Click PCB and then, in the Filing group, click the arrow next to Library.
2. Click Add. The Add Library dialog box and a Libraries browser open.
When you start Creo Elements/Direct Modeling IDF Data Adapter (PCB I/F), the libraries browser contains only the libraries that are defined in the Creo Elements/Direct Modeling IDF Data Adapter (PCB I/F) customization file.
3. Click Name and type a name for the library.
4. Click Type and select a library type.
5. If you want the library to be a file-based library, click Directory and select a directory path.
6. If you want the library to be a Creo Elements/Direct Model Manager library, click DB Lib.
7. Click to complete to operation.
Be sure to activate any libraries you want to use during your current Creo Elements/Direct Modeling IDF Data Adapter (PCB I/F) session. A newly added library is always active.
Activate a library
You need to activate any libraries you want to apply to the next PCB assembly import. In the Libraries browser, select the library you want to activate and click on the value in the status column. You can change the value in the status column by a single click.
If you do not want to apply any libraries to imported PCB assemblies, make sure that the LibPath check box in the Import dialog box is cleared. To open the Import dialog box, click PCB and then, in the Filing group, click ECAD Adapter. Click Import.
Save a PCB assembly tree
Use Save Tree to save the entire structure of the active PCB assembly in a pcbpkg file. Specify the name of this PCA file or use the File Browser to select or specify the name of a PCA file. By default, the pcbpkg extension will be appended to the filename you select or specify. To use Save Tree command:
1. Click PCB and then, in the Filing group, click Tree.
2. Click Store. The Save Tree dialog box and File Browser open.
Reload a PCB assembly tree
Use Load Tree to load a complete part and assembly tree of a PCA that has been saved with Save Tree. To use Load Tree:
1. Click PCB and then, in the Filing group, click Tree.
2. Click Load. The Load Tree dialog box and File Browser open.
Library.
Add. The Add Library dialog box and a Libraries browser open.
to complete to operation.
ECAD Adapter. Click Import.
Tree.