How To Change Library Path In OrCAD Capture 17.4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z3IOKjaqzo

(sorry about that)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z3IOKjaqzo

(sorry about that)

I thought this would help me, but it did not.  

I start Orcad Capture and all looks good. 

Then I click the recent file (schematic) that I am developing and I get the same "error" as the original poster.

However, I can see the footprint for every part in my schematic.   So why does it give me an error?

I tried adding, as explained above)

[Part Library Directories]
Dir0=C:\Cadence\SPB_17.4\tools\capture\library

That made no difference at all.   And I do not understand how it possibly could.    I know I was in the correct .ini file, because to test that, I removed a few lines and it gave lots of new errors. (Then restored it with my backup .ini)

Orcad already knows where my library is.  Orcad is showing me footprints but then telling me they are not there.

My schematic is complete.  I successfully imported a lot of footprints and graphics from Digikey (either SnapEDA or Ultralibrarian).  I also got pretty good at editing the footprints because many I downloaded have pin errors.  Orcad is seeing my corrected footprints.  So Allegro seems to be working correctly, and Orcad seems to be working correctly.

But I need to get from where I am to placing the parts on a board and start layout.

Are you unable to place parts on a board or are you unable to place parts on a schematic page?   

If you are capturing a schematic, you need to make sure [Part Library Directories] points to your *.OLB files when placing CIS parts. 

[Allegro Footprints] only has a path for footprint preview when placing CIS parts.

My schematic is completed.

I can preview the footprint of every part in Orcad.

I have made some progress.... I can even "sync" when I make a small change to the schematic.   I changed a UA78L05 from surface mount to through hole and it did magically update Allegro.... so I have that much working.  And when I changed it back to surface mount footprint, it again worked flawlessly.

Allegro lists all of the reference designators when I go to manually place part by "Components by refdes";  but about half of the parts do not show a footprint.   I look in the directory and the footprints are there... I manually search there is a .dra for every part, and I believe the padstacks are all there because they show in Orcad footprint preview. 

Example   D3 is a BZX84C30.   In orcad I can see the SOT-23-F-M footprint.   I try to manually place "components by refdes" ...   D3 is there in the list, but I don't see a preview and can not place the part.

So I try to manually place "Package symbols" (after checking "Library" in "Advanced Settings.") and for example SOT-23-F-M is not there.   But look in the directory with windows "file explorer" and SOT-23F-M.dra is there.

Oh, well.  You need to set the library path (or verify it) in Allegro/Orcad the layout tool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z3IOKjaqzo

To test to see if I have the library path set correctly, I

• removed a footprint from the directory.  
• Then restarted Allegro and the footprint was gone.
• shut down Allegro
• Return the part to the directory
• Restart Allegro
• I can place the part again.