Capture and PCB libraries files format (olb, dra, psm)

Are you using CIS? 

For OLB, use Tcl to extract.   For DRA/PSM, use Extracta to drive footprint data to an intermediate data storage of your design. 

Nothing good will come from Cadence revealing details of any proprietary design data file.   

There is a PDF that shows all the PCB footprints supplied by Cadence:- https://www.parallel-systems.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/SPB172_Footprints-Parsys.pdf You can also select a part in OrCAD Capture and then right click - Show Footprint which brings up a viewer. Most of the default Capture libraries do not have PCB Footprints assigned by default. A good resource for parts with footprints and 3d steps models is the Place - Search Providers command. Watch this:- OrCAD Capture Part Search Providers - YouTube

Steve you right. I know I can see a footprint when placing the part on the schematic, but only if the "footprint" field is populated. But how to fill that field if we already don't know the package name?

Tnx for the footprint list!

Yes CIS is currently what I use... But planning to switch to Alegro.

Well, If there is description with details, maybe there is a way for some custom preview application.... But better to spend time on learning PCB design in cadence though  

Hi.

In Orcad Capture none of the default libraries include footprints. In addition none of the Orcad Symbols include attributes to drive a viable bill of materials report.

These thing would be common to most Schematic/PCB systems and are not specifically unique to Cadence.

If you don't know the footprint to use then basically you have no way of creating a PCB.

A good place to start is with simple things is for example a resistor. At the symbol level you want to include attributes such as part number etc with the resistor so that when ever you use that symbol you can actually generate a BOM.The next part would be associating that particular symbol with a footprint so that the you can create a board.

Spending time up front on your symbols in particular symbols that have all needed attributes such as P/N, MFR, TOL etc will save you some serious time later in the design process.

For the STD Capture edition attributes can be attached to a symbol and then save the symbol out. In CIS you can apply attributes to the symbol graphic via CIS Database tables. Cis makes life a little easier in particular if you want to develop a STD part library.

In the case of a resistor that particular symbol could map to many pcb packages like a 0805, 1206 etc. You kind of have to know what physical footprint you wish to use "Up Front"
Any type of footprint can be created in the PCB Editor so some work required to do this. The alternate is to try download a suitable footprint. If starting out your far better off learning the ins and outs of the PCB Editor so as to get up to speed.