replacing symbols in Allegro 16.3

This problem comes up almost every time libraries are comingled - centers and rotations don't match up. Replacing components is easy once you get the mapping figured out.

You could make a  mapping file that contains a list of paired parts and their relative offsets and rotations, do a "refresh symbols" on the design followed by a "dump symbols" so you have local copies to work against. Then you craft some SKILL to read the file and sequentially open each local footprint and apply the corresponding offset and rotation, save it, rinse and repeat until complete. Then another "refresh symbols" in the design to see what went right and what went wrong.

A better but more time-consuming way is to make a test brd containing one instance of every symbol to be mapped - makes it much easier to see what went right and what went wrong.

HTH,

 Chris Walters

local Cadence guru-at-large

Chris,Thanks for your reply. I do not know how to create a mapping file or write a SKILL program. I was hoping that somebody has written a SKILL program that would do this. My part name in Orcad Layout is different than the part name in the Allegro library. This is the problem along with the different rotation and origin. What I tried is to export a placement file with the origin in the body center, edit it with the new Allegro symbol names, saved it, deleted the old parts in the translated Allegro database, imported the placement file, and ….nothing. I even went back in and included the full path to the Allegro library, and still no Allegro parts.I am now going back into the Orcad Layout file and creating components with the desired origin and name that matches the Allegro library. From there, I will replace components(isn’t it something that you can do that in Orcad, but not Allegro!), and adjust them, then translate the file into Allegro.If you know a better way, I am all ears. Thanks  

Bob Hays