Allegro Libraries

IF you are using PCB Editor, I doubt that you need APD, that is a variation of PCB Editor for designing Chip Packages and Multi-chip modules. IF you are trying to design footprints for use in PCB Design, you need to design the Padstacks with Pad Designer, under PCB Editor Utilities, then start PCB Editor and use File>New, specify a name and set the type to Package Symbol, or Package Symbol (Wizard), to start creating the package. (See the algrolibdev.pdf in the doc\algrolibdev directory of the installation)

Very helpful, my friend. I have a related question: How do I edit the part?

Open the DRA file with File>Open, change the File Type to "Symbol Drawing (*.dra)" after that you can Add / Delete, Edit>Change and so on to modify the part, then either Save, or Save As, the DRA file will be saved and the appropriate "?SM" (symbol file) generated.

There are so many available libraries out there, there's very little need to create new ones. Even samtec provides allegro library parts for free on their site. to make it simple, let me provide some guidance.

1) look into the library parts provided by cadence, you should have a sample library installed with the tool

2) when you create your own parts, keep it simple:

 - create the padstacks, and keep the naming simple (you'll need padstacks for all parts, except mechanical, format parts)

 -keep the layering simple: TOP/BOTTOM package assembly; TOP/BOTTOM ref des; TOP/BOTTOM ref des silkscreen; BODY center cross hair; make the orientations (zero/zero) like you expect them to get pick-n-placed; PLACE (package) boundry. you don't really need much more. Keep it simple.

The more you learn about allegro, the more you can add to your parts. but keeping it simple to start will make it much more enjoyable to use the tool.

Good day.

I learned a long time ago to not trust anybody else's libraries but my own, which I've developed over the last 25 years. I've moved them from one CAD system to another - they work, and I know the are 100% correct and appropriate for my customers.

 My problem remains, how do I tell Allegro where my libraries are located? Ther's got to be somewhere (I suspect in Capture) what the path to the footprints are located - but I can't find it in the help files, tutorials, or searching through the sofware.