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Using custom footprint ... not messing with the instalation

Martins

Hi.

I have the following custom footprint with files:

fp1.psm; fp1.dra; r411_367.pad

If I put these fles (I tested) in C:\Cadence\SPB_16.3\share\pcb\pcb_lib\symbolsfootprint the footprint will be shown in Capture->ShowFootprint.

The problem is that I don't want to mess around the installation that doesn't belong to me. I nees to keep my files out of the installation as much as possible.

Even so, I tried to mess with PCB Editor  (** my personal lib folder is H:/hm/proj/Electronica/_lib/PCB ***)

... so that:


set  padpath      = . symbols .. ../symbols C:/Cadence/SPB_16.3/share/local/pcb/padstacks C:/Cadence/SPB_16.3/share/pcb/pcb_lib/symbols C:/Cadence/SPB_16.3/share/pcb/allegrolib/symbols H:/hm/proj/Electronica/_lib/PCB

set  psmpath      = . symbols .. ../symbols C:/Cadence/SPB_16.3/share/local/pcb/symbols C:/Cadence/SPB_16.3/share/pcb/pcb_lib/symbols C:/Cadence/SPB_16.3/share/pcb/allegrolib/symbols H:/hm/proj/Electronica/_lib/PCB

... but still I can't convince Capture to find out the footprint if the filesare not located in C:\Cadence\SPB_16.3\share\pcb\pcb_lib\symbolsfootprint


Is there a way to convince Orcad Capture to find out my own lib's, specially footprints, messing around with the installation as less as possibe?

Thanks
Martins

 

  • steve

    Edit the capture.ini file and add the path to the new footprint locations. Capture ini is stored <your_install_dir\tools\capture directory for pre 16.6 and %HOME%\cdssetup\OrCAD_Capture\16.6.0 for 16.6

    [Footprint Viewer Type]

    Type=Allegro

    [Allegro Footprints]

    Dir0=fullpathtofootprints

    Dir1=fullpathtofootprints

    Dir2=fullpathtofootprints

  • Martins

     Thank you Steve;

    I did as you suggested. The previous error has gone but was replaced by:

    ERROR(SPMHA1-161): Cannot open the design database file ... run standalone dbdoctor on the file. Unable to opening design H:\hm\proj\Electronica\_lib\PCB\FP1.psm


    I used DbDoctor against that file (and all other files inside H:\hm\proj\Electronica\_lib\PCBbut that can e handled by DbDoctor), and it keeps replying the same SPMHA1-161.

    Now, I guess it may be protesting about the "database file". Database of files? This specific file among all the project files?

    This is quite anoying :)

    Regards
    Martins

  • steve

    There will be a corresponding FP1.dra file. Can you open that run a dbcheck on this footprint and then re-create the psm file. Then try again.

  • Martins

    Thank you.

    Dbcheck on FP1.dra: 0 warnings, 0 errors detected, 0 errors  fixed.

    On the other side I asked for temporary permition to put these three files (fp1.psm; fp1.dra; r411_367.pad) inside [...]\share\pcb\pcb_lib\symbols and they work OK.


    Martins

  • BillZ

    Hi,

    Your symbol search path is from the top down as listed in the user preferences. So the tool was looking for the old symbol you installed in the default directory before the new library you wanted. You can raise your custom library higher in the search list with the Arrows in the User Preferences. Raise this path above your default path:H:/hm/proj/Electronica/_lib/PCB

    Also the . (peroid) = the current working directory, .. (double period) means search one directory up.

    BillZ

    EMA Design Automation

     

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