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  3. Capture: Update part from spreadsheet?

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Capture: Update part from spreadsheet?

ElectronMonkey
ElectronMonkey over 9 years ago

I work for an IC manufacturer.  For a new IC, I created a schematic symbol using Design->New Part from Spreadsheet.  After cleaning up the symbol, I used it in a preliminary schematic.  Now, the IC and packaging people have changed the pin out (every pin needs to be renumbered). 

I updated my documentation (a spreadsheet) and I went to cut and paste the changes into the Capture spreadsheet for the schematic symbol, but I can't find a way to get to such a spreadsheet. 


Where is the corresponding Update Part from Spreadsheet?

What I want: 

  • An easy way to make mass changes (such as changing the pin numbers or other pin properties) to a schematic symbol.
  • When updating/replacing the old schematic symbol, the new schematic symbol should not change the functional connectivity of the schematic.  In other words, the pin positions on the schematic symbol cannot change.

Any one know of a way to do something like this?

Thinking about this some more, I realize that there are some difficulties in doing what I want; some restrictions may be necessary.

One way which might work, is to bring up the original spreadsheet, with the pins in the original order.  These spreadsheet pins are linked to the pins on the symbol.  You could then change the pin numbers, names, or other properties of the pins en masse (even using cut and paste from an external spreadsheet).  After saving and exiting the spreadsheet entry form, the schematic symbol will be updated.  This is equivalent to using the Pin Properties editor in Part Editor, but working on a large number of pins at once.

This time, I ended up doing them one at a time, by hand, in the Pin Properties editor.

Any better ideas for the future?

Thanks.

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  • redwire
    redwire over 9 years ago

    Simple.  View Package.  Edit Properties.  This brings up the old-school editor. Grab the pin numbers, name columns.  Use the old DOS copy keys (Ctrl Insert) then paste over in Excel.
    Edit away....be sure to retain the original pin order that came in from the Ctrl Insert.

    Copy the data in Excel and paste back into the spreadsheet by selecting the *exact same* columns you copied from originally.  Now use the old DOS paste keys (Shift Insert) and the new pin numbers/names appear back in the symbol in their original positions.

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  • ElectronMonkey
    ElectronMonkey over 9 years ago

    Thanks, that basically works.  It does have a problem, though ...

    I already have all the information updated in a spreadsheet.  It is in the same order which I originally used to Create Part from Spreadsheet.  This package properties spreadsheet is in a completely different order, so cutting and pasting directly from my spreadsheet doesn't work.  You also don't appear to be able to change the sorting on the Package Properties spreadsheet.

    So this is part way there, and a significant improvement over clicking each pin individually. For large numbers of pins, this will still be very tedious and prone to errors.

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  • redwire
    redwire over 9 years ago

    I would agree it's a p***poor system and without knowing the gymnastics it's painful.  As far as what you're trying to do -- a little spreadsheet formulas (vlookup) and sorts will get around the issue you're encountering.

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  • ElectronMonkey
    ElectronMonkey over 9 years ago

    When I have to do the 1000 pin part, I'll probably write a macro to get the new pin numbers.  That macro will be very similar to a couple of others I recently wrote.

    It looks like adding new pins or removing old ones will still require hand editing in the Part Editor.

    Thanks, redwire.

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