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KB: Copy and paste a component from/to a library

Created: December 14, 2023 | Updated: March 08, 2024
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Symbols or footprints can be copied and pasted from one file-based schematic or footprint library to another library, including all properties. Components placed in the schematic or PCB editor or components found in the Manufacturer Part Search panel can also be copied to libraries.

Solution Details

In either schlib or pcblib, components can be copied, cut, or pasted by right-click command on SCH/PCB Library panel, while those symbols and footprints already instantiated in schematic and PCB editor can be directly selected to copy, cut, or paste by the ordinary keyboard shortcut Ctrl+C/X/V.
  • from/to a library: right-click copy/cut/paste on SCH/PCB Library panel
  • from schematic/PCB editor: keyboard shortcut Ctrl+C/X/V
  • from Manufacturer Part Search panel: download as libraries first, open the libraries, right-click copy/cut/paste on SCH/PCB Library panel

From/to Library:
  1. Open the source library document.
  2. Select the required component in SCH/PCB Library panel. Multiple components can be selected.
  3. Right-click on the selected component, then choose the Copy command from the context menu or Ctrl+C.                                            image.png
  4. ​​​​​​Open the target schematic/PCB library document.
  5. Right-click anywhere in the list of components in the SCH/PCB Library panel, and select Paste from the context menu or Ctrl+V, after which the components from the step 3 with all its properties are now added to the target library.
image.png

From Schematic/PCB Editor:
  1. Open the source schematic or PCB document (*.schdoc or *.pcbdoc).
  2. Select component(s) to copy and Ctrl+C
  3. Follow the instruction above to paste the component to a target library
Note: As an alternative to copying and pasting components individually from the schematic or PCB editor to a library, new schematic or PCB libraries can be created in one go to include all components in the active document with a command Design » Make Schematic Library or Design » Make PCB Library.

From Manufacturer Part Search panel:
  1. Select the required part in Manufacturer Part Search panel. Multiple parts can be selected
  2. Right-click on the selected component, then choose the Download as File Library... command from the context menu.                         image.png
  3. A library package, including the SCH and PCH library, is downloaded to a folder of your choice.
  4. Extract the package and open the source library files.
  5. Follow the instruction above to copy and paste the components from the downloaded library to a target library

Further Reading on Moving and Copying Components from Other Libraries: 
https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/working-with-schematic-libraries#!copying-components-from-other-sources
https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/working-with-pcb-libraries#!adding-footprints-from-other-sources
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