IntLibMaker

Applied Parameters: Context=Document

Summary

This command is used to access the Offline Intergated Library Maker wizard. The wizard facilitates generation of an integrated library directly from a database library - either a non-version-controlled Database Library (DbLib), or a version-controlled SVN Database Library (SVNDbLib). In this way, your CAD Librarians can still use database/version-controlled libraries, while your designers use regularly regenerated integrated libraries, working in an 'offline' fashion as it were.

Access

This command is accessed from the Database Library Editor, and SVN Database Library Editor, by choosing the Tools » Offline Integrated Library Maker command from the main menus.

Use

After launching the command, the Offline Integrated Library Maker wizard will appear. Follow the wizard's set of progressive (and intuitive) pages to collectively gather the information required to generate the integrated library(ies). The process of conversion to an integrated library is carried out on a per-database-table basis. You have full control over which tables in the database - linked to your database library - are considered in this process. A separate integrated library will be generated for each included table.

After choosing the database library and setting the related conversion options as required, click Next to proceed with the conversion. A progress bar will be displayed, along with information on the current database table being converted. Remember that the conversion process is carried out for each database table you have nominated to convert. The following is essentially a breakdown of this process:

• An integrated library package (*.LibPkg) is created and opened in the Projects panel. The package is named using the name of the table. For a table named AD Differential Amplifier for example, this would give AD Differential Amplifier.LibPkg.
• A schematic library document is created and added to the LIBPKG. The schematic is again named using the table's name (e.g. AD Differential Amplifier.SchLib).
• Each record in the table is then considered and the appropriate Altium Designer component built. To do this, the referenced schematic symbol is retrieved from the appropriate source library and added as a component to the new schematic library document. Parameter and model link information defined in the record is then added to that component.
• The referenced footprint models for the record are retrieved and added to a PCB library document. This document is again named after the table (e.g. AD Differential Amplifier.PcbLib). The PCB library document is then added to the LIBPKG.
• If the source library is a DbLib and PCB3D and/or Simulation model links have been defined in the database record, the referenced PCB3D library and Simulation model files are also added to the LIBPKG. The location of such models remains unchanged. The full path to a model is specified as part of its corresponding model link.
• The LIBPKG is then compiled to give the integrated library (e.g. AD Differential Amplifier.IntLib), which is subsequently added to Altium Designer's Installed Libraries.

Tips

1. The active library from which the wizard was accessed will be specified as the library to convert by default. You can freely browse for, and choose, a different DbLib or SVNDbLib, if required.
2. All database tables are included in the conversion by default. To exclude a table, simply ensure that its associated Convert option is disabled.
3. The generated output (integrated library) for each included database table will be stored in its own sub-folder within the specified output directory, named using the table's name.