Applied Parameters: Context=Project
Summary
This command is used to access the SVN Database Library Conversion Wizard from the currently focused project library document - either a Schematic Library (*.SchLib), PCB 2D/3D Component Model Library (*.PcbLib), or an Integrated Library (*.IntLib) - under the required parent project in the Projects panel. This Wizard streamlines the process of turning these various component management methodologies into an SVN Database Library. An SVN Database Library takes the ability to place components directly from a database, and extends this method of linking to allow source-controlled libraries - housing the schematic symbols and footprint models within a Subversion-based repository. The link to the repository and to the external database is defined within an SVN Database Library file (*.SVNDbLib), an extension of the Database Library file (*.DbLib) and often referred to as a Version-Controlled Database Library.
Access
This command is accessed from the Projects panel by right-clicking on the entry for the required project library (SchLib, PcbLib, or IntLib) and choosing the SVN Database Library Maker command, from the context menu.
Use
First, ensure that a project library document (SchLib, PcbLib, or IntLib) you wish to convert is the focused document in the Projects panel.
After launching the command, the SVN Database Library Conversion Wizard will appear. While accessing the Wizard in this way - through a project context - loads the Wizard with all SchLib, PcbLib, and IntLib libraries that have been added to the project, ready for conversion, you can of course modify the list of libraries to be converted, as required. The Wizard can convert either a single Database Library, or any number (and mixture) of Schematic Libraries, PCB Libraries, and Integrated Libraries.
Converting a Database Library
Should you wish to convert a standard Database Library (DbLib) instead, simply switch the conversion mode to Database Libraries, and browse to, and specifiy, the library to be converted. Then use the Wizard to define conversion-related options, including how the source libraries should be split, in which directories of which repository they should be stored, and the output directory for the SVNDbLib file. For a schematic library, two options are also provided that allow you to strip the parameter and/or model information from each constituent component - leaving just the bare symbol. As the external database already exists - linked to the original DbLib file - one will not be created. The database will remain in its current location.
Should you wish to have the generated SVNDbLib file and the database in the same location, you basically have two options. The first is to set the output path for the SVNDbLib to be the same directory in which the database currently resides. The second option is to generate the SVNDbLib in a different directory and then move the database to that directory. In this case, you will need to remember to modify the connection within the SVNDbLib file to point to the database in its new location and reconnect.
After choosing the source DbLib file 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 library being converted. The conversion process involves:
- Splitting the schematic and PCB libraries, referenced by the component records in the linked database, into single symbol/footprint library files
- Committing the split symbol and footprint libraries to the repository, in the specified base directories.
- Creating the specified SVNDbLib file, connecting to the database and repository.
After the conversion has completed, click Finish to close the Wizard, and make the SVNDbLib file active in the main design window.
Converting Schematic, PCB, and Integrated Libraries
Use the Wizard to define conversion-related options, including how the source libraries should be split, in which directories of which repository they should be stored, and the output directory for the SVNDbLib file. For a schematic library, two options are also provided that allow you to strip the parameter and/or model information from each constituent component - leaving just the bare symbol.
After choosing the source libraries 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 library being converted. The conversion process involves:
- Extraction of the source libraries from any supplied integrated libraries.
- Splitting the schematic and PCB libraries into single symbol/footprint library files
- Committing the split symbol and footprint libraries to the repository, in the specified base directories.
- The Wizard will only extract footprint model reference information. Linked PCB3D and Simulation models are not supported for an SVNDbLib. Where such links exist, they will be added as parameters.
- Building a separate database table in the generated Access database, for each schematic library and/or intergated library being converted, complete with parameter and model information extracted from the components therein. Each table is named using the name of the schematic library, with an _SchLib suffix (e.g. Mixer_SchLib), and/or the name of the integrated library, with an _IntLib suffix (e.g. AD Differential Amplifier_IntLib).
- Creating the specified SVNDbLib file, connecting to the database and repository.
After the conversion has completed, click Finish to close the Wizard, and make the SVNDbLib file active in the main design window.
