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This article describes how to create a new part in SSI's Altium PCB component libraries. SSI maintains a collection of Altium component libraries, many of them derived from libraries generously donated to SSI by the Stanford Solar Car Project.

This article describes how to create a new part in SSI's Altium PCB component libraries. SSI maintains a collection of Altium component libraries, many of them derived from libraries generously donated to SSI by the Stanford Solar Car Project. This is designed to serve as both a reference, and a practical guide for how to turn a component with a datasheet into a schematic symbol with a corresponding PCB footprint.

==Introduction==

==Introduction==

===Drawing a Symbol===

===Drawing a Symbol===

To create a new schematic symbol, lock the relevant schematic library, then double click the library to open it. If not already visible, open the "SCH Library" pane {{altium-shortcut|v|w|c|b}} and look at the top field, where there should be a list of symbols. Click "Add" to create a new symbol, giving it a name consistent with the names used in the library (''this is poorly standardized, but typically consists of, in all caps, <category_of_component>_<manufacturer_part_number>''). Your new part should then become active, bringing up a blank editing window.

To create a new schematic symbol, first find the relevant schematic library. Schematic libraries are sorted by function - i.e. power management integrated circuits (PMIC), diodes, etc. Next, lock the library you'll be working with, and double click the library to open it. If not already visible, open the "SCH Library" pane {{altium-shortcut|v|w|c|b}} and look at the top field, where there should be a list of symbols. Click "Add" to create a new symbol, giving it a name consistent with the names used in the library (''this is poorly standardized, but typically consists of, in all caps, <category_of_component>_<manufacturer_part_number>''). Your new part should then become active, bringing up a blank editing window.

Next, you'll draw out the graphics for your symbol. Begin by setting the snap grid of the editor (the grid of points it will allow for drawing) to 10 point spacing, by opening the snap grid settings {{altium-shortcut|v|g|s}} and entering 10 for the snap grid size. This is not strictly required, and smaller grids can be used to create finer detail in symbols (5 and 2.5 are recommended), but all connection points for the symbol (added later) must be placed on a 10 point grid and thus symbols should be drawn to accommodate that.

Next, you'll draw out the graphics for your symbol. Begin by setting the snap grid of the editor (the grid of points it will allow for drawing) to 10 point spacing, by opening the snap grid settings {{altium-shortcut|v|g|s}} and entering 10 for the snap grid size. This is not strictly required, and smaller grids can be used to create finer detail in symbols (5 and 2.5 are recommended), but all connection points for the symbol (added later) must be placed on a 10 point grid and thus symbols should be drawn to accommodate that.

Pins are how your symbol will be connected to wires when used in schematics. Enter the pin placement tool {{altium-shortcut|p|p}}, but before clicking to place your first pin, bring up the pin placement settings window {{altium-shortcut|tab}}. If designing a footprint for an IC, enter the pin name for the first pin in "Display Name," and set the "Designator" to the first pin's pin number (typically 1). If placing a pin for a symbol where a name should not appear, uncheck the "Visible" box by Display Name, and set the Designator to the appropriate number. Finally, set "Length" to 20, and exit the "Pin Properties" dialogue. You can now place your pin - '''make sure you are using a 10 point snap grid, as failing to do so can lead to errors in boards that use your symbol.''' After clicking to place your pin, you should automatically be able to place another pin, with the designator automatically incremented - enter Pin Properties {{altium-shortcut|tab}} to set the Display Name (and Designator, if needed), and then place your next pin. Repeat until all pins are placed.

Pins are how your symbol will be connected to wires when used in schematics. Enter the pin placement tool {{altium-shortcut|p|p}}, but before clicking to place your first pin, bring up the pin placement settings window {{altium-shortcut|tab}}. If designing a footprint for an IC, enter the pin name for the first pin in "Display Name," and set the "Designator" to the first pin's pin number (typically 1). If placing a pin for a symbol where a name should not appear, uncheck the "Visible" box by Display Name, and set the Designator to the appropriate number. Finally, set "Length" to 20, and exit the "Pin Properties" dialogue. You can now place your pin - '''make sure you are using a 10 point snap grid, as failing to do so can lead to errors in boards that use your symbol.''' After clicking to place your pin, you should automatically be able to place another pin, with the designator automatically incremented - enter Pin Properties {{altium-shortcut|tab}} to set the Display Name (and Designator, if needed), and then place your next pin. Repeat until all pins are placed.

Next, resize rectangles and lines and move pins around until you're satisfied with the look of the symbol. You're done drawing the symbol! Make sure to save the .SchLib you're working on - if you're not going to immediately proceed to Creating a New Package and/or Finishing a Component, [[#Commit_Files_to_SVN|commit]] the library you were working on - this will release the lock and allow others to work on the library.  

Next, resize rectangles and lines and move pins around until you're satisfied with the look of the symbol. You're done drawing the symbol! Make sure to save the .SchLib you're working on - if you're not going to immediately proceed to Creating a New Footprint and/or Finishing a Component, [[#Commit_Files_to_SVN|commit]] the library you were working on - this will release the lock and allow others to work on the library.  

''While this is the generic approach for drawing a schematic symbol, Altium also contains [https://techdocs.altium.com/display/ADOH/Schematic+Symbol+Generation+Tool tools] for automatically drawing certain types of symbols.''

''While this is the generic approach for drawing a schematic symbol, Altium also contains [https://techdocs.altium.com/display/ADOH/Schematic+Symbol+Generation+Tool tools] for automatically drawing certain types of symbols.''

==Creating a New Package==

==Creating a New Footprint==

''The component created above may already have a footprint in a PCB library; if so, skip this step and proceed to [[#Finishing_a_Component|"Finishing a Component"]].''

 

 

 

''The component you created a symbol for above may already have a footprint in a PCB library; search for it before starting work in this section, and if it exists, skip to [[#Finishing_a_Component|"Finishing a Component"]].''

 

==Finishing a Component==

==Finishing a Component==