Database Library in Altium Designer

[@Jindraxx20]

Thank you for the video. Even an old version of AD it helped me to understand how the DB library works.

[@FPGADevelopers]

Hello all, we've received a few questions from KZbin users in regards to database library tutorial video, and we wanted to share with you! Our apologies in advance for our lack of response. We are 2 ex-Altium engineers who still use the tool in our day to day engineering jobs. We try to pull together a video ever so often as time permits. 1) How big is the team using your DBLIB? Most of the work we do is contracting which involves the setup of a component library. One of the larger setups involved 15 engineers. The database was on the network and was shared between 2 groups. The database was MS Access. We could not use the existing PLM due to its age (20 years old) 2) Have you tried to port the mdb file to a real database server running PostgreSQL or MySQL? I have not done it; however, most of these tools have the ability to do so given that this is a saturated market. I recommend that you look into it if you believe that it provides a benefit. Keep in mind that these larger systems are made for purchasing departments. 3) Where do you keep the PCBLib and SchLib files? Alternatively, where would you keep them if the library would be hosted on a database server.? This is a good question since there was much discussion about it when we were developing the centralized library. There are 2 libraries kept on the network. The first is a "Master copy" which is in a restricted directory that requires permission from IT to be able to work in this particular directory. In fact, it is hidden to all other employees. Those who create components add to the database and the graphics to the .schlib and .pcblib. In addition, all of this is kept under SVN version control. A copy of the database, .schlib, and .pcblib are placed in another directory that can be accessed by all other engineers. These are updated daily, usually at night. We manually did the update; however, someone savvy with a scrip could automate this process. Not to go too far on a tangent; however, this does have its limitations. Namely, the librarian has to inform or broadcast an e-mail to all engineers as to which components had been updated. Keep in mind that once you put a component on your design, it will remain that way unless you specifically tell Altium to update from the library. This issue is one of the reasons why Altium created the Vault concept. 4) How did you solve the "problem" of common elements like resistors and capacitors? Do you have just one entry in the database for - for example - a 1206 resistor and a 0805 resistor and then you change the required resistance value on the schematic or do you have a separate entry for each size/value/voltage/wattage? If you have separate entries does the schematic design speed decrease noticeably due to the fact that designers have to click through the library for a different resistor value? Every component has its own record. It may point to the same graphic (ie symbol or footprint), but the "intelligent data" like the mfg. part number or Manufacturer's name is specific to that component. For example, if you have 1000 resistors, you can use the same graphic for the symbol; however, there needs to be 1000 records. As for searching, Altium allows the user to "cascade the search" in the libraries panel. If you have columns of data like Tolerance, Power, Temperature and Value, the user can narrow the search base on those parameters. This is a powerful way of finding things quickly in the Libraries panel and it only works for the database. HOWEVER, it also assumes that you have robust database that contains this data. Look at the CIS database example that Altium provides in the example folder (or check live.altium.com). 5) How did you solve the issue of the whole design team wanting to add their elements to the library? After all the library admin has to be notified in some way that an inspection of newly added elements is needed. First, that was one of the reasons for restricting the area were the library was being maintained and built. Second, when we wrote our procedures, we agreed that there has to be an individual who is dedicated as the librarian. If everyone contributes, you will have a disaster for a library. Too many different graphics, too many different parameters and even if everyone uses the correct parameter name, the format will be different! Again, not to push a product on you, but this is another reason why Altium created the vault. This allows some tracking as to who done what. 6) Do you by any chance know if there is a way to put a resistor on the schematic with its' value set to - for example - 10k, change it (on schematic not by selecting a new one from the database) to 22k and execute some procedure in altium to search the database library for a record with the value 22k so that the rest of the parameters in the originally 10k resistor get updated to the ones being proper for the 22k one? I suppose you can through the supplier search panel; however, this gets ugly. You are introducing a component that does not exist in the library and this has repercussions when the component is handed off to the purchasing group. The larger the company, the more scrutiny each new part is going to undergo. All parts need to start in the library. we hope this was helpful

[@user-xl4et2qx2q]

Hey, just a tip for yawls: If you don't have Access, you can import XLS files, which are easily created with OpenOffice or what have you. Because after you've paid for Altium (~10K about, as of now), you won't have any money left for the Office Suite. I just pulled a CSV from Digikey with all the 0603 1% Panasonic ERJ resistors in it, converted to XLS, created a schlib for a resistor part, Added Library Path and Library Ref to the spreadsheet, connected to the spreadsheet from the DbLib configuration, and added it to my active part libraries. No more adding parts by hand!

[@famillePuces]

On AD14, you can use Excel database and AD both open at the same time without any problem, you just need to open your Excel spreadsheet before starting AD14. You can even live update your excel spreadsheet and it gets propagated to AD14 after you click on Refresh Libraries. The drawback I have found using Excel is that it might be slower than Access DB.

[@dhaval2109]

Hello, thanks for providing the information related to the DBLibrary. I have one question though, in our Altium environment we have one librarian and we want only that individual to have full access for the MS Access DB file. Somehow I am not able to achieve this. As soon as I chance access to read for other users Altium throws them an error that users with read can no more read the DB Library file. I would really appreciate if you can provide your input on this.

[@NetlistPCB]

Thanks for the tutorial, even though the camera focus popped.

[@Singlefonts1]

Is it also possible to add link to different 3D step-file models?

[@ThePaulus2010]

Good Video! we use it in pretty mucht the same way. but we get the following problem. when we create a new part in de ms database and save it. we can see it in latium when we go in the component placement but it will not place it since it seems not to know the parameters. this is fixed by closing altium and just restarting. but that takes a lot of time.. is there any way for altium not to lets call it "pre load" the database?

[@mustafaglnr8780]

how can ı download the Miscellaneous Device librarry for my Altium?

[@dhrumilen]

Thank you so much for sharing this knowledge.

[@AhmedHan]

How do I do the same thing with Excel? Altium just can't connect to my hand made Excel database file, and I can't find an example Excel file anywhere.

[@edewit79]

Hi Ahmed, it sure is possible and it works good. I use it as my main library. Because I also had difficulties trying to create it, I searched the net and made a short manual myself. If you want, i can email it to you

[@yunusekmen5205]

Hey Erik first of all thank you for sharing. Can u send me to email.

[@edewit79]

Sure, whats your email address?

[@yunusekmen5205]

Hey Erik, its my email : [e-mail]

[@GorkaGuerra]

Hi Erik, I also have the same problem, could you also send me your manual if possible? My email is [e-mail]. Thanks!

[@carlosrivero9943]

Great Video! Thank you for sharing.

[@NguyenTam-up9xh]

on MY AD16 file , I cant found CIS file... so how I do ?

[@gregfeneis609]

The host explains, starting at 2:10, how to get the examples folder from Altium's wiki. wiki.altium.com/display/PUB/Altium+Wiki At 3:00, he says you simply need the all references, but he means to say examples. Get the all examples in a single file.

[@ayadsobhan2615]

please how to add library to program in altuim 19 and how to download library

[@konstantinreichert6975]

Fantastic Tutorial. Thank you.

[@magyarandrastamas2485]

Thank you very much. I appreciate for this video because it helped me a lot. Thanks.

[@zionblue3990]

hi guys, any of you interested to share your Altium Designer integrated libraries?

[@M3.F]

how to find amplifier altium??

[@chaochang1305]

The earlier,the better,the later,the bitter...

[@koncertLive]

WAY TO FN COMPLICATED, Altium has some balls to charge that much for it's software and the Atmel chips are not even standard in the libraries. They will not be getting my money.. EVER

[@MrRenemcardenas]

KoncertLive, you must be joking, Im jus a user, and as compared to others is very resonably priced for what it does as compared to others. Have you tried every to build your own symbols, it way too easy with Altium, so you cry sounds like a spoiled designer that has not taken the time to do real work....

[@FPGADevelopers]

Hello all, we've’ve received few questions from KZbin users in regards to database library tutorial video, and we wanted to share with you! Our apologies in advance for our lack of response. We are 2 ex-Altium engineers who still use the tool in our day to day engineering jobs. We try to pull together a video ever so often as time permits. 1) How big is the team using your DBLIB? Most of the work we do is contracting which involves the setup of a component library. One of the larger setups involved 15 engineers. The database was on the network and was shared between 2 groups. The database was MS Access. We could not use the existing PLM due to its age (20 years old) 2) Have you tried to port the mdb file to a real database server running PostgreSQL or MySQL? I have not done it; however, most of these tools have the ability to do so given that this is a saturated market. I recommend that you look into it if you believe that it provides a benefit. Keep in mind that these larger systems are made for purchasing departments. 3) Where do you keep the PCBLib and SchLib files? Alternatively, where would you keep them if the library would be hosted on a database server.? This is a good question since there was much discussion about it when we were developing the centralized library. There are 2 libraries kept on the network. The first is a "Master copy" which is in a restricted directory that requires permission from IT to be able to work in this particular directory. In fact, it is hidden to all other employees. Those who create components add to the database and the graphics to the .schlib and .pcblib. In addition, all of this is kept under SVN version control. A copy of the database, .schlib, and .pcblib are placed in another directory that can be accessed by all other engineers. These are updated daily, usually at night. We manually did the update; however, someone savvy with a scrip could automate this process. Not to go too far on a tangent; however, this does have its limitations. Namely, the librarian has to inform or broadcast an e-mail to all engineers as to which components had been updated. Keep in mind that once you put a component on your design, it will remain that way unless you specifically tell Altium to update from the library. This issue is one of the reasons why Altium created the Vault concept. 4) How did you solve the "problem" of common elements like resistors and capacitors? Do you have just one entry in the database for - for example - a 1206 resistor and a 0805 resistor and then you change the required resistance value on the schematic or do you have a separate entry for each size/value/voltage/wattage? If you have separate entries does the schematic design speed decrease noticeably due to the fact that designers have to click through the library for a different resistor value? Every component has its own record. It may point to the same graphic (ie symbol or footprint), but the "intelligent data" like the mfg. part number or Manufacturer's name is specific to that component. For example, if you have 1000 resistors, you can use the same graphic for the symbol; however, there needs to be 1000 records. As for searching, Altium allows the user to "cascade the search" in the libraries panel. If you have columns of data like Tolerance, Power, Temperature and Value, the user can narrow the search base on those parameters. This is a powerful way of finding things quickly in the Libraries panel and it only works for the database. HOWEVER, it also assumes that you have robust database that contains this data. Look at the CIS database example that Altium provides in the example folder (or check live.altium.com). 5) How did you solve the issue of the whole design team wanting to add their elements to the library? After all the library admin has to be notified in some way that an inspection of newly added elements is needed. First, that was one of the reasons for restricting the area were the library was being maintained and built. Second, when we wrote our procedures, we agreed that there has to be an individual who is dedicated as the librarian. If everyone contributes, you will have a disaster for a library. Too many different graphics, too many different parameters and even if everyone uses the correct parameter name, the format will be different! Again, not to push a product on you, but this is another reason why Altium created the vault. This allows some tracking as to who done what. 6) Do you by any chance know if there is a way to put a resistor on the schematic with its' value set to - for example - 10k, change it (on schematic not by selecting a new one from the database) to 22k and execute some procedure in altium to search the database library for a record with the value 22k so that the rest of the parameters in the originally 10k resistor get updated to the ones being proper for the 22k one? I suppose you can through the supplier search panel; however, this gets ugly. You are introducing a component that does not exist in the library and this has repercussions when the component is handed off to the purchasing group. The larger the company, the more scrutiny each new part is going to undergo. All parts need to start in the library.