Footprint Expert Guideline Additional Page Request
Printed From: PCB Libraries Forum
Category: General
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Description: general topics not related to other forums
URL: https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3705
Printed Date: 17 Sep 2026 at 3:43pm
Topic: Footprint Expert Guideline Additional Page Request
Posted By: Alex Quilty
Subject: Footprint Expert Guideline Additional Page Request
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2026 at 8:29am
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In your Library Expert Footprint Naming Convention Guidelines for IPC-7351 you had an Appendix for Library Expert Manufacturer Names, and I was wondering if you could maybe add that to the Footprint Expert Guideline possibly? This helped guide me in naming new manufacturer parts. I see in the guideline in section 18 a mention on FPX File Definitions mentioning a feature for auto populating the Manufacturer Names, but I'm unsure if this comes with the free version or how to make use of that information. It would be even awesomer if I could just input the manufacturer for any particular part and for it to auto populate a shortened name for the manufacturer. Does this exist somewhere already or could this possibly be added to the Guideline? |
Replies:
Posted By: Nick B
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2026 at 8:51am
Hi, Alex. Thanks for your feedback on this.  Interesting idea, we'll consider how we can get it set up for easy update. The Manufacturer List gets updated periodically. We added at least one if not two manufacturers in the past month; this will also require more frequent Guideline updates, so we'll need to have it set up to easily update not just the PDF Guideline but also the Manufacturer List section in the online edition here in the forum. Hmmm ------------- Stay connected - follow us! https://twitter.com/PCBLibraries" rel="nofollow - X - http://www.linkedin.com/company/pcb-libraries-inc-/" rel="nofollow - LinkedIn |
Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2026 at 8:56am
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Footprint Expert uses a text file on your computer called ManufacturerList.txt. It resides in the installation folder. The IPC Calculators generate footprints with a single pad stack with exceptions for parts with Thermal Pads have 2 pad stacks. The Manufacturer List is primarily used for non-standard packages that have multiple pad stacks. Every non-standard package must use the mfr. recommended pattern because there are no IPC rules to autogenerate pad stacks. In FP Designer 'Specifications' panel, you can type the first 3 letters of any mfr. and the names will appear. Then the abbreviated name is auto-populated into the Footprint Name along with the Case Code or Part Number that you enter. We're considering adding the ManufacturerList.txt to the Guideline in a Table format.  What do you think? ------------- Stay connected - follow us! https://twitter.com/PCBLibraries" rel="nofollow - X - http://www.linkedin.com/company/pcb-libraries-inc-/" rel="nofollow - LinkedIn |
Posted By: Alex Quilty
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2026 at 9:40am
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Would you be able to help figure out why that is greyed out for me? Here I have the DEMO part put in, but I can't edit much. This is a little outdated, it is FP Expert 26.05... Actually, after reviewing it looks like FP Designer is not part of the Free Calculator download. That would explain that. |
Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 17 Sep 2026 at 9:44am
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You need to upgrade to Footprint Expert V26.09 before we can help you. We can't fix issues that are in older versions as they might already be fixed. ------------- Stay connected - follow us! https://twitter.com/PCBLibraries" rel="nofollow - X - http://www.linkedin.com/company/pcb-libraries-inc-/" rel="nofollow - LinkedIn |