PCB Libraries Forum : Miscellaneous Questions and Suggestions https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/ Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:05:50 +0000 Sat, 04 Oct 2014 12:39:22 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.07 360 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=1262 <![CDATA[PCB Libraries Forum]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/forum_images/PCBLForumLogo.gif https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/ <![CDATA[Miscellaneous Questions and Suggestions : Question: I cannot edit the path...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/miscellaneous-questions-and-suggestions_topic1262_post5790.html#5790 Author: Tom H
Subject: 1262
Posted: 04 Oct 2014 at 12:39pm

Question: I cannot edit the path to the Library Directory or the default library without browsing to it?

Open User Preferences > Files (tab) > Browse to Default FPX file > Browse to Folder

Select "Done" and every time you open "Library Editor" your FPX will open by default.

]]> Sat, 04 Oct 2014 12:39:22 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/miscellaneous-questions-and-suggestions_topic1262_post5790.html#5790 <![CDATA[Miscellaneous Questions and Suggestions : Question #10 answer was really...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/miscellaneous-questions-and-suggestions_topic1262_post5787.html#5787 Author: mike_aes
Subject: 1262
Posted: 03 Oct 2014 at 11:15am


Question #10 answer was really helpful.  Look right at those buttons all the time, their functionality to a new user is not obvious/intuitive.  They do work and helps a whole lot.  A simple bit of text below/above those buttons would make all the difference  "save/restore this forms settings here".

I see that a brief description of these buttons are in the help file under Output 3D STEP Models.  The "Save Entries as Preferences" and "Restore Entries to Defaults" ought to have its own book mark in the help file, perhaps under the "How To..."   and bookmark labelled "Create Footprint Defaults".

Also, I notice that this information flows to the "FPXFormatPreferences.XML".   I am not sure why that is?  It would seem to make more sense into User Preferences file.   My reason for this is I am trying to setup a complete "library workspace" that I can push/pull to/from subversion.    This entire folder will embody all of my CAD tools schematic and PCB symbols, component data sheets, all files related to Library Expert that are used to create said PCB symbols.  If I move to a new/different machine, which happens often,  then all my data and configuration will flow together as a complete self-contained workspace for said libraries related to SCH/PCB library and management.


]]> Fri, 03 Oct 2014 11:15:45 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/miscellaneous-questions-and-suggestions_topic1262_post5787.html#5787 <![CDATA[Miscellaneous Questions and Suggestions : Can&#039;t delete multiple rows...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/miscellaneous-questions-and-suggestions_topic1262_post4980.html#4980 Author: SteveD
Subject: 1262
Posted: 24 Feb 2014 at 3:53pm

  1. Can't delete multiple rows with right click when many are selected.  Have to use edit  > delete. ANSWERED
  2. 'Import' icon text should be called "Add to Library" instead.  The term import is very ambiguous.  Depends on which side of the horizontal line you are on.  ANSWERED
  3. Browse for folder always places the window such that I cannot reach the new folder or the ok button without moving it up.  Is that me, my display or a software bug?  ANSWERED
  4. When I go to create the footprint, there are two prompts for library name, and one for part type name that I cannot fill in.  What is the difference between create, restore etc?  Needs hovering help on all items on the Create Footprint page.  I have not found the help on that yet.          ~ANSWERED (What about the two library name prompts?  What's what here?)
  5. PCB Libs often hangs when I do a create, or a create and close.  I have to shut it down with the task manager.  No idea why.  ANSWERED
  6. Needs an automatic release of the licenses on exit for use with shared licenses on a network license server.  ~ANSWERED (would help to revert to librarian only)
  7. I cannot edit the path to the Library Directory or the default library without browsing to it.  ~NOT ANSWERED (still cannot type a path)
  8. There is no library close without saving on the menu.  It seems to be implicit in other operations.  Better to be explicit.  ANSWERED
  9. It does not show me what library is open when I have the library view alone with no parts creation going on.  I need to see that before I save or do any line item deletes.  ANSWERED
  10. I have to keep changing the Output Directory name in Create Footprint.  Where is the default setting for that if I do not want it to go to the PADS library directory?  I just want to see if the files are being created right without opening.  ANSWERED
  11. How do I unselect a library row once I select it.  ANSWERED
  12. Is the difference between l, p, d vs ln/ld, pt, pd just a name change across PADS generations?  I see both in my Mentor directory.  ANSWERED
Three left to go.  Thanks for the excellent support
]]> Mon, 24 Feb 2014 15:53:06 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/miscellaneous-questions-and-suggestions_topic1262_post4980.html#4980 <![CDATA[Miscellaneous Questions and Suggestions : 7. This is a minor inconvenience....]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/miscellaneous-questions-and-suggestions_topic1262_post4979.html#4979 Author: SteveD
Subject: 1262
Posted: 24 Feb 2014 at 3:39pm

7.  This is a minor inconvenience.  But I still do not understand how to do this.  Right now if I open user preferences > Setup Options: Files > I cannot edit the path/file except by browsing to a directory or fpx file(neither of which may exist yet).

Are you saying that if I somehow create a dummy MyPreferences.dat then I will be able to type in a path to my fpx file or my Library Directory without having to browse to it?  What difference should that make?  Windows does not usually work that way.
]]> Mon, 24 Feb 2014 15:39:23 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/miscellaneous-questions-and-suggestions_topic1262_post4979.html#4979 <![CDATA[Miscellaneous Questions and Suggestions : 1. This does seem to work ok after...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/miscellaneous-questions-and-suggestions_topic1262_post4977.html#4977 Author: SteveD
Subject: 1262
Posted: 24 Feb 2014 at 3:20pm

1. This does seem to work ok after all.  I must have been deceived by the long delay when deleting many many parts in a troubleshooting test.  This may also explain the 'hangs' I was experiencing.  If so, it would be helpful to tell people when something will take a while.]]> Mon, 24 Feb 2014 15:20:16 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/miscellaneous-questions-and-suggestions_topic1262_post4977.html#4977 <![CDATA[Miscellaneous Questions and Suggestions : Tom,I am at home and cannot access...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/miscellaneous-questions-and-suggestions_topic1262_post4974.html#4974 Author: SteveD
Subject: 1262
Posted: 22 Feb 2014 at 10:53pm

Tom,

I am at home and cannot access the license from here to document the problem I saw further.  You are right.  It would not be a normal operation to perform.  As I recall I tried it after running into trouble with RMB based copy and paste.  I tried to cut from one set of rows and paste to another to change the display order in one trial (getting the items I wanted to move in a group), and another time I tried to RMB copy and paste to another file.  These did not work as I recall.  Later I found that it did work with edit cut or edit copy and edit paste to another file as you say.  So I then started experimenting and ran into the problem deleting a lot of rows.  Let me look at it further next week and report more accurately the specific circumstances.  Maybe I did not wait long enough for the delete to complete.  Maybe the times it seemed to hang, noted in another item, were when it was catching up with my delete request.  I do remember that when I selected a bunch of rows and clicked delete only one row seemed deleted, if any.  I need to test and see if RMB delete, Edit delete, and the delete key all work the same for highlighted items.  
]]> Sat, 22 Feb 2014 22:53:15 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/miscellaneous-questions-and-suggestions_topic1262_post4974.html#4974 <![CDATA[Miscellaneous Questions and Suggestions : In the past 10 years since we&#039;ve...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/miscellaneous-questions-and-suggestions_topic1262_post4973.html#4973 Author: Tom H
Subject: 1262
Posted: 22 Feb 2014 at 6:12pm

In the past 10 years since we've been creating IPC Footprint Calculators and Library Management documentation tools, I've never heard of anyone deleting thousands or even hundreds of Rows from an FPX file.

Normally, you would select the parts you want to keep and RMB select Copy and open a new Library and RMB Paste / File Save As / New Name . FPX

I opened the Texas Instruments FPX file with 75,702 parts and I selected all the Rows and RMB delete and it took 8 minutes. I tried the same thing with SM.fpx with 3,000 parts and it took 10 seconds.

]]> Sat, 22 Feb 2014 18:12:09 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/miscellaneous-questions-and-suggestions_topic1262_post4973.html#4973 <![CDATA[Miscellaneous Questions and Suggestions : Tom,1. Thanks but try that after...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/miscellaneous-questions-and-suggestions_topic1262_post4972.html#4972 Author: SteveD
Subject: 1262
Posted: 22 Feb 2014 at 5:20pm

Tom,

1. Thanks but try that after selecting a thousand items to delete.  It will not work with right click and delete.  Also in Excel or in the File Explorer the custom is to CTL-click a line to select and unselect it.

12.  That makes sense.  Thank you.

7.  Yes but I cannot directly type in the path.  That is unwindows-like.

2.  Thank you!

3.  Will get back on this one....

10.  I think I got in a situation where that was not displayed.  Will check again....

11. OK!

Thanks for the prompt attention to these.
Steve
]]> Sat, 22 Feb 2014 17:20:09 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/miscellaneous-questions-and-suggestions_topic1262_post4972.html#4972 <![CDATA[Miscellaneous Questions and Suggestions : 9. There is no library close...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/miscellaneous-questions-and-suggestions_topic1262_post4971.html#4971 Author: Tom H
Subject: 1262
Posted: 22 Feb 2014 at 12:12pm

9. There isno library close without saving on the menu.  It seems to be implicit inother operations.  Better to be explicit.


OK, we added a new "Close Library" option in the toolbar. It will be in the V2013.20 release tomorrow.


]]> Sat, 22 Feb 2014 12:12:41 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/miscellaneous-questions-and-suggestions_topic1262_post4971.html#4971 <![CDATA[Miscellaneous Questions and Suggestions : 6. PCB Library Expert often...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/miscellaneous-questions-and-suggestions_topic1262_post4970.html#4970 Author: Tom H
Subject: 1262
Posted: 22 Feb 2014 at 12:10pm

6. PCB Library Expertoften hangs when I do a Create, or a Create and Close.  I have to shut itdown with the task manager.  No idea why.

We never have experienced this. It could be a malfunction of your license or installation.  

There is a Progress Bar at the bottom and it only takes two seconds to work. If it doesn't, there is something wrong. I recommend a webcast with the support team so they can help you with this issue live.

]]> Sat, 22 Feb 2014 12:10:12 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/miscellaneous-questions-and-suggestions_topic1262_post4970.html#4970