PCB Libraries Forum : Altium https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/ Fri, 03 Apr 2026 12:21:12 +0000 Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:14:33 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.07 30 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/RSS_topic_feed.asp?FID=11 <![CDATA[PCB Libraries Forum]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/forum_images/PCBLForumLogo.gif https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/ <![CDATA[Altium : Issue Creating New Footprint in Altium Workspace]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/issue-creating-new-footprint-in-altium-workspace_topic3628_post14486.html#14486 Author: cioma
Subject: Issue Creating New Footprint in Altium Workspace
Posted: 17 Mar 2026 at 12:14pm

We have the same problem, I'd say this is an issue with Altium Designer, please raise a bug on their system an repost here.

Our workaround is importing PCBL footprint (running a script) into a local PCBLib library, making a copy of "template" footprint in A365 workspace and then manually selecting and copying all the footprint data from local PCBLib to A365 workspace footprint and then committing it. Don't forget to copy footprint name, description and height as well.
]]> Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:14:33 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/issue-creating-new-footprint-in-altium-workspace_topic3628_post14486.html#14486 <![CDATA[Altium : Issue Creating New Footprint in Altium Workspace]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/issue-creating-new-footprint-in-altium-workspace_topic3628_post14485.html#14485 Author: laurence.donkers
Subject: Issue Creating New Footprint in Altium Workspace
Posted: 17 Mar 2026 at 4:45am

Hi everyone, 

I'm having an issue when using the Footprint Expert import scripts on a newly created footprint in my company's Altium365 Workspace.

My current workflow is this:
  1. In the Altium Explorer panel, I navigate to our Footprint models folder and click
    "(+) Add Footprint..."
  2. This creates a new item ID (PCC-###) and opens up a new Footprint libary file based on our workspace's footprint template
  3. I run the script generated by FPE by using File > Run Script... > From File etc.
  4. The footprint is generated properly within the new Footprint library file, but when I open the PCB Library panel, the script-generated footprint is added as a separate footprint within the file.
  5. If I try to "Save to server", I get a warning that two footprints are included in the file (since Altium workspace is set up to operate with max. one footprint per file)
  6. Since this is a workspace footprint library file, Altium actually grays out the "Add" and "Delete" buttons in the PCB Library panel, so it can't be manually deleted.
  7. If I choose to release as a single footprint, it actually deletes the script-generated footprint and keeps the template!
  8. I can work around this by then opening the newly released footprint library file and repeating the generation from script and then I can save it. However this is really not ideal, since the process has to be repeated.

Could the generated scripts be modified so that if it detects a workspace footprint file it replaces the currently open footprint, rather than creating a new one within the same file? 
]]> Tue, 17 Mar 2026 04:45:44 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/issue-creating-new-footprint-in-altium-workspace_topic3628_post14485.html#14485 <![CDATA[Altium : Circular Connector Origin]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/circular-connector-origin_topic3580_post14341.html#14341 Author: dramos
Subject: Circular Connector Origin
Posted: 24 Nov 2025 at 1:55pm

Hi AGONZ67,
We are using in the next way, the center of the component is the copper center.
In the courtyard mechanical layer we place another center mark that is the center of the rectangle of the courtyard.
Waiting your comments, this is an interesting discussion.
Regards
david
PS: the attached pic are related to 2137160001 Molex connector
uploads/15739/con1.png
uploads/15739/con2.png
]]> Mon, 24 Nov 2025 13:55:43 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/circular-connector-origin_topic3580_post14341.html#14341 <![CDATA[Altium : Circular Connector Origin]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/circular-connector-origin_topic3580_post14340.html#14340 Author: Tom H
Subject: Circular Connector Origin
Posted: 24 Nov 2025 at 9:42am

I've never heard of IPC providing any guidance on land pattern origin or drafting outlines for silkscreen (IPC says no silkscreen is preferred), assembly, component, terminal, origin target. 

IPC left this up to the PCB designer preference. 

However, most assembly pick & place machines use the center of gravity for the origin. 

If a PCB designer places the origin for the 14-pin DIP footprint, then the assembly shop must take the time to calculate the center for their pick and place line. This is very time consuming.

You should discuss footprint origins with your assembly shop. You provide the X,Y coordinate list for all the footprints in your PCB layout. What does assembly prefer?

]]> Mon, 24 Nov 2025 09:42:56 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/circular-connector-origin_topic3580_post14340.html#14340 <![CDATA[Altium : Circular Connector Origin]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/circular-connector-origin_topic3580_post14339.html#14339 Author: AGONZ67
Subject: Circular Connector Origin
Posted: 24 Nov 2025 at 8:36am

Does IPC specifically state a location? 

I don't have the spec handy, but a search produces the following results. "According to the According to the IPC-7351 standard, theorigin for a circular connector's land pattern should be at the centroid(center) of the part's body." 

We are about to have this discussion and would like to know if there are established IPC specs stating something to the effect of, "origin of through hole circular connectors shall be 'pin one', or 'centroid' ?

]]> Mon, 24 Nov 2025 08:36:39 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/circular-connector-origin_topic3580_post14339.html#14339 <![CDATA[Altium : Circular Connector Origin]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/circular-connector-origin_topic3580_post14338.html#14338 Author: Tom H
Subject: Circular Connector Origin
Posted: 24 Nov 2025 at 8:23am

Normally, the footprint origin is the Center of Gravity. 

However, some designers put the origin on Pin 1. We did this in the 1980s and 90s to keep all the pad locations on a 0.10" grid to make routing traces easier. 

But then the metric system came along and gridless routing. 

]]> Mon, 24 Nov 2025 08:23:07 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/circular-connector-origin_topic3580_post14338.html#14338 <![CDATA[Altium : Circular Connector Origin]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/circular-connector-origin_topic3580_post14337.html#14337 Author: AGONZ67
Subject: Circular Connector Origin
Posted: 24 Nov 2025 at 8:09am

What is the standard for circular connector origins? 

Is there an IPC spec that specifically states pin one or centroid of body?

]]> Mon, 24 Nov 2025 08:09:18 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/circular-connector-origin_topic3580_post14337.html#14337 <![CDATA[Altium : Create Component Layers with Layer Type]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/create-component-layers-with-layer-type_topic3575_post14314.html#14314 Author: mwachs
Subject: Create Component Layers with Layer Type
Posted: 13 Nov 2025 at 1:09am

Hi,

at the moment i am modifying the *.pas file from the export to add the component layer:

LayerPairs.AddPair(ILayer.MechanicalLayer(17),ILayer.MechanicalLayer(18));
LayerPairs.AddPair(ILayer.MechanicalLayer(19),ILayer.MechanicalLayer(20));
LayerPairs.AddPair(ILayer.MechanicalLayer(21),ILayer.MechanicalLayer(22));
LayerPairs.AddPair(eMechanical11,eMechanical12);
LayerPairs.AddPair(eMechanical13,eMechanical14);
LayerPairs.AddPair(eMechanical15,eMechanical16);

In Altium it looks like this:


And in the edit:


How can i modify my code so it will just do the correct assignment:


Thanks,

Marian

]]> Thu, 13 Nov 2025 01:09:22 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/create-component-layers-with-layer-type_topic3575_post14314.html#14314 <![CDATA[Altium : Reference designator, getting .Designator2]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/reference-designator-getting-designator2_topic3470_post13792.html#13792 Author: JCurtis
Subject: Reference designator, getting .Designator2
Posted: 15 Feb 2025 at 8:02am

Just to close this off. The issue has been identified and swiftly fixed by the PCBLibraries team. If you see this problem, simply re-download V25.03.]]> Sat, 15 Feb 2025 08:02:55 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/reference-designator-getting-designator2_topic3470_post13792.html#13792 <![CDATA[Altium : Reference designator, getting .Designator2]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/reference-designator-getting-designator2_topic3470_post13790.html#13790 Author: JCurtis
Subject: Reference designator, getting .Designator2
Posted: 14 Feb 2025 at 8:14am

OK, that makes sense. It's just the naming I use for the Database library file paths.

The .Designator2 needs fixing though. Easy enough to manually edit the created footprint to remove the 2 at the end.
]]> Fri, 14 Feb 2025 08:14:48 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/reference-designator-getting-designator2_topic3470_post13790.html#13790