PCB Libraries Forum : Create Footprint Window

Create Footprint Window : Thank you very much for your...

Fri, 27 Feb 2015 06:48:34 +0000

Author: Tom H
Subject: 1453
Posted: 27 Feb 2015 at 6:48am

Thank you very much for your offer.

We should know some time soon if we can negotiate with Altium an upgrade to V14 & V15.

We'll keep this thread alive and get back to you as soon as we're ready.

Create Footprint Window : I understand this complete. The...

Fri, 27 Feb 2015 06:44:21 +0000

Author: robmeyer
Subject: 1453
Posted: 27 Feb 2015 at 6:44am

I understand this complete.

The only question on this topic was if you want to go on and pay time on this. Then I could help a little bit.

Create Footprint Window : Robert, We can do anything,...

Fri, 27 Feb 2015 06:24:32 +0000

Author: Tom H
Subject: 1453
Posted: 27 Feb 2015 at 6:24am

Robert,

We can do anything, but we are not on Altium yearly maintenance and we do not have V14 or V15 of Altium.

We're trying to negotiate a deal with Altium to get a couple of new licenses, but we only need the Library Features. We do not do PCB design work in Altium so we don't need part placement, rules, routing, Out Job, etc. So we're not going to pay $10K per seat for features we'll never use.

Create Footprint Window : I found something, but it is not...

Fri, 27 Feb 2015 05:40:50 +0000

Author: robmeyer
Subject: 1453
Posted: 27 Feb 2015 at 5:40am

I found something, but it is not really nice. You could use something like:


{procedure ReadStringFromIniFile read settings from the ini-file.....................}
function ReadStringFromIniFile(Section,Name:String,FilePath:String,IfEmpty:String):String;
var
  IniFile     : TIniFile;
begin
     result := IfEmpty;
     if FileExists(FilePath) then
     begin
          try
             IniFile := TIniFile.Create(FilePath);

             Result := IniFile.ReadString(Section,Name,IfEmpty);

          finally
                 Inifile.Free;
          end;
     end;

 end;  {ReadFromIniFile end....................................................}

Procedure MechLayer;
Var
    Board       : IPCB_Board;
    MajorADVersion : Integer;

Begin

     Board := PCBServer.GetCurrentPCBBoard;

     //Check AD version for layer stack version
      MajorADVersion := StrToInt(Copy((ReadStringFromIniFile('Preference Location','Build',SpecialFolder_AltiumSystem+'\PrefFolder.ini','14')),0,2));


     if MajorADVersion >= 14 then
     begin
             Board.LayerStack_V7.LayerObject_V7(ILayer.MechanicalLayer(17)).SetState_MechLayerEnabled := true;
             Board.LayerStack_V7.LayerObject_V7(ILayer.MechanicalLayer(17)).IsDisplayed[Board] := true;
     end;

     if MajorADVersion < 14 then
     begin
             Board.LayerStack.LayerObject_V7(ILayer.MechanicalLayer(17)).SetState_MechLayerEnabled := true;
             Board.LayerStack.LayerObject_V7(ILayer.MechanicalLayer(17)).IsDisplayed[Board] := true;
     end;

Maybe you have a good idea how to combine LayerStack and LayerStack_V7. All other things are the same. Then the next problem would be how to place Tracks on these Layers. I think it is to much affort to get this work, for a small usergroup.

If you want to continue I will do what I can.

Robert

Create Footprint Window : So basically, to do it it needs...

Thu, 26 Feb 2015 13:18:21 +0000

Author: chrisa_pcb
Subject: 1453
Posted: 26 Feb 2015 at 1:18pm

So basically, to do it it needs to use functionality only found in the latest version of the tool? Not a big fan of that, particularly given I have nothing to test it with.

Create Footprint Window : In AD13 the V7 API is not implemented....

Thu, 26 Feb 2015 12:39:39 +0000

Author: robmeyer
Subject: 1453
Posted: 26 Feb 2015 at 12:39pm

In AD13 the V7 API is not implemented. It is available since AD14. Could be that it also work with Stack := Board.LayerStack;

Create Footprint Window : Stack := Board.LayerStack_V7;Iget...

Thu, 26 Feb 2015 12:21:01 +0000

Author: chrisa_pcb
Subject: 1453
Posted: 26 Feb 2015 at 12:21pm

Stack := Board.LayerStack_V7;

I get an undeclared identifier for LayerStack_V7 when I go to run. It simply doesn't recognize it as a property of board. Which version of Altium are you using? I'm currently using v13.3. Is this functionality that was added in a more current version of Altium?

Create Footprint Window : robmeyer wrote:This LayerObject...

Thu, 26 Feb 2015 10:46:37 +0000

Author: chrisa_pcb
Subject: 1453
Posted: 26 Feb 2015 at 10:46am

robmeyer wrote:

This LayerObject things are taken from the attached script. This script is used to manipulate the Designator on the Layer you want.
uploads/870/AdjustDesignators2.zip

With this code inserted in your produced script, I could enable and show MechLayer17:

   Stack      : IPCB_LayerStack_V7;
   Board       : IPCB_Board;

Begin
    NewPCBLibComp := PCBServer.CreatePCBLibComp;
    NewPcbLibComp.Name := 'RESCAXS50P200X100X55-8L';
    NewPCBLibComp.Description := 'Chip Array, 2 Side Convex, 0.50 mm pitch;8 pin,2.00 mm L X 1.00 mm W X 0.55 mm H body';
    NewPCBLibComp.Height := MMsToCoord(0.55);
     Board := PCBServer.GetCurrentPCBBoard;
     Stack := Board.LayerStack_V7;

    Stack.LayerObject_V7(ILayer.MechanicalLayer(17)).SetState_MechLayerEnabled := true;
    Stack.LayerObject_V7(ILayer.MechanicalLayer(17)).IsDisplayed[Board] := true;
    Board.ViewManager_FullUpdate;
    Board.ViewManager_UpdateLayerTabs;

Now is "only" the question how to draw on this layer.

Did you have Altium installed to get these things tested?

I do have Altium installed, yes. Thanks for expanding on this.. I'll test your stuff and see about implementing it.

Create Footprint Window : This LayerObject things are taken...

Thu, 26 Feb 2015 02:24:08 +0000

Author: robmeyer
Subject: 1453
Posted: 26 Feb 2015 at 2:24am

This LayerObject things are taken from the attached script. This script is used to manipulate the Designator on the Layer you want.
uploads/870/AdjustDesignators2.zip

With this code inserted in your produced script, I could enable and show MechLayer17:

   Stack      : IPCB_LayerStack_V7;
   Board       : IPCB_Board;

Begin
    NewPCBLibComp := PCBServer.CreatePCBLibComp;
    NewPcbLibComp.Name := 'RESCAXS50P200X100X55-8L';
    NewPCBLibComp.Description := 'Chip Array, 2 Side Convex, 0.50 mm pitch;8 pin,2.00 mm L X 1.00 mm W X 0.55 mm H body';
    NewPCBLibComp.Height := MMsToCoord(0.55);
     Board := PCBServer.GetCurrentPCBBoard;
     Stack := Board.LayerStack_V7;

    Stack.LayerObject_V7(ILayer.MechanicalLayer(17)).SetState_MechLayerEnabled := true;
    Stack.LayerObject_V7(ILayer.MechanicalLayer(17)).IsDisplayed[Board] := true;
    Board.ViewManager_FullUpdate;
    Board.ViewManager_UpdateLayerTabs;

Now is "only" the question how to draw on this layer.

Did you have Altium installed to get these things tested?

Create Footprint Window : robmeyer wrote:If you use in...

Wed, 25 Feb 2015 12:53:37 +0000

Author: chrisa_pcb
Subject: 1453
Posted: 25 Feb 2015 at 12:53pm

robmeyer wrote:

If you use in your scripts this: Board.LayerStack_V7.LayerObject_V7[ILayer.MechanicalLayer(i)]
You can work with all Layers from 1 to 32 in AD14 and later.

Does that return a TLayer object which is then provided to the .Layer of the element being built? I assume the proper terminology from our script would be:

CurrentLib.Board.LayerStack_V7.LayerObject_V7[ILayer.MechanicalLayer(i)]

as a .Board only exists within CurrentLib.

Edit: I tried manual editing to set a track layer per your setup and it doesn't recognize a LayerStack_V7 property.