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  • Import Guide

  • Allegro V16 & Prior
  • Allegro V17
  • Altium
  • DXDesigner
  • Eagle
  • CircuitStudio
  • KiCad
  • OrCAD Capture
  • OrCAD Layout V16 & Prior
  • OrCAD Layout V17
  • PADS

SnapMagic Search Import Guide

Altium

Import Steps

Before import, make sure the P-CAD importer is installed. To do so, follow these instructions here.

Follow these steps to import symbols & footprints into Altium Designer:

  1. Open Altium
  2. Drag the .lia file into Altium. This will invoke the P-CAD Import Wizard.
  3. Click Next until you reach the Current Layer Mapping window.
  4. If present, map the layers as follows:

    • For Layer '10', choose: Mechanical Layer 1
    • For Layer '20', choose: Mechanical Layer 13
    • For Layer '21', choose: Mechanical Layer 15
  5. Follow the remaining prompts to complete the import

FAQ for Altium Import

The footprint I'm using has board cutouts. Why? What layer are they on?

If a footprint has non-circular plated through-holes (ex: slots), we export them as board cutouts. If you follow the instructions above, these cutouts will appear on Mechanical Layer 1. When manufacturing your design, please ensure that you send gerber files for Mechanical Layer 1 to your PCB manufacturer.

Why do slotted holes appear round on the PCB footprint I downloaded?

All SnapMagic Search parts have slots represented on the cutout layer (Mechanical Layer 1 as per the instructions above). This cutout will override the round hole shown on the footprint, thereby generating the desired results.

You can manually modify the slotted holes size and shape to be defined as slots by following these steps:

    1. Double-click on the pad to show the Properties
    2. Under Hole information, change Round to Slot
    3. Adjust the length appropriately

Why can't I change the mechanical layers in the Current Layer Mapping window?

In some versions of Altium, the mouse input doesn't work in the dropdown. If this happens, use your keyboard to change the dropdown value instead. To see how, please refer to this video.

I got a "Design file not recognized" error. How can I fix this?"

This happens when you try to import a P-CAD library file into the P-CAD Design Files window. To fix this, just click Next on that window to get to the P-CAD Library import window.

What should I do if Layer 10, 21, or 21 is not present?

If the layer is not present, simply ignore this step. That means that there is no information to import on that layer.

Eagle

Follow these steps to import into Eagle:

  1. Open Eagle and go to the Control Panel
  2. Expand Libraries and you’ll see the lbr folder
  3. Locate the part you’ve downloaded from SnapMagic Search and drag it to the lbr folder in Eagle’s control panel
  4. You’ll now see the new part displayed under the lbr folder, right click and select use
  5. The part is now ready to be used in a schematic or board

Tip: To better organize your parts in Eagle, you can right-click on the lbr folder and create a new ‘SnapMagic Search’ folder to store the parts you’ve downloaded from SnapMagic Search

CircuitStudio

Import Steps

Follow these steps to import symbols & footprints into CircuitStudio:

  1. Go to File > New Project > Integrated Library
  2. Go to File > Import, and choose P-CAD Libraries
  3. Select the file downloaded from SnapMagic Search and click Open
  4. Click on Save in the pop-up notification

KiCad

Import Steps For KiCad 5 and Newer

  1. In KiCad, go to Tools > Edit PCB Footprints.
  2. Click on Preferences > Manage Footprint Libraries.
  3. Click on Browse Libraries and navigate to the downloaded .mod file.
    Then click OK. The library will appear in the Global Libraries tab.
  4. In the table, make sure that the Plugin Type is set to Legacy. Then click OK.
  5. Click on Load footprint from library > Select by Browser.
  6. Navigate to the footprint you imported and double-click to open it.

Tip: If you can't find the footprint after import, please try these steps:

  1. Select Preferences > Footprint Libraries Manager
  2. In PCB Library Tables click Append Library
  3. Select the Legacy type
  4. In the library path section, navigate to the location where you previously extracted the ZIP contents (where the .mod file should be), then copy and paste the library path
  5. Select a nickname for your library and click OK
You should now be able to find the footprint upon loading and placing. For more questions, please contact us.

Import Steps For KiCad 4

  1. Extract the content of the downloaded .zip file
  2. In KiCad, go to Tools > Open Eeschema
  3. Select Preferences > Component Libraries
  4. In the Component library files section, click Add
  5. Select the .lib library file
  6. Go to Tools > Open PcbNew
  7. Click Preferences > Footprint Libraries Wizard
  8. Follow the steps in the wizard to select and import the footprint library (.mod file)

Tip: If you can't find the footprint after import, please try these steps:

  1. Select Preferences > Footprint Libraries Manager
  2. In PCB Library Tables click Append Library
  3. Select the Legacy type
  4. In the library path section, navigate to the location where you previously extracted the ZIP contents (where the .mod file should be), then copy and paste the library path
  5. Select a nickname for your library and click OK
You should now be able to find the footprint upon loading and placing. For more questions, please contact us.

Import Steps For Older Versions of KiCad

Import Symbols

  1. Launch Eeschema.
  2. Select Preferences > Library.
  3. In the from... window, in the User Defined Search Path area, click Add.
  4. In the Default Path for Libraries windows, navigate to the location where your previously extracted the ZIP contents, then click Select Folder.
  5. In the Path type window, click No (unless you use project-specific libraries).
  6. In the from... window, in the Component Library Files area, click Add.
  7. In the Library files: window, select the LIB file, then click Open. The symbol now shows in the Component Library Files list.
  8. In the from... window, click OK.

Import Footprints

  1. Launch Pcbnew.
  2. Select Preferences > Library.
  3. In the from... window, in the User defined search paths area, click Add.
  4. In the Default Path for Libraries windows, navigate to the location where your previously extracted the ZIP contents, then click Select Folder.
  5. In the Path type window, click No (unless you use project-specific libraries).
  6. In the from... window, in the Component Library Files area, click Add.
  7. In the Footprint library files window, select the MOD file, then click Open. The footprint now shows in the Footprint library files list.
  8. In the from... window, click OK.

FAQ for KiCad Import

Why do slotted holes appear round on the PCB footprint I downloaded?

All SnapMagic Search parts have slots represented on the Edge.Cuts layer. To be able to find the real shapes of the slotted holes, please select View > Drawing Mode > Sketch Pads.

Technically, support for these cutouts outlines does not exist in KiCad but it works fine and board manufacturers will understand that this is a cutout in the gerber files. However, you should tell your board house that the information on the gerber file (containing the Edge.Cuts layer) needs to be milled from the board.

PADS

Extract files to your preferred path

  1. Extract the .zip file
  2. Start PADS Layout
  3. Select File > Library
  4. Browse to your preferred library from the drop-down menu, or create a new library if you wish

To import the symbol

  1. Select the CAE Decals option
  2. Click Import... and browse to the extracted folder and select the .c library file

To import the footprint

  1. Select the PCB Decals option
  2. Click Import... and browse to the extracted folder and select the .d library file

To import the part

  1. Select the Parts option
  2. Click Import... and browse to the extracted folder and select the .p library file

How to Link a 3D STEP file to a footprint in PADS layout

  1. Import the footprint and part linkage file (*.d and *.p)
  2. Place the footprint on a PCB (Via netlist import or ECO mode)
  3. Open the 3D viewer by going to View > PADS 3D
  4. Right click on the footprint and select Edit Decal
  5. Because the 3D viewer is open, a window will pop up titled 'Align 3D Models.' Under "Parts mapped to selected model" select the part you just added to the board
  6. Click Import and navigate to the STEP file
  7. Adjust alignments as necessary
  8. Go to File > Exit Decal Editor to go back to the board view

Cadence Allegro

Import Steps

Follow these steps to import into Cadence Allegro V16 & V17:

  1. Simply double-click on the .dra file to open it in Allegro.

Cadence Allegro (Pre V16)

Import Steps

Follow these steps to import footprints into Cadence Allegro Versions before V16:

  1. Add files to your padstack path (See How)
  2. Double-click allegro-builder.bat to run the script

First time importing a part from SnapMagic Search?

Make sure you have completed the first-time setup tasks (See How)

FAQ for Cadence Allegro Import

What if the batch file won’t run on my machine?

Footprints can also be imported manually. The second half of the tutorial video above also demonstrates these steps.

1. Add files to your padstack path

2. Import pad shapes

Note: some parts don’t contain pad shapes. This step can be skipped if no .psx files exist.

For each pad shape script file (*.psx) in the .zip file:

  1. In Allegro, select File > Script
  2. In the Scripting window, click Browse
  3. In the file browser window, change File of Type to All Files (*.*)
  4. Select the file ending in .psx, then click Open.
  5. In the Scripting window, click Replay.

3. Import padstacks

For each of the pad designer script files (*_pad.scr) in the .zip file:

  1. From the Windows Start Menu, navigate to the Cadence application folder, then select PCB Editor Utilities > Pad Designer
  2. In the Pad Designer window, select File > Script
  3. In the Scripting window, click Browse
  4. In the file browser window, change "File of Type" to "Script Files" (*.scr)
  5. Select a file ending in "_pad.scr", then click Open
  6. In the Scripting window, click Replay

4. Import package

  1. In Allegro, select File > Script
  2. In the Scripting window, click Browse
  3. Select the file ending in "_pkg.scr" for the part downloaded from SnapMagic Search, then click Open
  4. In the Scripting window, click Replay

How should I handle multiple installations of Cadence Allegro?

If you have multiple installations of Cadence Allegro on your machine, it may be necessary to use the Cadence SPB Switch Release utility to ensure environment variables are properly set.

  1. From the Start menu, choose Programs, then choose Cadence SPB Switch Release
  2. From the list in the Select Release frame, select the release version you want to switch to. Any changes to environment variables will appear in the Env Changes list.
  3. Click OK to make the switch

How do I edit the padstack path?

  1. In Allegro, select Setup > User Preferences
  2. In Categories, select Paths > Library
  3. In Category : Library, click ... after padpath
  4. The Items window shows where you should place a copy of the downloaded .zip archive file contents.
  5. Restart Allegro upon making changes to the padpath settings

Note: Frequent users may want to create a new path for each download to store padstacks.

I’m using an older version of Allegro and it’s repeatedly asking to import the padstack.

If this happens, simply close the command window.

I encountered an error stating "E- Command not found: newdrawfillin ..." while trying to run the *_pkg.scr file

This error indicates that you must point the Allegro "scriptpath" to the downloaded files. Directions to update Allegro scriptpath

  1. In Allegro, select Setup > User Preferences
  2. In Categories, select Paths > Library
  3. In Category : Library, click ... after scriptpath
  4. The scriptpath Items window shows where Allegro looks to find script files
  5. Place a copy of the downloaded .zip archive file contents in one of the paths in the scriptpath
  6. Restart Allegro upon making changes to the padpath settings

My Allegro footprint imported, but the pads are missing.

This error indicates that the *.pad files have not been created successfully or Allegro cannot locate the *.pad files at any location in its pad path. Follow these steps to troubleshoot this issue:

  1. Verify the *.pad files have been created successfully during the import process
    • Each *_pad.scr in the downloaded *.zip file will create a *.pad file after successful execution
    • If the *.pad files were not generated by the allegro-builder.bat file, follow the instructions above under "What if the batch file won't run on my machine?" to manually create the *.pad files
  2. Verify that Allegro can find the *.pad files in its padpath
    • Follow the instructions above under "How do I edit the padstack path?" to point Allegro to the where the *.pad files are stored.

What are the first-time setup tasks?

After you download your first part on SnapMagic Search, you need to update your Windows PATH environment variable to point to the Allegro V17 executables.

Note: This step requires administrative access to the computer. Those without administrative access should follow the manual import steps detailed above.

  1. Find the folder that contains the Allegro executables located at [Allegro V17 installation path]/tools/bin
  2. Copy this file path to the clipboard for later use
  3. Go to the Windows start menu and search for Control Panel
  4. Double click on System within the control panel
  5. Click on Advanced system settings on the left hand side of the screen
  6. Click on the Environment Variables button
  7. Select the column labeled Path in the System Variables table at the bottom of screen
  8. Click the Edit.. button
  9. Click New to add a new folder to your system's path
  10. Paste the file path from Step 1 into the new slot
  11. Click OK to save the environment variables

Why is this first-time step required?

The automated batch file included with the exported Allegro V17 files relies on Windows’ ability to execute allegro scripts from the command line from any location in the file system. The location of the allegro executable files changed from Allegro V16 to V17 and Windows cannot locate these files without being pointed to the right location.

OrCAD Capture

Import Steps

Follow these steps to import into OrCAD Capture:

  1. Select File > Import Design.
  2. Select the EDIF tab
  3. For the Open field, click the Browse... button, and select the .edf file you downloaded
  4. For the Configuration file field, click the Browse... button, then select the EDIF2CAP.CFG file included in the .zip folder
  5. Click Ok

PCB123

Follow these steps to import into PCB123:

  1. Simply double-click on the .snapeda file and it'll open automatically in PCB123

Tip: Additionally, you can import by going to File > Import > SnapEDA... and select the .snapeda file you downloaded.

DXDesigner

To import parts

  1. Select File > Import > PADS Logic
  2. Go to the Libraries tab
  3. Click the Add.. button and navigate to the *.p file included in your download
  4. Click Translate

Pulsonix

Follow these steps to import into Pulsonix:

Extract files to your preferred path

  1. Extract the .zip file
  2. In Pulsonix, go to Setup > Libraries

To import the symbol

  1. Click on the Schematic Symbols tab
  2. Create a new library by clicking on New Library...
  3. Browse to your preferred folder and save the new library
  4. Click on Import and browse to the folder where you extracted the contents from the zip file
  5. Select the .plx file

To import the footprint

  1. Click on the PCB Footprints tab
  2. Create a new library by clicking on New Library...
  3. Browse to your preferred folder and save the new library
  4. Click on Import and browse to the folder where you extracted the contents from the zip file
  5. Select the .plx file and click Open
  6. Check the box User Layer Mapping and click OK
  7. On the new window, check Use Mapping File and browse to the folder where you extracted the contents from the zip file
  8. Open layer_mapping.map and click OK

To import the part

  1. Click on the Parts tab
  2. Create a new library by clicking on New Library...
  3. Browse to your preferred folder and save the new library
  4. Click on Import and browse to the folder where you extracted the contents from the zip file
  5. Select the .plx file
  6. Set technology to [None]