Must every new component start out as 100pF?

[andyturk]

As an Altium noob, this annoys me:

Every time I create a new schematic component, the properties are already filled in for a 100pF capacitor. I have to delete the bogus footprint and other info before going further with my own component. Surely there's a way to avoid this, right?

[reagle]

Create default component types in your library with proper fields, and then copy/modify it as needed ?
As in make a CAP 0603, add properties you want, clear their values and save. Then copy it, rename and make the next one

[andyturk]

Thanks regale. I guess that means I should just get used to the behavior (although it doesn't manifest when copying). :-(

Maybe you have a suggestion on another problem... ?

I'm working on a schematic and every time I run the annotation tool, it decides to rearrange the parts of my op amp. This breaks the schematic and causes problems in the layout too. I need annotation to number the components, but it'd be nice if it didn't screw with my circuit!

First attachment is what the schematic looks like before running the annotation tool.
Second is the brain-damaged ECO.
Third is the result of applying the changes.

This sure seems like a bug to me, but knowing Altium, there's probably some "reason" why it works this way.

[stefanh]

Double click on each op amp to get to the properties.  Next to where you select Part 1/5 etc there is a check box to lock this.

Another thing you can try is that Altium generally annotates going down the schematic, so you could also move Part E underneath part D.

[tszaboo]

I have a library with about 300-500 different capacitors, not 1. You need to fill in everything by yourself, for every capacitor. It is not easy, nor rewarding, maybe the company you work for should hire a data-entry person to do it, or hack something in excel.
If you take the excel route, then comes the hard part, the components need to be linked some real components. This means manufacturer code or digikey code, whatever.

For opamps, you can set the default in the library. If you lock the "part" field, that means that part A will always stay part A, even if the components is re-annotated.

[andyturk]

Double click on each op amp to get to the properties.  Next to where you select Part 1/5 etc there is a check box to lock this.

Another thing you can try is that Altium generally annotates going down the schematic, so you could also move Part E underneath part D.

That lock bit did the trick. I just set it on Part E, which has the power pins. It seems to leave the other parts alone.

Thanks!

[andyturk]

I have a library with about 300-500 different capacitors, not 1. You need to fill in everything by yourself, for every capacitor. It is not easy, nor rewarding, maybe the company you work for should hire a data-entry person to do it, or hack something in excel.
If you take the excel route, then comes the hard part, the components need to be linked some real components. This means manufacturer code or digikey code, whatever.

I've been using the System > Supplier Search feature to fill in details. It takes some of the tedium out, but it would still suck to do it 300 times. I guess this is what the "Vault" is supposed to solve?

[tszaboo]

I have a library with about 300-500 different capacitors, not 1. You need to fill in everything by yourself, for every capacitor. It is not easy, nor rewarding, maybe the company you work for should hire a data-entry person to do it, or hack something in excel.
If you take the excel route, then comes the hard part, the components need to be linked some real components. This means manufacturer code or digikey code, whatever.

I've been using the System > Supplier Search feature to fill in details. It takes some of the tedium out, but it would still suck to do it 300 times. I guess this is what the "Vault" is supposed to solve?

There are too many issues with the vault, it was discussed several times. My main issue is that I cannot control it, yet my ass will be kicked if something is not working. And, you are sending essential information somewhere in the cloud. I dont use it, and I dont recommend you getting use to it.

[reagle]

I am tinkering with using Aligni to generate parts on the fly. Basically you go there and create a part number, say for a 1k resistor from such and such supplier. You then use their tool that runs on your local network to create a local copy of the database and then link to it via database connector from Altium. So the parts get created essentially on the fly , using fields from parts system, and local decals/footprints whose names are in Aligni as well. Yet to get around to try this but sounds better than my current manual creation of each library part for each value

[AlfBaz]

I generally use the parameter manager in the schematic library to add all the common fields. Another advantage with it is that filling in feilds from within this dialogue allows you to choose from a drop down box previous entered values based on ohter entries, sort of psudo data validation