how to import components in excel base Altium database library?

[AmitT]

Hello,

May I know how to import components in excel base Altium database library?
I created Excel DBLIB but can't able to import parts directly in dblib.
 
AmitT

[ajb]

Import from where? Are you trying to add parts to the excel file you are using for the dblib? Or are you trying to use the dblib in altium?

[AmitT]

I am trying to use the Excel-based dblib in Altium?
I used Access-based DBLIB in our company. In that, I can directly import parts in Access dblib in Altium but in excel dblib I can not able to do that.

[ajb]

There's not nearly enough information here to know what the problem might be.  Are you trying to add a part form the dblib to a schematic?  What happens when you try? How have you configured the dblib? Does the excel file already have parts entered? Are the paths to your footprints and schematic symbols correct?

[AmitT]

Are you trying to add apart from the dblib to a schematic? – No
Have you configured the dblib? Yes
Does the excel file already have parts entered? No. That’s what I want to do. Import components from Manufacture Part search with parameter in dblib.
Are the paths to your footprints and schematic symbols correct? Yes

Is there any video link to show the detailed procedure of how to import components in the excel base Altium database library? or making an excel base database library in Altium?

[E-Design]

[AmitT]

It's not related to excel based database library.

[E-Design]

It's not related to excel based database library.

Well, I was able to use this video example / guide to establish my own Excel database successfully. I also read the documentation where I could find it. I also experimented.

[AmitT]

It's not related to excel based database library.

Well, I was able to use this video example / guide to establish my own Excel database successfully. I also read the documentation where I could find it. I also experimented.

Establish of EXCEL database is not a concern (In my first post I was already told), my concern is regarding importing components in that excel database file.

[Batang]

"my concern is regarding importing components in that excel database file"

You must have list you want to import, what file format is this list?

A lot more info will get you a better response.

Anyways the below link may be of some use.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/import-or-export-text-txt-or-csv-files-5250ac4c-663c-47ce-937b-339e391393ba

PS. Why why why Excel

[PlainName]

my concern is regarding importing components in that excel database file

I don't think you can. If you have an existing component in Altium .*lib and wish to copy that to the Excel sheet just as you would to another .*lib, I am pretty sure you can't. You need to manually add the row yourself, filling the cells with the appropriate data (or import into Excel, probably via CSV).

With a DBLIB you can use Altium to edit the table rows. However, I don't think you can copy a component into the database like that, and Excel is somewhat different to a database so you probably can't edit an Excel lib like that in the first place.

[AmitT]

my concern is regarding importing components in that excel database file

You need to manually add the row yourself, filling the cells with the appropriate data (or import into Excel, probably via CSV).

It means I need to add all components with their parameter manually in Excel & then it needs to use as an EXCEL DBLIB ??

I was already using Access DBLIB in my company, where I directly import components with their parameter in ALTIUM ACCESS DBLIB, but there is also an issue "Record too Large" which is already mentioned in a separate topic. Below link for your reference.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/altium/altium-access-dblib-import-issue/

[ajb]

You keep saying "import" but it's not clear what that actually means here.  It could mean many different things, so I think people here aren't clear on what you are trying to do exactly. 

Can you describe in detail the steps you are taking, what you expect to happen, and what you are seeing happen?

I don't think you can directly import data from the manufacturer part search into the database for the dblib.  It looks like you can use the part search to add parameters or supplier links to an existing part, but that's it.  I haven't played with that before so I don't know about any issues with that function.

[PlainName]

It means I need to add all components with their parameter manually in Excel & then it needs to use as an EXCEL DBLIB ??

That's my take on it, yes. The default setting for Excel via ODBC is read-only, which is no doubt why you can read stuff but can't update. Access is read/write.

but there is also an issue "Record too Large"

Don't know, sorry - I am not a database guru. Even if I were, as ajb point outs, without better details of what you're trying to do, and with what, we're essentially answering questions you're probably not asking.

[Gribo]

You should look into importing the data from Access directly to Excel, without Altium in the middle. Probably manually using copy/paste or SQL query within Excel.

[AmitT]

You keep saying "import" but it's not clear what that actually means here.  It could mean many different things, so I think people here aren't clear on what you are trying to do exactly. 

Can you describe in detail the steps you are taking, what you expect to happen, and what you are seeing happen?

I don't think you can directly import data from the manufacturer part search into the database for the dblib.  It looks like you can use the part search to add parameters or supplier links to an existing part, but that's it.  I haven't played with that before so I don't know about any issues with that function.

Basically, I want to know all types of database library methods to manage libraries. I am using Microsoft Access-based DBLIB in my company. I create My SQL-based DBLIB as per Robert Feranec's video.

Can you describe in detail the steps you are taking, what you expect to happen, and what you are seeing happen? - How to add a new component with their parameter in Excel dblib.

I don't think you can directly import data from the manufacturer part search into the database for the dblib. - It is possible in Access-based dblib. Please check the video ( After 27min) of Robert Feranec for the Database library.

It means I need to add all components with their parameter manually in Excel & then it needs to use as an EXCEL DBLIB ??

That's my take on it, yes. The default setting for Excel via ODBC is read-only, which is no doubt why you can read stuff but can't update. Access is read/write.

As per the above reply, I need to add all components with their parameter manually in Excel & then it needs to use as an EXCEL DBLIB


 

[PlainName]

As per the above reply, I need to add all components with their parameter manually in Excel & then it needs to use as an EXCEL DBLIB

Sorry, but I'm not following what you're asking there? Are you asking how to set up Excel as DBLIB? Or that you have it set up but can't auto-add, or is this a statement of what you've done?

In case it's the read-only thing, apparently your connection string needs to have "READONLY=FALSE" added to it for Excel.

As a general point, it is no use showing us Robert's videos. It clearly works for him, and I expect that if we could be bothered enough to go through all those steps it would work for us. The problem is that it's not working for you and we need to know what you are doing, and how, in order to spot the cause of the problem.

Think about it: you say you have a problem so we simply post a link to Robert's video and say there's your fix. Not getting anywhere, right? So show us, or tell us, the steps that you make to replicate the problem.

[AmitT]

As a general point, it is no use showing us Robert's videos. It clearly works for him, and I expect that if we could be bothered enough to go through all those steps it would work for us.

My reply is for ajb, only to show how I was imported components from the manufacture part search in Access dblib.

we need to know what you are doing, and how, in order to spot the cause of the problem.

I use an excel file with a basic column heading such as Part Number, Lib Ref, Footprint ref, type, comment & so on. I created dblib with database type Microsoft Excel & give the path of excel file.
Now my question is How to add a new component with their parameter in Excel dblib.

[Gribo]

https://www.bing.com/search?q=importing+data+from+access+to+excel&cvid=abd878b9ba65406b8b7d11a1a05ec457&aqs=edge.0.0l2.8016j0j4&FORM=ANAB01&PC=U531

If your query is too large, try limiting the number of columns and the number of records.

[ajb]

Can you describe in detail the steps you are taking, what you expect to happen, and what you are seeing happen? - How to add a new component with their parameter in Excel dblib.

I don't think you can directly import data from the manufacturer part search into the database for the dblib. - It is possible in Access-based dblib. Please check the video ( After 27min) of Robert Feranec for the Database library.

You haven't actually answered these questions.  So you're trying to follow that video, great.  What happens when you try?  Where do you get stuck?

In this case it seems like the problem may actually be that Altium can't write to an Excel file via the database link as dunkemhigh says, so you may not be able to do what you want without switching to access or something else.

I didn't know you could use the manufacturer part search to import components like that--I've had the same DBLib since before they added that part search and have been managing it manually ever since.  It looks like a cool feature but holy shit I do NOT want it to add all ten thousand parameters that all of those suppliers have to my database!  It looks like you can filter/translate parameters in the Parts Providers section of settings but it looks like it might be a huge pain.  Being able to add just a supplier link to an existing part would be great but I get no right click options on the supplier part numbers.  Maybe it's worth spending some time to play with it later but after previous experiences with Altium I'm not immediately confident that it's going to work as well as they make it look.

[AmitT]

You haven't actually answered these questions. 

I use an excel file with a basic column heading such as Part Number, Lib Ref, Footprint ref, type, comment & so on. I created dblib with database type Microsoft Excel & give the path of excel file.
Now my question is How to add a new component with their parameter in Excel File/Excel dblib.

So you're trying to follow that video, great.  What happens when you try?  Where do you get stuck?

It's working for me to create SQL-based dblib as per video without any issue. I create this dblib only for my curiosity purpose.

[PlainName]

Now my question is How to add a new component with their parameter in Excel File/Excel dblib.

Did you try with the "READONLY=FALSE" parameter in the connection string, as mentioned earlier?