Every component definition uses an associated bitmap (for the Project Manager window icon) and a schematic symbol. Many components also require footprints, which in turn depend on material definitions and padstacks to characterize their physical presence in and electrical connections to a layout.
To save time in editing or creating new components, you should identify and modify or create its dependent elements in the following sequence as you define your component. All of the dependencies listed may not be necessary for every component you create or modify.
Materials
Material information defines the physical properties of a substance — such as substrate, metallization, or solder mask layer — for its inclusion in a stackup, the physical foundation of a manufacturable layout or model. Material definitions are stored in library files with the extension .amat. See Using the Material Editor for how to create and modify materials.
Layers
The substrate technology defines the name and parameters of the layout stackup to use for all distributed elements in the design. You create or define a substrate type by clicking Circuit>Add Reference Data>Add Substrate Definition. You can view and modify the current layout stackup by clicking Schematic>LayourStackup.
Padstacks
A padstack defines the physical structure and electrical connectivity of a pad, the region where a component pin connects to a copper trace. A padstack must be associated with each pin of a component. Padstack definitions are stored in library files with an extension of .pslb. See Using the Padstack Editor for how to create and modify padstacks.
Footprints
A footprint defines the planar space consumption, physical orientation, metal usage, and electrical connectivity of a component in a layout. Footprint definitions are stored in library files with the extension .aflb. See Using the Footprint Editor for how to create and modify footprints.
Symbols
A symbol is graphical representation of a component in a schematic. Symbol definitions are stored in library files with the extension .aslb. See Using the Symbol Editor for how to create and modify symbols.
Bitmaps
A bitmap is a small picture that is displayed when the ACLB containing the component is opened in the schematic editor. Bitmaps are stored in syslib\Bitmaps\*.bmp. To create or modify a bitmap, use a bitmap editor such as MS Paint(r).
Components
The Electronics Desktop Component Editor supports the viewing, modification, and saving of information for component elements and graphical primitives. After creating or modifying a component, the information can be saved, used to render a component, or exported. Component definitions are stored in library files with an extension of .asty. See Using the Component Editor for how to create and modify components.
Scripts
The Electronics Desktop Script Editor supports the viewing, modification, and saving of script file information for footprint elements and graphical primitives. After modifying a script, the information can be saved, used to render a footprint, or exported. Script definitions are stored in library files with an extension of .dsc. See Using the Script Editor for how to create and modify scripts.