The Desktop Footprint Editor supports the viewing, modification, and saving of footprint information for components and layout primitives. After modifying a footprint, the information can be saved, used to define a design, or exported.
A footprint is a set of information that defines the planar space consumption, physical orientation, metal usage, and electrical connectivity of a component. Footprint definitions are stored in library files with an extension of .aflb. You can access material definitions using the Footprint Editor.
Creating or editing a footprint involves using the footprint editor to:
- Draw graphical primitives, such as rectangles, circles, and arcs, using options on the Draw menu
- Add pins using the Pin option on the Draw menu
- Add text labels using the Text option on the Draw menu
- Update the current project with the new or revised footprint definition using the Update Project option on the Footprint menu
You can export a footprint to a footprint library (.aflb) file for use in other projects. For information on how to do this, see the Edit Libraries window topic.