Using the Symbol Editor

A symbol is a set of information that defines the graphical representation and electrical connectivity of a component. Symbol definitions are stored in library files with an extension of .aslb.

You can access material definitions using the Symbol Editor. The Electronics Desktop Symbol Editor allows you to view, modify, and save symbol information for components and layout primitives. After modifying a symbol, the information can either be saved, used to define a design, or exported.

When a symbol is used in a project, it is copied to the project. Thus new projects do not list any symbols in the Project Manager. If a change is made to the symbol, it is actually made to the project's copy of the symbol. So each project has its own set of symbols based on AEDT's symbol library. When you open an existing project, the Project Manager displays the symbols in use in the project.

To start the Symbol Editor, open a project and select Tools > Edit Libraries > Symbols. When the Edit Libraries window opens, use its controls to open the Symbol Editor.