topic Re: Using custom symbols in schematics without footprint, or packages possible ? (no PCB design, but harnesses) in Fusion Electronics Forum

Using custom symbols in schematics without footprint, or packages possible ? (no PCB design, but harnesses)

j_dommasch — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 16:35:21 GMT

I have created a library and a custom symbol but it does not show up in the library - only components and packages are listed and thus I cannot add it to my schematic.

Assumingly a component, and/or footprint and package is needed. I dont get that idea, as not everybody is interested in PCB design. I want to create complex cable harnesses instead. As I will need many custom symbols, I would need a simple workaround to just work with custom symbols in schematics. I have watched a lot of videos, but hey are all dealing with older versions (and "devices"); I am using the latest version.

thanks for any idea.

Re: Using custom symbols in schematics without footprint, or packages possible ? (no PCB design, ...

CGBenner — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 17:32:48 GMT

@j_dommasch

Welcome! @jorge_garcia I think this one is something you know about. 🙂

Re: Using custom symbols in schematics without footprint, or packages possible ? (no PCB design, ...

j_dommasch — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 17:53:07 GMT

Any help is appreciated. I dont even manage to link my custom symbol to a new component. I can add footprint and 3D, but dont find a way to add my symbol. Thus I cannot connect any pinsbto pad. My version does also not have the add symbol icon from the autodesk help

Re: Using custom symbols in schematics without footprint, or packages possible ? (no PCB design, but harnesses)

jorge_garcia — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 21:20:09 GMT

Hi @j_dommasch,

I hope you're doing well. So you do need a component, just add your symbol to it. The key here is that you have to create an attribute and name it _EXTERNAL_. That let's Fusion Electronics know that a footprint is not necessary for this design. In order to put something on the schematic you will always need to create a component.

That's all there is to it. Let me know if you have any questions.

Best Regards,

Re: Using custom symbols in schematics without footprint, or packages possible ? (no PCB design, but harnesses)

j_dommasch — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 07:39:19 GMT

Thanks

that I had tried out already, but it had changed nothing. ( what about the entry fields for "value", "variable", "attribute sets" ?) What would be th expected effect of that attribute ? Would the symbol then show up in the library ? Until now, its just the component with the footprint, no symbol.

As mentioned, when creating a component, I don't find a proper way to link the symbol to it.

There is just no button, function or other means related to the symbol. I cant see how to do that

connection. Adding a footprint, or package, 3D is no problem, just the symbol appears nowhere.

How do I include the symbol to the component. I saw a video where there was an "add symbol" icon - that I don´t have in the menu. In content manager, clicking on my component shows a menue with the footprint and the 3D plus buttons for "new", "connect", "prefix". The Grid where I would see my symbol is empty and I did not managed to like drag the symbol to that area. Clueless...

Betreff: Using custom symbols in schematics without footprint, or packages possible ? (no PCB design, but harnesses)

m.neujahr_at_moe — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 10:49:48 GMT

Hello @j_dommasch ,

let me try to explain:

Add or change a symbol to your library
When finished, add a component to your library:
In this new component you must add your symbol
Save your library and push it to library.io

Now you should see your new symbol (without any footprint).

You can start with editing and have a look at "supply1"

Re: Using custom symbols in schematics without footprint, or packages possible ? (no PCB design, but harnesses)

j_dommasch — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 11:38:08 GMT

thanks,

the process is clear, but still it does not work (for the newest Fusion). I cannot add the symbol to the component

like described, as I dont have that symbol.

I added symbols using another method though, so I can see them in the Content Manager view. But only there. I also pushed the component to the lib.io.

When I now want to put the symbol into my schematic, using the "place component" view, clicking on my component, reveals only 3 empty placeholders, were normally the symbols, footprints etc would be.

I also tried to add existing symbols to a component. the show up in Content Manager view, but not in place component view..

I dont understand this..

Re: Using custom symbols in schematics without footprint, or packages possible ? (no PCB design, but harnesses)

j_dommasch — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 12:04:42 GMT

bottom line is, I can add symbols to components, but they only show up in Content Manager View. They dont show up in

the library manager´view, only empty component/package there.

Same thing in the Place components view.

Could that be a restriction of the trial version ??? Thanks

Re: Using custom symbols in schematics without footprint, or packages possible ? (no PCB design, but harnesses)

jorge_garcia — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 19:25:09 GMT

Hello @j_dommasch,

I hope you're doing well. So keep in mind that you can not edit the default libraries. You have to copy to a personal library and then make the changes there.

There are no library limitations in the trial version. Could you post a picture of what your library currently looks like? Show me the content manager and one of your components to see how you set it up.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

Re: Using custom symbols in schematics without footprint, or packages possible ? (no PCB design, but harnesses)

j_dommasch — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 07:26:22 GMT

thanks, your support is appreciated. Pls look at the attached images. When doing them, I discovered a "linked library not found" message in the lib manager. The lib I had created was a fusion team lib. its in the admin project folder.

I tried to move it to the "assets" folder, but it didnt work. Not sure if that is the root cause for the problem.

Re: Using custom symbols in schematics without footprint, or packages possible ? (no PCB design, but harnesses)

j_dommasch — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 07:27:43 GMT

last image

Re: Using custom symbols in schematics without footprint, or packages possible ? (no PCB design, but harnesses)

j_dommasch — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 07:45:14 GMT

meanwhile, I did all from scratch, no error with linked library, but same result. no symbols visible/useable in component, so I cannot place them in schematics.

the whole symbol concept seems odd anyway - there is no mentioning of symbols in the library, only

footprints and 3D models. same with packaging.

what am I missing out here ?

Re: Using custom symbols in schematics without footprint, or packages possible ? (no PCB design, but harnesses)

j_dommasch — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 09:27:48 GMT

if you would look at this tutorial:

Create your own electronics parts in Fusion 360: Video 5 Making a Device - YouTube

it is maybe just this missing "add part" process, which adds/connects the symbol to the device.

Apparently "device" has changed to "component" and the "add part" icon is gone...?

I tried even creating a dummy package, that would show up, but not

my symbol

Re: Using custom symbols in schematics without footprint, or packages possible ? (no PCB design, but harnesses)

m.neujahr_at_moe — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 14:28:49 GMT

Hello @j_dommasch ,

next try:

You have to change the "direction" of your pin in the symbol from "io" to "sup"
Save everything and it should work 🙂
Here it does

Re: Using custom symbols in schematics without footprint, or packages possible ? (no PCB design, but harnesses)

jorge_garcia — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 20:45:04 GMT

Hi @j_dommasch,

Thank you for making the images, it cleared up what was wrong right away. So first you have linked the Fusion team library to library.io. This is not necessary if you are only using Fusion, it won't hurt either but if you see any messages talking about managed libs you can ignore those since you are not using them.

The real problem here is in the "Device" now called "Component". You have created the component but there is no symbol associated to it. You are in fact missing the "add Part" process from the tutorial. It's still there but it looks different now.

See the image below. Add in your symbol to the component, save the library and now in your schematic you'll see that you are able to use it.

Re: Using custom symbols in schematics without footprint, or packages possible ? (no PCB design, but harnesses)

j_dommasch — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 07:29:32 GMT

Thanks Jorge,

I dont believe it, but suddenly all these missing icons (all icons right from "layers" in component view) magically appeared and adding the symbol works as expected. They were not there before, see "fusion-comp" imgae I had sent.

Problem solved, thaks for your support 🙂

Re: Using custom symbols in schematics without footprint, or packages possible ? (no PCB design, but harnesses)

brianBN69R — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 04:59:52 GMT

Hi Jorge, this doesn't seem to work any more. If I don't have a footprint associated with component, I am not able to edit attributes... I am given the error "use the PACKAGE command to select a package variant fist"

Re: Using custom symbols in schematics without footprint, or packages possible ? (no PCB design, but harnesses)

brianBN69R — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 05:02:24 GMT

(In case it wasn't clear, I need to edit attributes to add the _EXTERNAL_ attribute you mentioned). If I try to add the component with only the simple, I get a cryptic error when trying to place it in the schematic).

Re: Using custom symbols in schematics without footprint, or packages possible ? (no PCB design, but harnesses)

jorge_garcia — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 20:13:16 GMT

Hello @brianBN69R ,

I hope you're doing well. The _EXTERNAL_ attribute only works in the library and it's behavior is null if a footprint has been assigned. So if a component has a footprint assigned and you only want to use it for wiring harnesses, you should make a copy of the component and eliminate the footprint association. Then the _EXTERNAL_ attribute would work.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,