So I have a couple of terminal strips. Not liking how thick the 'default accessory' block is, I drew up a couple of partition plates based on manufacturer dimensions. I added wipeouts, etc, just like I would any footprint. Then I researched how to add these to the footprint_lookup.mdb so that the terminal strip editor would insert my new blocks. Everything went great with the first strip.
Now, days later, I'm finally getting around to placing the second strip, and for some reason TSE won't stick my custom blocks into the strip. I can add them, assign catalog info, everything works just like it did last week, but when I go to preview it, there are no partitions in the strip -- not even 'default accessory' blocks. Huh?
I went back and looked at the first strip. As luck would have it, that one uses WAGO terminals. (The other one uses AB.) I figured that it must have something to do with a typo -- some error of mine while entering the AB stuff. After many many double and triple checks, I found none. I set up the AB stuff exactly as I did the WAGO stuff. All file names matched exactly (spelling and case). The paths in the lookup db were correct. Huh?
I took a closer look at the first (WAGO) strip. I went in to the editor this time. And surprise surprise, that strip was suddenly full of extra terminals and partitions and stuff. Only in the editor though -- the one in the drawing was fine. It was while trying to figure out how that happened that I learned that now I can't put my new partition blocks into that terminal either -- even though it already has them in the drawing. Graphically, it's correct. But if I were to delete it, I couldn't recreate it in the editor.
This afternoon I essentially repeated the whole process from scratch. I deleted the records in the lookup database that I put in last week. I double checked the blocks (purged, audited, etc.). The only thing I left alone was the first strip that I drew, since I'm unsure if I can recreate it. I used the footprint lookup editor to put in my partition blocks again. All through this process, I never found anything that stood out as a problem. And I still can't get TSE to bring in these blocks.
So what am I missing? Is there some variable/setting/attribute that needs my attention? It might be important to note that I ballooned the drawing that first terminal strip is in. That may be why I got the extra terminals (if I made you go 'Huh?', read this post), but did that also break my footprint lookup? And how could that affect a different drawing? (Same project, but no shared components between these drawings.)
Ideas anyone? TIA for your help.
Jim
Jim Seefeldt
Electrical Engineering Technician
