Create a "template" group of components

[bzhu95]

Say I have an existing arrangement of components on my board layout, but I'd like to essentially duplicate this arrangement of components to other parts of the board that use the same types of components. Is there a way to do this in EAGLE?

E.g. I have one group of ICs arranged in a pattern with traces between each, and I want to replicate this pattern elsewhere on the board so that the ICs in the second group and the traces between them match those of the first group.

[m.neujahr_at_moe · Accepted solution]

Hallo @bzhu95,

yes, there are different way to do this:

1. If you have a consistent schematic with layout, you can save this as an "design block" and add this to a new schematic/layout
2. Second way is a little bit tricky, but works also:
   • You have also a consisten schematic/layout
   • Close layout, mark all your schematic and copy this (as many times as you need)
   • Open once again layout, you will get an error, that schematic and layout are not consitent
   • mark all your layout and copy it like your schematic (if you have made 3 copies in schematic, do it 3 times in layout too)
   • Your ERC will show a lot of errors, but you can solve this errors quickly by renaming the nets/parts:
     -Start with GND and rename all GNDx to GND (on layout or schematic)
     -Rename the parts in layout to their name in schematic
     -Change the name of the nets in layout to their name in schematic
   • After every "rename" try a ERC, the number of errors should decrease continously

If you name every net and part in your first schematic to "Rx/1", "ICx/1", "N$1/1" and so on, the "cloning" will go on much faster, because in your copy (schematic and layout) your copied parts/nets/.. have a new name "Rx/2", "ICx/2" and so on.

[bzhu95]

Thanks! Design Blocks seem to be exactly what I'm looking for. I'll go read more about how to use them.