How to create a library from schematic

[yaqoubdesign]

I have a schematic with components/packages/devices that come from separate libraries, and I would like to create a separate library with only these components, for use with student projects. I see there's a video tip that explains this for Eagle (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Un_Z0kis6c). In this video a ULP is used to do this. We are told to use "exp-lbrs-replace2.ulp" . I tried this in Eagle but I get a lot of errors. My plan was to create the library and then use it in Fusion 360 Electronics. What's the best way to do this? Can it be done in Fusion 360 Electronics?

[yaqoubdesign]

ok I tried a different location. Still failed.   Where are these files stored now?

 

[yaqoubdesign]

I keep replying to myself accidentally - hope these messages get to you

[HelenChen-ElectronicsQA]

Hi @yaqoubdesign ,

Not sure whether is something wrong with the empty space in the file name.

Could you please try below steps to see whether it works for you or not? 

1. Export the schematic file without empty space in the file name （please remove the empty space in the name, e.g. should be schematicv1, but not schematic v1)

2. Open the exported schematic file in Fusion > Run explib command again > Now the library name is untitled, that's fine, you could rename it in data panel after it's uploaded to Fusion.

Thank you for checking.

Regards,

Helen

[yaqoubdesign]

I cannot change the file name,  there's no option for that.  When I run Explib,  I only get options to 'select files',  'change location' or 'upload'.   There must be a step I am missing.  Can you again carefully watch the video link I sent,  because that's what I am doing.

 

[HelenChen-ElectronicsQA]

Hi @yaqoubdesign ，

Sorry for the confusion.

The workaround I meant was to export the schematic file from File -> Export option, where you could change the file name of the new schematic file.

And then please open the exported new schematic file from File -> open, save it to your data panel directly, then run the explib command from the new saved schematic file which has no space in the file name. That should be OK.

I guess there might be something wrong with the empty space, but it's strange that I could reproduce this issue while my coworker cannot. So maybe there is something special we have. Anyway, we will investigate this issue and keep you be posted.

Regards,

Helen

[jorge_garcia]

Hi @yaqoubdesign,

In the latest release of Fusion 360 Electronics, type explib in the CLI and press enter. This will allow you to do the same thing exp-libs ulp in EAGLE did.

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

Best Regards,

[HelenChen-ElectronicsQA · Accepted solution]

Hello @yaqoubdesign ,

We have identified the root cause about the issue you met that failed to export the libraries.

It's because the source library name you used "Tutorial - Fusion 360" which has empty space, so cannot enable the checkbox of "Prefix parts with library name" below when exporting libraries, otherwise it will be failed.

Before we have a fix about this issue, there are 2 workarounds about this you could choose to use. We have tried both 2 workarounds, they work well for us.

Workaround #1:

Not select "Prefix parts with library name" before exporting the library. It's OK if there is no name conflict for your used libraries.

Workaround #2:

Edit the "Tutorial - Fusion 360" library from library manager -> File drop down menu -> Save the library to Fusion Data panel (where you could remove the empty space from the library name) -> Insert the part from the new saved library without space in name to your schematic file instead -> Export libraries with the prefix parts with library name.

Hope it helps a little, so sorry for any inconvenience. 

We will keep you be posted if we have a fix about this in the future.

Regards,

Helen

[yaqoubdesign]

Helen, 

That space between my filename and version number (v1) is put there by Fusion, not me.   The first time I tried what you said,

(1) I exported as a different name,

(2) then opened it and saved in my current design,

(3) then run explib,  it  appended a version number after a space! 

So I found the file buried and ...appdata/Temp/Fusion..... and I removed the space (it was a LBR file).  Then I  ran explib again but this time  chose that  file which I just removed the space from.  Then it worked !

So  I tried again  starting from 0, same steps.  This time at step 3 ,  Fusion did not append a version number.  I was expecting it to work,  but it failed. 

 

That is confusing.  

I then started again,  from my original "Schematic"  (that's the name of it) and I tried explib again, directly (no exporting etc..) ,  this time there was no version number attached.  That's weird,  was there an update in the background ?  

Anyway,  I chose the Schematic  LBR file.  So below it ha been running for  10 minutes:  I think it will fail again. 

The one time it worked,  it took less than 30 seconds

 

[yaqoubdesign]

ok,  ignore my previous message,  I sent that before I saw your message.  

By the way,  that  library 'Tutorial - Fusion 360'  is built-in to Fusion 360, not from me.  

I will try what you suggest and let you know

[yaqoubdesign]

It worked!  Brilliant.  Thanks for your help.

So here's a question.  The library that is now composed of only the parts in my schematic,  I noticed that it includes the entire range of resistors or LED's or whatever.   This becomes a problem when using a component from LED's from Wurth for example,  after explib,  it will include a large number of variations that are unnecessary.   Is it possible to eliminate everything except exactly what is in my schematic? 

[HelenChen-ElectronicsQA]

Hi @yaqoubdesign ,

Thank you very much for your confirmation and glad it works for you now.

Please select the checkbox of "only export footprints which are used in this design" before exporting libraries, then in the exported library, only the specified device will be exported (but there is a known issue that other footprints are exported wrongly, however students will not see them in the Add part list from the library later. You could delete the unused footprints manually in the Content Manager, it should work.).

We will keep you be posted if we have a fix about this. 

Regards,

Helen

[keqingsong]

Hi @yaqoubdesign, we are happy to report that this issue has been fixed in our latest product update (

V.2.0.9849). 

[HelenChen-ElectronicsQA]

Yes, @yaqoubdesign thank you very much for your reporting and all your help to help us identify the issue.

Could you please try to update Fusion 360 to latest version (v. 2.0.9849) and try again? Now you should able to export the libraries successfully without previous issues.

Much appreciated again.

Regards,

Helen

[yaqoubdesign]

Excellent,  I look forward to testing it out.  Unfortunately I need several days to have a go, due to my schedule.

[HelenChen-ElectronicsQA]

No problem, 🙂 Take your time.

Have a great day!

Regards,

Helen

[cmot17]

Hi, this solution seems to work for exporting the library. However, it seems like all of the parts in the document still are referencing the old library which I don't have, so I would have to manually replace each part.

Any way that I can automatically fix this or at least do it in bulk?

[cmot17]

Sorry, this was meant to be in reply to @jorge_garcia 

[LloydTravisSmith]

I understand that this is an old post  / thread, but I have an active subscription, and I would like to use the Explib command, but my Fusion360 version seems not to contain this feature. I was surprised to see that my version shows as 2.0.11685, so nowhere near the version 2.0.9439 that should have the Explib functionality.  How can update to a version that will allow me to use he Explib feature?

[jorge_garcia]

Hi @LloydTravisSmith ,

I hope you're doing well. That should be working I just tried it in my installation of Fusion. Click on the Command line and type EXPLIB and press enter.

Do you get any error or issue?

Best Regards,

[LloydTravisSmith]

Hi, Jorge. I get "There is no command EXPLIB. Use ? to get help on
available commands". I am not sure if my version 2.0.11685 is older or
newer than the version that should contain EXPLIB - 2.0.9439. If you use
decimal notation, I guess mine is older, but if it is major.minor.revision,
then my version is newer, and I don't know why the command is not
recognized. Am I running it from the right place? I entered the command in
the command field at the bottom of the schematic tab with the schematic
open.