Orcad® Component Information System

User’s Guide
Copyright © 1985-2000 Cadence Design Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

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All other brand and product names mentioned herein are used for identification
purposes only and are registered trademarks, trademarks, or service marks of their
respective holders.

60-30-616
Second edition 31 May 2000

Cadence PCB Systems Division (PSD) offices

PSD main office (Portland) (503) 671-9500
PSD Irvine office (949) 788-6080
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PSD web site www.orcad.com
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PSD customer support email form www.orcad.com/technical/email_support.asp

Cadence PCB Systems Division

13221 SW 68th Parkway, Suite 200
Portland, OR 97223
Contents

Before you begin ix

Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
How to use this guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x
Symbols and conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x
Related documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi

Chapter 1 What is the Orcad Component Information System? 1

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
CIS product history . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
The internet component assistant (ICA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
CIS in the PCB design process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
The CIS work environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
The CIS explorer window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
The footprint window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
The part window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
The visibility window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
The explorer window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
The database parts window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
The ICA home page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
The part manager window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Chapter 2 Setting up Orcad CIS 11

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Creating a part database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Choosing a database format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Determining part properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Setting the field format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Using more than one table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Creating a part database from an existing design . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Extracting ERP or MRP database part information . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Setting up the ODBC data source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Contents

Creating a configuration file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Using the database configuration wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Creating a configuration file manually . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Editing a configuration file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Setting database table property options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Defining part reference associations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Setting administrative preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Setting ICA supplier preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Saving the configuration file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Setting up the ICA to access external part data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Creating Crystal Reports templates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Chapter 3 Working with database parts 57

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Using the CIS interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Using the part manager window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Using the CIS explorer window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Using docking windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Using the database parts window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Placing a database part on a schematic page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Using the explorer to locate a database part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Using the query feature to locate database parts . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Creating and executing a query . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Placing a local database part on your schematic . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Browsing part properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Creating a new database part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Deriving a new database part from the local part database . . . . . . 72
Deriving a new database part from a placed part . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Using the ICA to locate and create a new database part . . . . . . . . 81
Using the ICA to locate a part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Using the ICA to create and place a part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Linking a placed part to a database part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Viewing a placed part’s database properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
To view a placed part’s database properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Copying part properties using the part manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Chapter 4 Finalizing and documenting designs 97

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Viewing and updating part status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Opening the part manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Updating the part status for your design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

iv
 Contents

Saving the status report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Creating design variants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Creating reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Creating a standard CIS bill of materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Creating a report using a Crystal Reports template . . . . . . . . . . 109

Glossary 115

Index 125

v
Contents

vi
Tables

Table 1 Required part properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Table 2 Optional part properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Tables May 11, 2000

viii
Before you begin

Welcome
Orcad family products offer a total solution for your core
design tasks: schematic- and VHDL-based design entry;
FPGA and CPLD design synthesis; digital, analog, and
mixed-signal simulation; and printed circuit board layout.
What's more, Orcad family products are a suite of
applications built around an engineer's design flow—not
just a collection of independently developed point tools.
Orcad Component Information System (CIS) is just one
element in our total solution design flow.
Orcad CIS is a part management system that is available
as an option for use with Orcad Capture. Orcad CIS helps
you manage part properties (including part information
required at each step in the printed circuit board design
process, from implementation through manufacturing)
within your schematic designs.
Before you begin

How to use this guide

This guide is designed so you can quickly find the
information you need to use Orcad Component
Information System (CIS). To help you learn and use
Orcad CIS efficiently, this manual is separated into the
following sections:
• What is the Orcad Component Information System? on
page -1
• Setting up Orcad CIS on page -11
• Working with database parts on page -57
• Finalizing and documenting designs on page -97

Symbols and conventions

Our printed documentation uses a few special symbols
and conventions.
Notation Examples Description
C+r Press C+r Means to hold down the C key while
pressing r.
A, f, o From the File menu, choose Open (A, f, Means that you have two options. You
o) can use the mouse to choose the Open
command from the File menu, or you
can press each of the keys in
parentheses in order: first A, then f,
then o.
Monospace font In the Part Name text box, type PARAM. Text that you type is shown in
monospace font. In the example, you
type the characters P, A, R, A, and
M.
UPPERCASE In Capture, open CLIPPERA.DSN. Path and filenames are shown in
uppercase. In the example, you open
the design file named CLIPPERA.DSN.
Italics In Capture, save design_name.DSN. Information that you are to provide is
shown in italics. In the example, you
save the design with a name of your
choice, but it must have an extension of
.DSN.

x
 How to use this guide

Related documentation
In addition to this guide, you can find technical product
information in the online help, the online interactive
tutorial, online books, and our technical web site, as well
as in other books. The table below describes the types of
technical documentation provided with Orcad
Component Information System (CIS).

This documentation component . . . Provides this . . .

This guide— A comprehensive guide for understanding and using the
Orcad Component Information Sytem User’s Guide features available in Orcad CIS.
Online help Comprehensive information for understanding and using
the features available in Orcad CIS.
You can access help from the Help menu in Orcad CIS, by
choosing the Help button in a dialog box, or by pressing
1. Topics include:
• Explanations and instructions for common tasks.
• Descriptions of menu commands, dialog boxes, tools on
the toolbar and tool palettes, and the status bar.
• Error messages and glossary terms.
• Reference information.
• Product support information.
You can get context-sensitive help for a error message by
placing your cursor in the error message line in the session
log and pressing 1.
Online interactive tutorial A series of self-paced interactive lessons. You can practice
what you’ve learned by going through the tutorial’s
specially designed exercises that interact directly with
Orcad CIS. You can start the tutorial by choosing Learning
Orcad CIS from the Help menu.
Online Orcad Component Information Sytem User’s An online, searchable version of this guide, available when
Guide choosing Online Manuals from the Orcad family program
group (on the Start menu).
Online Orcad CIS quick reference Concise descriptions of the commands, shortcuts, and tools
available in Orcad CIS, available when choosing Online
Manuals from the Orcad family program group (on the
Start menu).

xi
Before you begin

This documentation component . . . Provides this . . .

Orcad family customer support at An Internet-based support service available to customers
www.orcad.com/technical/technical.asp with current support options. A few of the technical
solutions within the customer support area are:
• The Knowledge Base, which is a searchable database
containing thousands of articles on topics ranging from
schematic design entry and VHDL-based PLD design to
PCB layout methodologies. It also contains answers to
frequently asked questions.
• The Knowledge Exchange, which enables you to share
information and ideas with other users and with our
technical experts in a real-time online forum. You can
submit issues or questions for open discussion, search
the Knowledge Exchange for information, or send email
to another participant for one-on-one communication. A
list of new postings will appear each time you visit the
Knowledge Exchange, providing you with a quick
update of what's been discussed since your last visit.
• The Technical Library, which contains online customer
support information that you can search through by
category or product. You can find product manuals,
product literature, technical notes, articles, samples,
books, and other technical information. Additionally,
technical information can be obtained through
SourceLink, which is an online customer support
information service for users of Cadence software other
than Capture, Component Information System (CIS),
Express, Layout, or PSpice.
• The Support Connection, which allows you to choose to
either view and update existing incidents, or create new
incidents. The information is delivered directly to us via
our internal database. This service is only available to
customers with current maintenance or Extended
Support Options (ESOs) in the United States and
Canada.
• The Live Connection, which enables you to open access
to your computer to a Customer Support person, who
can then view your actions on your computer monitor
as you demonstrate the problem you're having. Live
Connection's two-way transmission can also let you
view the actions on the Customer Support person's
computer monitor, as he or she demonstrates a method
or procedure to help you solve your problem. To
participate in Live Connection, you need to contact a
Customer Support person, in order to obtain a support
number to grant you access to the Live Connection site,
and to set up a time to “meet online” using Live
Connection.

xii
What is the Orcad Component
Information System?

Overview
Orcad Component Information System (CIS) is a part
management system that is available as an option for use
with Orcad Capture. Orcad CIS helps you manage part
properties (including part information required at each
step in the printed circuit board design process, from
implementation through manufacturing) within your
schematic designs.
CIS provides access to local (preferred parts database) and
remote part databases that contain all relevant
information for the parts used in your designs. This
information may include company part numbers, part
descriptions, PCB layout footprints, technical parameters
(such as speeds, tolerances, and ratings), and purchasing
information.
With CIS, you can select a part from your preferred parts
database or a remote database and place it directly in your
schematic design. You can configure CIS to transfer any or
all properties associated with that part to the schematic
Chapter 1 What is the Orcad Component Information System?

when you place the part. CIS maintains a link to the

engineering database part so that you can retrieve other
part properties at any time. Linking placed parts to your
preferred parts database gives you access to complete part
information during the schematic design process.
If you need a part for your design that is not yet in the
parts database, you can create the part in the design and
add the part to your part database immediately or at a
later time. You can also link a non-database part you’ve
created before to a database part at any time.

UNC, URLs, Orcad Orcad Orcad

path to Layout Capture PSpice Corporate Database
browsable
Libraries Libraries Libraries Combined or (MRP/ERP/PDM) Upload BOM
files separate to corporate
databases system

Local
Preferred Orcad Capture
Part ODBC
Preferred Parts Reports
Data Database Tab delimited ASCII
Comma delimited ASCII
Orcad CIS MS Access database format

External Seagate Crystal Reports

Internet
New Activeparts Database ICA
Part
Data

Orcad Orcad Supplier URLs to To To

Pricing & To Lotus To
Layout Capture Mfr. Spec Exchange
Availa- File Notes MS Mail
Libraries Libraries Sheets Folder
bility Database

2
 CIS product history

CIS product history

Orcad CIS Release 9 is the latest version of the Orcad
Enterprise CIS product offering. With the release of
version 7.2 in April 1998, the Orcad Enterprise CIS family
was the evolution and final merging of two popular Orcad
CIS product lines—Enterprise Edition and EDA-Bridge.
Enterprise Edition evolved from the DDL product
originally developed by an Orcad Industry Partner called
Q-Point. Q-Point was acquired by Orcad in June 1997.
Orcad Enterprise Edition was packaged and shipped
under the product names Orcad Capture EE and Orcad
Express EE. Version 7.1 was the last release of both these
products lines. They were replaced by Orcad Enterprise
CIS v7.2.
EDA-Bridge was acquired as part of The T.E.A.M.
Corporation merger in April 1997. The product was sold
as a stand-alone option and was available until the release
of Orcad Capture v7.1 and Orcad Express v7.1.
Subsequently, EDA-bridge was replaced by Orcad
Enterprise CIS version 7.2.
Enterprise CIS v7.2 merged features of EDA-Bridge and
Enterprise Edition, and can be used with both Orcad
Capture v7.2 and Orcad Express v7.2.
With the Release 9.0, the name Orcad Enterprise CIS has
been shortened to Orcad CIS. Orcad Capture is available
with CIS as a product called Orcad Capture CIS. Orcad As part of an effort by Cadence to simplify
Capture CIS has additional options that can be purchased, packaging and licensing of the Design
including digital simulation and programmable logic Desktop for Windows product line, the
functionality from the Orcad Express family and analog architecture of Express has changed with
simulation from the Orcad PSpice family. Release 9.0 to be a plug-in for Capture and
Capture CIS.

3
Chapter 1 What is the Orcad Component Information System?

The internet component

assistant (ICA)
The CIS internet component assistant (ICA) allows you to
access new components over the Internet by providing a
link to the part database at the activeparts web site. After
finding an activepart, you can download the part’s
component information to create temporary parts in your
local preferred part database (PPD). You can immediately
place the temporary part in your schematic designs.
Temporary parts can then be elevated through your
enterprise approval process, assigned corporate part
numbers, and accepted as preferred parts within the
database.

4
 CIS in the PCB design process

CIS in the PCB design process

To use CIS in your printed circuit board design flow, you
or your system administrator must perform the following
setup tasks.
1 Create the preferred part database. This involves
creating and entering the part data appropriate for the
database.
2 Set up the Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) data
source to point to the preferred part database.
3 Configure the part management system.
Each of these tasks is described in Chapter 2, Setting up
Orcad CIS.
Once the setup is complete, you can use CIS in Capture to:
• Select parts with associated properties from the
database and place them on schematic pages in your
design.
• Check the status of placed parts and update placed
part properties to reflect changes to the database.
• Generate bills of materials and other reports using
both design and part database information.

Setup
Create the Set the ODBC Configure
part database data source CIS

Place Update Create

database parts part status reports

Design

5
Chapter 1 What is the Orcad Component Information System?

The CIS work environment

For descriptions of how to use the CIS The CIS work environment includes two specialized
Windows interface, see Using the CIS windows that allow you to manage your local part
interface on page 58. database and explore sources of part data—the CIS
explorer and the part manager. All the CIS functionality
for these windows is integrated into Capture menus.

The CIS explorer window

The CIS explorer window allows you to search for and

retrieve a variety of part information. The main window
contains two tabbed windows—the local part database
and the internet component assistant (ICA). The following
table lists the windows available for each tabbed window.

6
 The CIS work environment

This window... Is available in this tabbed window...

Footprint Both

Part Both

Visibility Both

Explorer Local part database

Database parts Local part database

ICA home page Internet component assistant (ICA)

The CIS explorer window displays in one of the following

three modes, depending on which of the following CIS
features you are using:
• Placing a database part
• Linking a database part to a placed part
• Viewing the database properties of a placed part
The mode is displayed as part of the window title bar.

The footprint window

Note The footprint window is only available if you chose to view
Orcad Layout-generated footprint libraries during installation.
The footprint window displays the Layout-generated PCB
footprint associated with the currently selected database
part.

7
Chapter 1 What is the Orcad Component Information System?

The part window

The part window displays the Capture library part
associated with the currently selected database part. If the
part has a convert (such as a DeMorgan equivalent), you
can select it. For a multiple-part package, you can select
the specific part in the package.

The visibility window

You can also use the visibility window to The visibility window displays the default settings for
display a compact summary of the part which part properties are visible on your schematic page.
properties and their contents for the part You can use the visibility window to override these
you have selected in the database parts default settings. You can also set custom visibility settings
window. You can see more of the properties for the current part selection.
and contents in this view because the
visibility window displays them in rows
rather than columns.

The explorer window

The explorer window allows you to search for parts using
local data from your preferred part database. The window
contains two tabbed sections—explore and query. In the
explore tab, you can search for parts using a hierarchical
tree organized by part type. The query tab allows you to
further filter your selection based on parametric or field
data.
8
 The CIS work environment

The database parts window

The database parts window displays the results of your
part browsing and database queries.

The ICA home page

The ICA home page window provides access to the
activeparts web site. This site is continuously updated to
make sure you have the latest, most complete Internet part
information.
When you select the activeparts web site from the ICA
home page, CIS will replace the home page with the
activeparts search page. Then, you can use the activeparts
interface to search its part database. Because this is a live
link to the database, you always have access to the most
recent part information.
When you find a part that you want, you can place it, When placing parts from the activeparts
along with its component information, directly onto a web site, CIS users have access to Orcad
schematic page. Component information associated with schematic representations of parts and PCB
activeparts may include: footprints over the Internet.

9
Chapter 1 What is the Orcad Component Information System?

• Part manufacturers and manufacturer part numbers

• Part values
• Orcad schematic parts and PCB footprints
• Supplier pricing and availability information
• URLs of manufacturer specification sheets

The part manager window

The part manager window summarizes the status of all
the parts in your design.

The part manager displays information for each part in

your design including:
• Schematic page on which the part is placed
• Part reference designator
• Part value
• Part number
• Status of the placed part relative to the part database
• Database table that contains the placed part’s
associated database part
• Capture source library from which the part was
placed
• Capture source package to which the part belongs

10
Setting up Orcad CIS

Overview
This chapter describes the four tasks necessary to set up
Orcad Component Information System (CIS), including:
1 Create a part database. See Creating a part database on
page 12.
2 Set up the Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) data
source name. See Setting up the ODBC data source on
page 23.
3 Create a configuration file to enable CIS to access and
use the part database. See Creating a configuration file on
page 26.
4 Edit your configuration file to customize how CIS
interacts with your part database and your work
environment. See Editing a configuration file on page 36.
Also included are procedures for setting the up the CIS
work environment, including Setting up the ICA to access
external part data on page 53 and Creating Crystal Reports
templates on page 54.
Chapter 2 Setting up Orcad CIS

Creating a part database

The part database is the entity that contains all the
relevant information for the parts you use in your designs.
You can think of a part database as one or more tables,
with each row in a table representing a part and each
column representing a part property.
Before you create your part database, you need to choose
whether to use a database or spreadsheet application.
You can create a database from an existing Then, when you create your part database, you need to
Capture design. For more information, see carefully setup its structure and organization, including:
Creating a part database from an
• Part property assignments. See Determining part
existing design on page 2-20.
properties on page 2-14.
You can also extract information for your
• Field formats for properties. See Setting the field format
part database from an MRP database. For
on page 2-20.
more information, see Extracting ERP
or MRP database part • Number of tables used in the database
information on page 2-22. implementation. See Using more than one table on
page 2-20.
Using ODBC, CIS interfaces directly with your ODBC
compliant database or spreadsheet. This means you can
use your preferred application to create and maintain
your part database.

Choosing a database format

To take full advantage of the speed and power of CIS, you
may want to use a database application rather than a
Note Cadence developed, wrote, and spreadsheet application. As a general rule, you should use
tested Orcad CIS in the Access 97 and SQL a database application for databases with more than 1,000
Server 6.5 environment. Access offers high parts. Database applications offer the following
performance queries with databases of advantages over spreadsheets:
several thousand parts. If your database • Comprehensive data management features
outgrows Access, moving to SQL Server is a
seamless process. Using the upsize wizard, • Better performance for part searching
Access can easily transfer the database to • Form-based entry for entering part information
SQL Server and still serve as an interface
for maintaining data. • Safeguard against duplicate part numbers

12
 Creating a part database

The disadvantages of spreadsheets and delimited text files

include:
Lack of structure. During data entry, spreadsheets
allow you to configure every cell in a different format.
This makes querying fields (columns) very difficult
because CIS expects queried fields to be in a consistent
format.
Lack of ANSI SQL compliance. Because true databases Structured query language (SQL) is used in
are ANSI SQL compliant, their drivers do very little work querying, updating, and managing
in relaying SQL commands to connected data sources. In relational databases.
contrast, with non-SQL compliant spreadsheets, the
ODBC driver is responsible for translating the SQL
commands into functions that the spreadsheet can
understand. This results in a dramatic increase in the time
your queries can be processed. Query time increases are
even more dramatic with text files because the driver must
search for and compile a matching list entirely on its own.
An optimized, SQL-compliant database format is several
times faster than a spreadsheet with more than 100 parts
or a text file of over 20 parts.
Lack of replication support. If you have users in more
than one location accessing your database, you have either
a single, central database or a replicated database.
Replication is a method of storing a single database in
more than one location. True databases support
scheduled synchronization: they maintain data integrity
by checking separate database transaction logs and
replicating modifications on multiple systems. If you are
using a spreadsheet or text program, you must check
manually because your format does not support
replication.

13
Chapter 2 Setting up Orcad CIS

You may want to look at the sample part Determining part properties
databases provided with CIS. Two samples
are provided in the SAMPLES folder. The The first step in creating a part database is to determine
first part database, BENCH.MDB, is an the properties to include for each part. Typical properties
Access 97 database. The second, in a part database include part number, part description,
BENCH.XLS, is an Excel spreadsheet. As you tolerance, rating, speed, timing parameters, PCB
read this section, refer to these samples to footprint, manufacturer, and cost. CIS supports an
get a better understanding of how to set up unlimited number of properties, so you can include as
your part database. much information in your part database as you want.
There are no restrictions on database table property
Example: You can name the Part Number names. Also, the names you use in the database can be
property My Company Part Number. different than the property names you assign to the placed
parts. Database property types and placed-part property
names are defined during database configuration. For
Example: you may call a property more information, see Creating a configuration file on
Tolerance in the database and Tol on the page 2-26.
placed part.
Note Do not use the same property name more than once. For example,
if you have two manufacturer columns in your database, call them
Manufacturer 1 and Manufacturer 2.
When you transfer a property, that property is included in
the schematic as an attribute of the placed part. Normally,
you transfer properties that are required by CIS (such as
Part Number and Schematic Part), used in the design
process (such as Value, Tolerance, and Rating), or needed
for use by other software products (such as PCB
Footprint). Properties that aren’t transferred can still be
included in a bill of materials report.
Note Your database can also contain Parts in your database must include all of the properties in
mechanical (non-electrical) parts. Table 1. Any of the optional properties in Table 2 may also
However, you must not allow users to add be added. Recommendations on whether to transfer
mechanical parts to the database whose properties to your design are included in both tables.
schematic representations (symbols) have Properties recommended for transfer to the design are
pins. If mechanical parts with pins are either likely to be required for netlisting or are generally
placed in a design, they will invalidate needed on printouts of the design.
netlists generated from that design.

14
 Creating a part database

Table 1 Required part properties

Transfer to
Property Description
design?

Part Number Required to identify the part in association with the CIS Required
Part_Number property type. This property is required by the
part manager and the bill of materials report. CIS lets you
enter more than one database part with the same number in
the database. However, you should use a unique part number
for each part and have no duplicate part entries in your
database.

Part Type Identifies the part type. The Part Database Explorer uses this No
property to define the part database folder hierarchy. Use this
property to facilitate part searches. Typical contents are
resistor, resistor\fixed, capacitor, capacitor\electrolytic, IC,
IC\Memory\SRAM, connector, and so on. The levels of the
hierarchy are defined using the backslash (\) character (or any
character you define in the configuration). You can define any
number of levels in the hierarchy.
This property is also used by the Part Reference Associations
option. (See Defining part reference associations on page 43.)
This property is case-sensitive. Make sure you use
uppercase-lowercase conventions consistently when entering
values for this property.

15
Chapter 2 Setting up Orcad CIS

Table 1 Required part properties (continued)

Transfer to
Property Description
design?

Schematic Part The part name. This property is required to use the Place Automatic
(Symbol) Database Part command. Only the part name is necessary if
the part is stored in the same directory as the custom
schematic part libraries (.OLB files) that you configure in
Capture. (See the Orcad Capture User’s Guide for more
information about configuring part libraries.)
However, to make sure that you don’t accidentally place an
identically named part, you should include the library name, a
backslash (\), and then the part name. Examples include:
DISCRETE\CAP
DISCRETE\DIODE
OPAMP\CMP01
In addition, you can use the explicit path so CIS can locate an
unconfigured library. For example:
C:\MYLIB\DISCRETE\CAP
Caution Do not directly reference the schematic part libraries that are
supplied with Capture CIS (resource libraries). Because the resource libraries in
your installations of Capture CIS are often changed during upgrades to new
software versions, the library names and paths in your database can be made
invalid. Instead, create your own custom libraries by renaming the resource library
files or copying individual parts from the resource libraries to your custom libraries.
You can also assign multiple schematic part names to a single
part. Use the same format as above for each name and
separate each one with the multi-value delimiter (by default, a
comma). For example:
DISCRETE\CAPACITOR NON-POL, DISCRETE\CAP NP,
DISCRETE\SMALL CAP
Tip The default value of the multi-value delimiter is a comma. However, when
setting administrative preferences during database configuration, you can change
the character CIS recognizes as the delimiter to a colon, semi-colon, question mark,
or vertical bar. For information, see Setting administrative preferences
on page 2-47.
Then, when you update your design’s part status, CIS can
approve and make current a schematic part which has several
acceptable names. Also, if a database part has several different
valid schematic parts, you will be able to choose

16
 Creating a part database

Table 1 Required part properties (continued)

Transfer to
Property Description
design?

any one of them when you are placing parts from the database
parts window. All the configured schematic parts for the
database part will be available from a drop-down list under
the Schematic Part property name.
CIS locates the Capture library using the following set of
prioritized rules:
1 Search the library at the explicit path, if provided.
2 Search the first library listed in CAPTURE.INI that has a
matching library filename.
3 Search all directories that contain configured libraries.
4 If no libraries are included specifically in your Capture
design, CIS searches the LIBRARY directory in your
Capture installation directory.

Value The part value. Examples are 1.2K, 10.0uF, and 74ALS374. CIS Required
supports the use of common magnitude identifiers (such as K
and uF).
The database query uses intelligent unit conversion to
interpret common magnitude identifiers in part definitions,
since entries in part databases are often inconsistent (for
example, the Value for a 2.7K resistor can be 2.7K, 2,700, 2.70K,
2.700K, 2700.0, 0.0027M, etc.). Unit suffixes (such as F for
farads or H for henries) are ignored in translation.
The magnitude identifiers supported in CIS include:

Identifier Represents Magnitude

f femto 10-15
p pico 10-12
n nano 10-9
u micro 10-6
m milli 10-3
K kilo 103
M mega 106
G giga 109
T tera 1012

17
 Chapter 2 Setting up Orcad CIS

Table 2 Optional part properties

Transfer to
Property Description
design?

Availability Number of the parts in stock at your company. Not

recommended

Data Sheet The name of the detailed datasheet for this part. Select the Not
Browsable check box in the configuration for CIS to recommended
automatically launch the appropriate browser for this
property.
Examples include: 74ALS374.PDF,
http://www.chipmaker.com/specs/74ALS374, and
RES1K1/4W.DOC.
You can browse any format you want. CIS uses the
application assigned to that file extension in your Windows
registry. (Extension assignments are managed in the
Windows Explorer. See your MS Windows documentation
for more information.) For example, a .DOC entry might
cause CIS to launch Microsoft Word, and a URL entry might
cause it to launch your default web browser.
Note CIS uses the PATH environment variable and the current working directory
to find the specified document.
Description A brief description of the part. Not
recommended

Distributor Name of part distributor. Not

recommended

Distributor Part Part number used to order from the distributor. Not
Number recommended

Manufacturer Name of part manufacturer. Not

recommended

Manufacturer Part number used to order from the manufacturer. Not

Part Number recommended

18
 Creating a part database

Table 2 Optional part properties (continued)

Transfer to
Property Description
design?

PCB Footprint The PCB footprint name (from the footprint library) Recommended
assigned to a part.
Note Unlike Schematic Part property names, you cannot use directory paths for
libraries with PCB footprint names. If you use a path with a PCB footprint name,
the footprint will not display in the CIS explorer’s footprint window.
You can assign multiple PCB footprints to a single part by
entering them in the part’s footprint field in your part
database and separating each footprint name with the
multi-value delimiter.
Tip The default value of the multi-value delimiter is a comma. However, when
setting administrative preferences during database configuration, you can
change the character CIS recognizes as the delimiter to a colon, semi-colon,
question mark, or vertical bar. For information, see Setting
administrative preferences on page 2-47.
Then, when you update your design’s part status, CIS can
approve and make current a schematic part which has
several acceptable footprint names. Also, if a database part
has several different valid PCB footprints, you will be able to
choose any one of them when you are placing parts from the
database parts window. All the configured PCB footprints
for the database part will be available from a drop-down list
under the PCB Footprint property name.

Price Part price. Use this information when selecting parts to Not
design for cost. Include this property in reports to get a cost recommended
roll-up of your design.

Rating The maximum rating for the part (for example, maximum Optional
voltage or power dissipation).

Tolerance The percent tolerance specified for the part. Optional

Voltage The voltage requirement of the part. Optional

19
Chapter 2 Setting up Orcad CIS

Setting the field format

CIS can work with database text and number format fields
(known as the cell format in spreadsheets). As a general
rule, set each database field (that is, each table column) to
text format. CIS converts other database field formats,
such as float, to text format when properties are
transferred to placed parts.
Note Use only ANSI SQL-92 compliant data types for your field formats.
If you use non-compliant data types, CIS may misinterpret property
values.

Using more than one table

CIS can reference more than one table or worksheet in
your part database. For example, you can group your
parts into several tables according to type. That is, you can
place resistors in one table, ICs in another, capacitors in
another, and the remaining parts in a fourth table. When
you’re viewing database parts with CIS, each table has a
unique view. You can arrange the column settings for
each table independently, allowing you to view different
properties for each.

You can obtain a wizard from the Orcad Creating a part database from an existing design
web site that automates this process. The
You can also create a part database by extracting part
wizard also automatically derives
properties from an existing Capture design using the CIS
schematic part and source library
Bill of Materials command.
information for the placed parts in your
Capture schematic. If you use the manual Tip If your designs are created in another schematic capture program
procedure detailed here, you will have to that creates bills of materials for part properties, you can still create
manually reference your placed parts to a part database from an existing design. Follow the instructions
your libraries. supplied with the program to create the appropriate bill of
To download the CIS wizard, visit the Orcad materials file from your design. Then, use the bill of materials file
web site at www.orcad.com. to create a part database based on that design.

20
 Creating a part database

Consider the example in the following illustration. The

Standard Bill of Materials dialog box lists a typical set of
properties to extract from the design.

In the Output Format list, CIS lists a number of properties Note Your database should have a unique
that will be extracted to the bill of materials. You can add part number for each part and no duplicate
to this list by selecting properties from the Select part entries. Although some database
Properties list and clicking the Add button. You can applications will not import more than one
remove properties from the Output Format list by occurrence of a keyed property, you may
selecting them and clicking the Remove button. need to eliminate duplicate part entries
manually. To do this, sort the database by
When you click OK in the Standard Bill of Materials dialog
part number, then delete duplicate entries
box, CIS creates a file with the property information for all
using your database or spreadsheet
the parts in the design. You can directly import this file
program.
into your database.

21
Chapter 2 Setting up Orcad CIS

Extracting ERP or MRP database part information

You can also extract information from an existing
enterprise or manufacturing resource planning (ERP or
MRP) database, to create a part database. Save the ERP or
MRP database as an ASCII file, then use that file as your
part database file or as a source for a true part database file
(for example, an MS Access format file).
Note If your ERP database is ODBC compliant, you may not need to
extract part information. Instead, you should be able to directly
connect your preferred part database (PPD) to the ERP database–
you should not have to set up and run regular batch routines to
update the data in your PPD. For information about connecting
these databases, see the product documentation for both database
applications.
You may need to enhance the information in an ERP or
MRP database, since it generally will not include
everything required for schematic design. However, an
ERP or MRP database usually contains a complete list of
your company’s parts, part numbers, part descriptions,
costs, quantities in stock, lead times, manufacturers, and
alternate manufacturers.
Often, the data in an ERP or MRP database exists in a
format that does not lend itself to ease of use. For example,
the part value may be merged with the description, such
as:
RES 1K 5% 1/4W
To take advantage of updated information This makes searching for parts more difficult. If you can,
in an ERP or MRP database, you need to set split this information out in the ERP or MRP database into
up a means of extracting data on a regular separate database properties, such as Part Type, Value,
basis and using it to update your part Tolerance, and Rating.
database. That way, your part database will
You can also contact the Cadence Methodology Services
include information that changes
group for assistance in converting your data into a more
frequently, such as quantity in stock and
convenient format.
lead time.

22
 Setting up the ODBC data source

Setting up the ODBC data source

Before you can set the CIS configuration, you must define You must define the data source on each
the open database connectivity (ODBC) data source for user’s system. When you do so, use the
your database. CIS interfaces to your part database using same data source name. This allows users
a defined ODBC data source name. A data source consists to share the same configuration file.
of a database filename and an associated ODBC driver Note If your workgroup is sharing a
with which to access it. If you are setting up a client-server configuration file, make sure to
database, the data source also references the database write-protect the file.
server. You define the data source name, assign the
database file name, and specify the ODBC driver using the
32-bit ODBC Windows control panel.

To set the data source for the local database

1 From the Windows Settings menu, choose Control
Panel. Note If you are using the Windows 2000
operating system, double-click the
Administrative Tools folder to access the
ODBC icon.

2 Double-click on the ODBC icon. Depending on your

system configuration, Windows displays the ODBC
Data Source Administrator or a Data Sources dialog
box.
Note If you do not see an icon for 32-bit ODBC, run the Capture CIS
installation program to install ODBC.

23
Chapter 2 Setting up Orcad CIS

If the driver for your application is not 3 Click the ODBC Drivers tab and make sure the driver
present, you must install it. Check the CIS appropriate to your database or spreadsheet is
installation disk or contact the database or installed on your system.
spreadsheet program supplier.

If you are using Windows NT, you should 4 Click the User DSN tab then choose the Add button.
click the System DSN tab to create new data Windows displays the Create New Data Source dialog
sources. If you do not use the System DSN box.
tab, users with different logins will not be
able to use the ODBC source.

24
 Setting up the ODBC data source

5 Choose the appropriate driver for your program

(Microsoft Access, in this example), then click the
Finish button.

6 Assign a name for the data source. If desired, enter a

description for the data source name.
Note Step 7 may be different depending on the type of program you
used to create your database.
7 Under Database, click the Select button, and locate the
database.
8 Click the Options button, and clear the Read Only See Setting administrative
check box so users can create new parts and add them preferences on page 47 for more
to the database using CIS. information on temporary parts.
9 Click OK to set the data source.

25
Chapter 2 Setting up Orcad CIS

Creating a configuration file

Keep the configuration (.DBC) file in a CIS requires a configuration (.DBC) file to make use of
read-only directory that is accessible to all your part database. The configuration file:
CIS users. You should make the directory
• Identifies the ODBC data source to use as the part
read-only to prevent users from
database and specifies the tables to use within that
inadvertently changing the configuration.
database.
• Identifies the part properties that are transferred to
your design when you place or link a database part.
• Sets the visibility for each of the transferred
properties.
• Contains the part type associations.
Note If you use a CIS v7.2 configuration file with CIS Release 9, the file
will be updated to support the new features of this release. After
CIS updates the file, though, you cannot use it again with CIS v7.2.
If you are using a configuration file from before CIS v7.2, you must
recreate the file because the configuration file format was changed
for CIS v7.2.
When creating a configuration file, you should use the
database configuration wizard. Completing the wizard
guarantees that your part database can be used with most
CIS features. For information about using the wizard, see
Using the database configuration wizard below.
However, if you need to use the manual method of
creating a configuration file, you can reference Creating a
configuration file manually on page 2-32.

Using the database configuration wizard

You must set up a new ODBC data source You can use the database configuration wizard each time
before you can create a new configuration you want to create a new database configuration file. The
file. If you haven’t set up a new ODBC data wizard is designed to make sure that you set at least the
source for your database, see Setting up minimum table and property configuration that is
the ODBC data source on required for CIS to work with your part database.
page 2-23.

26
 Creating a configuration file

However, the wizard does not include all the options

available to you, including options to optimize the
performance of CIS and customize your CIS work
environment. For this reason, when you have finished
running the wizard, you should read through the last two
parts of this section, Setting other part database options on
page 2-30 and Setting other configuration options on
page 2-32.

Starting the database configuration wizard

You can start the database configuration wizard anytime
you want to create a new database configuration file.

To start the database configuration wizard

1 Open a new or existing schematic design in Capture.
2 From the project manager’s Options menu, choose CIS
Configuration. CIS displays the CIS Configuration File
dialog box.

27
Chapter 2 Setting up Orcad CIS

3 Click the New button. CIS displays the Database

Configuration Wizard.

4 Follow the instructions in the wizard to create your

database configuration file. If you need more
information about any of the wizard steps, click the
Help button.

28
 Creating a configuration file

5 Click the Finish button. CIS displays the Configure

Database dialog box and the wizard is complete.

6 If you want to set other part database options,

complete the next section, Setting other part database
options.
7 If you do not want to set any other part database or
configuration options, click OK to save the new
database configuration file.

29
Chapter 2 Setting up Orcad CIS

Setting other part database options

You can set other part database options that are not
available in the database configuration wizard, including:
• The part properties to be checked against the part
database when you update the part status of a design.
CIS sets which properties are checked by default but,
if you have a special situation that requires different
properties to be checked, you are allowed to change
the defaults.
• The part tables that CIS will search when you are
linking placed parts to database parts. This is useful
when your database consists of several part tables that
are organized by device type (for example, capacitors
in one table, resistors in another, and so on). When you
are linking database parts to placed parts, CIS uses
allowed part reference prefixes to limit your search to
the appropriate tables. The result is that your search
takes less time.
The procedure below describes how to set these options.

30
 Creating a configuration file

To set other part database options

1 In the Configure Database dialog box, select the Part
Database tab.

2 In the Tables list, select the database table for which

you want to set options.
3 In Update Property column of the Configuration area,
select the check box for each property that you want to
be checked when you update the part status of your
designs. For example, if a table contains only
4 In the Allowed Part Reference Prefixes text box, type capacitors, you could enter C as the
the part reference prefixes you want CIS to use to limit allowed part reference prefix. Then, when
searches on the database table. you choose the Link Database Part
command, CIS searches that table only
5 Repeat this procedure on each database table for
when the placed part you are linking has a
which you want to set these options.
part reference prefix of C.
6 If you do not want to set any other part database or Note Leave this box blank if you want the
configuration options, click OK to save the new table to be searched regardless of the part
database configuration file. reference prefix.

31
Chapter 2 Setting up Orcad CIS

7 If you want to set other configuration options, go to

the next section, Setting other configuration options.

Setting other configuration options

You can set other options in the database configuration
that customize how CIS interacts with your part database
and how you use CIS in your work environment. These
options include:
• Defining part reference associations to improve the
speed and accuracy of the search for database parts to
link to placed parts. For more information, see
Defining part reference associations on page 2-43.
• Setting administrative preferences to customize some
CIS features for your work environment. For more
information, see Setting administrative preferences on
page 2-47.
• Setting ICA supplier preferences to specify which
component suppliers you want CIS to search for part
pricing and availability. For more information, see
Setting ICA supplier preferences on page 2-50.

Creating a configuration file manually

You must set up a new ODBC data source You can create a configuration file using the manual
before you can create a new configuration procedure below. When you are finished creating the file,
file. If you haven’t set up a new ODBC data you will need to set the options for the file so that CIS
source for your database, see Setting up knows how to handle your database table part properties.
the ODBC data source on For information about setting or editing configuration file
page 2-23. options, see Editing a configuration file on page 2-36.

32
 Creating a configuration file

To create a configuration file manually

1 Open a new or existing schematic design in Capture.
2 From the project manager’s Options menu, choose CIS
Configuration. CIS displays the CIS Configuration File
dialog box.

33
Chapter 2 Setting up Orcad CIS

3 Click the Setup button. CIS displays the Configure

Database dialog box.

4 Click the Browse button. CIS displays the Browse Data

Source dialog box.

34
 Creating a configuration file

5 Select the data source name you defined for your

ODBC driver, then click OK. The Configure Database
dialog box lists the tables found in your data source.

6 Set the configuration file options as desired. For

information about setting configuration file options,
see Editing a configuration file on page 2-36.

35
Chapter 2 Setting up Orcad CIS

Editing a configuration file

For information about creating a As you set up and work with CIS, you may discover
configuration file, see Creating a performance issues or elements of the CIS work
configuration file on page 2-26. environment that are not optimal for your work group.
This section describes in detail all the configuration
options that are available and how to set them optimally
for your situation. The four categories for these options
include:
• Setting database table property options on page 2-36.
• Defining part reference associations on page 2-43.
• Setting administrative preferences on page 2-47.
• Setting ICA supplier preferences on page 2-50.

Setting database table property options

Once you have created a database configuration file, you
need to set the options for the file so that CIS knows how
to handle your database table part properties.

To set database table property options

1 Open a new or existing schematic design in Capture.

36
 Editing a configuration file

2 From the project manager’s Options menu, choose CIS

Configuration. CIS displays the CIS Configuration File
dialog box.

3 Choose a configuration file to edit by doing one of the

following:
• To edit the current configuration file, click the
Setup button.
• To edit a different configuration file, click the
Browse button, locate and open the file, then click
the Setup button.

37
Chapter 2 Setting up Orcad CIS

CIS displays the Configure Database dialog box.

4 If you want to choose a new data source for your

configuration, do the following:
Caution If you choose a new data source name, all of the settings made with
the previously selected data source will be lost for the current
configuration (.DBC) file. If you want to keep the settings in the
current .DBC file, use the database configuration wizard to create a
new configuration file instead. For more information, see Using
the database configuration wizard on page 2-26.

38
 Editing a configuration file

a Click the Browse button. CIS displays the Browse

Data Source dialog box.

b Select the data source name you defined for your

ODBC driver, then click OK. The Configure
Database dialog box lists the tables found in your
data source.

39
Chapter 2 Setting up Orcad CIS

5 If you want to configure table properties, select the

table that contains the properties. In the graphic
below, the Capacitor table is selected.

When you select a table, the Configuration area lists

the properties it contains. Each row represents a part
property, and each property has the following
characteristics:
Table Property Name. This is the name of the
property as it is defined in the part database.
Table Property Type. This is the data type for the
property. Most properties are type Text, but there may
be other data types.
Property Type. The Property Type determines how
CIS interprets the property. Your database must
include a property of type Part_Number in every
table.
Set the following property types:
• The Part_Type type for the database property that
defines the part type. (This defines the field for
folder view in CIS explorer.)
• The Schematic_Part type for the database property
that contains the schematic part (symbol) name.
• The PCB_Footprint type for the database property
that contains your Layout footprint name. If you
want the database to include footprints not
folder view in CIS explorer generated by Orcad Layout, set the property type
to Normal. This prevents the footprint viewer from
trying to interpret them.

40
 Editing a configuration file

• The PSpice_Model type if you have a database

property that contains PSpice Models. When you
set this property type, CIS activates Pspice
functionality for placed parts with a value for the
database property.
• The Activepart_ID type if you have a database
property to store the unique identifiers for parts
that are placed using the activeparts web site
through the ICA. When you set this property type,
you can create reports about parts using the latest
information from the activeparts database. In
addition, you can view the latest information for a
part directly from an instance on a schematic page.
Transfer To Design. Setting this option (by selecting
the appropriate check box) causes CIS to transfer the
property along with the part when the part is placed or
linked to a schematic part.
Caution CIS will not work unless you transfer at least the table property
names for the part number and value properties.
Orcad Property Name. This defines the name of the
property when it is transferred to the placed part. By
default, it uses the name of the property as it appears
in the database. Note that the Orcad Property Name Example: If the property name in the
applies only to properties for which you have enabled database is Component Tolerance and you
the Transfer to Design option. want to call it Tolerance on the placed part,
type Tolerance or choose Tolerance
ICA Property Name. This maps property names on from the drop-down list.
new parts created with the internet component
assistant (ICA) to corresponding database property
names. Example: You can map the ICA property
name Mfr to your database property name
Visibility. This sets the default visibility of the
Manufacturer.
property when it is copied to the placed part. There are
four visibility modes:
Visible. CIS displays the property with the
part on the schematic page.
Invisible. CIS does not display the property
with the part on the schematic page.

41
Chapter 2 Setting up Orcad CIS

No Change. CIS does not modify the

property visibility. If the property does not
For more information about placing and exist, it is set to invisible. You can override
linking database parts, see Placing a the default visibility for specific parts when
database part on a schematic you place or link database parts. Cells that
page on page 3-66 and Linking a you cannot change are shown with a light
placed part to a database part on gray background in this column.
page 3-88. Non-adjustable. CIS does not allow this
property to be set as visible on schematic
pages.
Key. This sets the property as a key during the initial
part search. The key is used when you are linking a
For more information about linking database part to a previously placed part. Normally,
database parts, see Linking a placed you set only the Value property as a key so that, when
part to a database part on you want to link a part, CIS searches the part database
page 3-88. for parts with a specific value. If you don’t have a
Value property in your database, do not set a key.
Browsable. This sets browse capability for the
property. It allows you to put references to datasheets,
drawings, and documents in your part database. For
example, you can reference Adobe Acrobat (.PDF)
files, Microsoft Word (.DOC) files, and even
worldwide web addresses (URLs). You can then view
these items online in CIS when browsing the part
database. They are also browsable when you are
viewing standard CIS bills of materials.
You can browse any format you want. CIS uses the
application assigned to that file extension in your
Windows registry. (Extension assignments are
managed in the Windows Explorer.) For example, a
.DOC entry might cause CIS to launch Microsoft
Word, and a URL entry might cause it to launch your
default web browser.
Note CIS uses the PATH environment variable and the current
working directory to find the specified document.
Update Part Property. Select this if you want the
value of this property for placed parts to be checked
against the database part’s value when you update the
part status of your design.
42
 Editing a configuration file

6 (Optional) Type the part reference prefixes in the

Allowed Part Reference Prefixes text box.
This is useful when your database consists of several
part tables that are organized by device type (for
example, capacitors in one table, resistors in another,
and so on). When you are linking database parts to For more information about linking
placed parts, CIS uses allowed part reference prefixes database parts, see Linking a placed
to limit your search to the appropriate tables. The part to a database part on
result is that your search takes less time. page 3-88.
For example, if a table contains only capacitors, you
could enter C as the allowed part reference prefix.
Then, when you choose the Link Database Part
command, CIS searches that table only when the
placed part you are linking has a part reference prefix
of C.
Note Leave this box blank if you want the table to be searched
regardless of the part reference prefix.
7 Repeat steps 5 and 6 for each table in the database.
8 When you are finished configuring table properties,
click OK or choose another tab to continue configuring
your database.

Defining part reference associations

Part reference associations are used to improve the speed You must create a configuration file for
and accuracy of the search for database parts to link to your database before you can define its
placed parts. You create associations between a particular part reference associations. If you have not
part type and the prefixes in the part database for that part already created a configuration file for
type. For example, you can create a part reference your database, see Setting database
association for resistors such that all resistors in the part table property options on
database use the R prefix. page 2-36.
Note Defining part reference associations only improves part search
speeds for true databases (for example, Microsoft Access)—there
is no speed improvement from setting up associations if you are
using a spreadsheet or a text file for your database.

43
Chapter 2 Setting up Orcad CIS

Once you’ve defined part reference associations for your

database, when you choose the Link Database Part
command, CIS displays database parts of the appropriate
Example: If you select an inductor, L1, on type. Without defined part reference associations, CIS
the schematic page with a value of 100uH, displays all parts in the database that match the keyed
then choose the Link Database Part property value, regardless of the part type. By defining an
command, CIS displays all parts in the appropriate reference association, you can limit the
database having a value of 100 x 10-6. This number of parts that CIS displays.
may include capacitors, inductors, or other
Note Defining part reference associations is optional. You can define
parts with a similar value.
associations later if you need to improve the search performance
By defining a reference association during database part linking.
between inductors and the L prefix, you can
limit the parts that CIS displays to inductors When you define part reference associations for your part
only. database, keep the following points in mind:
• Part reference associations apply to all database tables.
• The Part Type Property Contents value in the dialog
box is case-sensitive.
• You can associate one prefix with several different
part types.
Example: An association between the part • An association applies to its level in the part type
reference prefix C and the part type hierarchy and all lower levels.
Capacitor applies to part types of Capacitor,
• A part reference prefix without a defined part type
Capacitor\Electrolytic, and
association can be matched to any part type in the
Capacitor\Ceramic\Fixed. Note that a part
database.
reference prefix associated with the part
type Capacitor\Ceramic does not apply to • If a particular part in the database does not have its
part types of Capacitor or Part Type property contents defined, that part will be
Capacitor\Electrolytic. matched only to part reference prefixes with no
defined part type associations.

44
 Editing a configuration file

To define part reference associations

1 In your local preferred parts database, make sure that
the Part Type property field is indexed.
2 If you are not already in the Configure Database You can add icons for custom part
dialog box, do the following: references that will automatically display in
the Part Reference column of the part
a Open a new or existing schematic design in
manager window. Add your custom icons to
Capture.
the standard icons used for the Part
b From the project manager’s Options menu, choose Reference column located in the directory:
CIS Configuration. CIS displays the CIS
ORCAD\CAPTURE\VENDOR
Configuration File dialog box.
Each icon’s filename corresponds to a part
reference prefix (for example, the icon for
the part reference prefix R is stored in
R.BMP).
Caution You can use a bitmap editor
(such as Microsoft Paint) to modify the
bitmaps, but be careful not to change the
image size.

c If necessary, click Browse to locate the database

configuration file you want to setup.
d Click Setup. CIS displays the Configure Database
dialog box.

45
Chapter 2 Setting up Orcad CIS

3 In the Configure Database dialog box, choose the Part

Reference Associations tab.

4 Enter a part type in the Part Type Property Contents

column and a corresponding part reference prefix (or
set of prefixes) for that part type in the Applicable Part
Reference Prefixes column. Separate prefix entries
with commas.
Note Part prefixes need not be unique to a particular part type. That
is, you can make an association between one prefix and
several different part types.
5 Click OK or choose another tab to continue
configuring your database.

46
 Editing a configuration file

Setting administrative preferences

Administrative preferences allow you to customize some
CIS features for your work environment.

To set administrative preferences

1 If you are not already in the Configure Database
dialog box, do the following:
a Open a new or existing schematic design in
Capture.
b From the project manager’s Options menu, choose
CIS Configuration. CIS displays the CIS
Configuration File dialog box.

c If necessary, click Browse to locate the database

configuration file you want to setup.
d Click Setup. CIS displays the Configure Database
dialog box.

47
Chapter 2 Setting up Orcad CIS

2 In the Configure Database dialog box, choose the

Administrative Preferences tab.

If you want a database part to work with 3 Select the Allow Duplicate Part Numbers check box to
two or more different layout footprints, you allow the same part number to appear more than once
can enter multiple PCB footprint names in in the database.
your part database. For more information,
4 In the Part Type Delimiter text box, type the character
see the PCB Footprint property entry in
that indicates a hierarchical level within a path in the
Table 2 on page 19.
database. Normally, the delimiter is a backslash (\)
Example: The database could have part character.
types Capacitor\Electrolytic and 5 Select the Transfer Blank Properties check box to
Capacitor\Ceramic. create a property on the placed part even if the
database part property does not have a specific value.
This is useful if all your database parts are in a single
table since, in that case, you will have properties in the
Example: Speed Grade does not apply to table which are not relevant to certain types of parts.
resistors.
6 If you want to use a character other than a comma to
separate multiple field values in your database,

48
 Editing a configuration file

choose another character from the Delimiters for

Multi-Values list. For information about entering
multiple values for part properties in your part
database, see the Schematic Part (Symbol) property
description in the Required part properties table on
page 16.
7 Select the Assign Temporary Part Numbers To promote a temporary part to an
Automatically check box so that CIS will create and approved part, do the following:
track temporary part numbers for you. That way 1 Using your database application, enter
when you create a new part, CIS automatically assigns the approved part number in the
a temporary part number to that part and enters the TMPPRTS table next to the
part number into the part record in the database as corresponding temporary part
well as in a special table named TMPPRTS. number.
Caution CIS automatically creates the TMPPRTS table. Do not remove, 2 Replace the temporary part number
rename, or modify the structure of this table or temporary with the approved part number in the
part number tracking will not operate properly. Also, never part table.
remove temporary part records, even after you have assigned CIS automatically monitors the TMPPRTS
them approved part numbers. If you do, designs that have not table and notifies you if a temporary part
yet been updated with the new part numbers will have to be in the design has been promoted to an
updated manually. approved part.
8 In the Temporary Part Number Prefix text box, enter If your workgroup is using a shared,
the prefix to use for temporary part numbers. CIS read-only database configuration file, all
automatically increments the temporary part number users must use the same temporary part
each time you create a new part. The temporary part prefix.
number is then appended to this supplied prefix.
9 In the Part Not Present Display Value text box, enter
the text description that you want CIS to use for
variant parts set to Not Present. The property is The Part Not Present Display Value does not
displayed in the following locations: display in Capture’s schematic page editor.
• Part Number and Value fields in the part manager This property also cannot be repositioned or
edited in the schematic page editor. For this
• Design variant columns in variant reports
reason, you will have to print preview or
• Variant parts on schematic page previews and print a schematic page to make sure that
printouts. For information about design variants, the value you assign the property does not
see the CIS online help. overlap another part or property display.
10 Click OK or choose another tab to continue Because a long value is more likely to
configuring your database. overlap a display, you should use a fairly
short text equivalent for the default Not
Present value.

49
Chapter 2 Setting up Orcad CIS

Setting ICA supplier preferences

ICA supplier preferences allow you to specify which
component suppliers you wish CIS to search for part
pricing and availability.

To set ICA supplier preferences

1 If you are not already in the Configure Database
dialog box, do the following:
a Open a new or existing schematic design in
Capture.
b From the project manager’s Options menu, choose
CIS Configuration. CIS displays the CIS
Configuration File dialog box.

c If necessary, click Browse to locate the database

configuration file you want to setup.
d Click Setup. CIS displays the Configure Database
dialog box.

50
 Editing a configuration file

2 In the Configure Database dialog box, choose the ICA

Supplier Preferences tab.

3 In the list on the left, select the name of a supplier to be You should select as many part distributors
added to the list on the right, and click the Add button. as possible in case your preferred
or
distributor does not carry a part you need.

In the list on the right, select the name of a supplier to

remove, and click the Remove button.
4 In the list on the right, select a supplier name, and use
the arrow buttons to move the supplier higher or
lower in the order of preference.
Note The internet component assistant only shows information for
the first supplier that has the part you want, in the order of the
preference you set here.
5 Click OK or choose another tab to continue
configuring your database.

51
Chapter 2 Setting up Orcad CIS

Saving the configuration file

1 (Optional) In the CIS Configuration File dialog box,
choose Save As to save the configuration for future
use.
2 Choose OK to set the configuration for the current
session and close the CIS Configuration File dialog
box.

52
 Setting up the ICA to access external part data

Setting up the ICA to access

external part data
Note Internet Explorer 4 or higher must be installed on your system for
the internet component assistant (ICA) to run.
Setup of the ICA is handled during the Capture CIS If you need assistance accessing the ICA,
installation process. CIS uses the Cadence product contact us by email at [email protected].
registration number to control your access to the ICA. You
enter the registration number when you install Capture
CIS.

53
Chapter 2 Setting up Orcad CIS

Creating Crystal Reports

templates
Crystal Reports is a widely-used report You can use Crystal Reports in conjunction with CIS to
design software produced by Seagate make customized report templates with more advanced
Technology, Inc. features than the standard CIS bill of materials, including
If you want to make a standard CIS bill of precision formatting and formulas that total, filter, and
materials template, see Creating a analyze data for highly specific results. When you create
standard CIS bill of materials on customized Crystal Reports templates, you can use all of
page 4-104. the part properties included in your preferred parts
database and your individual design projects.
Note You must have Crystal Reports Designer installed on your system
with CIS to create Crystal Reports templates. If you do not own a
copy of Crystal Reports Version 6 or 7, visit Orcad’s web site at
www.orcad.com for reseller information.
Once you have created Crystal Reports templates, any CIS
user with access to them can generate, preview, print, and
export reports with their design’s database part
information from within CIS. They will not need to have
copies of Crystal Reports installed locally on their
workstations to use these templates.
This is the process you will complete to create your
Crystal Reports templates:
1 Create an Access database bill of materials (.MDB) file
using a standard CIS bill of materials.
You only need Crystal Reports software to 2 Create report template (.RPT) files in Crystal Reports
create templates, not to use them. For this using the Access database file.
reason, you only need to buy one copy of
3 Store the Crystal Reports template files where CIS can
the software for your entire workgroup.
use them.

To create an Access database (.MDB) file for use by Crystal

Reports
You should use a schematic design that has 1 Open a new or existing schematic design in Capture.
all the non-database part properties
defined that you want to use when
designing your Crystal Reports templates.

54
 Creating Crystal Reports templates

2 From the project manager’s Reports menu, point to

CIS Bill of Materials and choose Standard. CIS
displays the Standard Bill of Materials dialog box.

3 In the Template Name text box, type in a name for the

report (for example, Report for Crystal Reports
template).
4 In the Select Properties list on the left, double-click Do not try to be selective about the part
each of the part properties until all of them are moved properties you include at this time.
to the Output Format list on the right. Generating this report with all the
properties in your database allows you to
5 Click OK. The report may take several minutes to
create a single database file with all the
generate.
headings you might want to use to design
6 From the File menu, choose Save As. CIS displays the your templates in Crystal Reports. This way,
Save As dialog box. you will not have to repeat this procedure
7 In the Save As Type list, select Access format (*.MDB). again unless the part properties used in
your database change.
8 Specify the file name and location and click OK.

55
Chapter 2 Setting up Orcad CIS

To create a Crystal Reports template

Note You must have Crystal Reports Designer installed on your system
with CIS to create Crystal Reports templates. If you do not own a
copy of Crystal Reports Version 6 or 7, visit Orcad’s web site at
www.orcad.com for reseller information.
1 Using Crystal Report Designer, create a custom report
using the Access database bill of materials (.MDB) file
as your data file.

To avoid having to browse for your To store a template file for use by CIS
template, store the file in the same
1 Store your Crystal Reports template (.RPT) file where
directory as your database configuration
all users in your workgroup have access to it.
(.DBC) file. The template will automatically
appear in the Crystal Reports Bill of
Materials dialog box.
You only need Crystal Reports software to
create templates, not to use them. For this
reason, you only need to buy one copy of
the software for your entire workgroup.

56
Working with database parts

Overview
This chapter describes the various procedures you use
when working with database parts, including the
following:
Using the CIS interface on page 58
Placing a database part on a schematic page on page 66
Browsing part properties on page 71
Creating a new database part on page 72
Linking a placed part to a database part on page 88
Viewing a placed part’s database properties on page 92
Copying part properties using the part manager on page 94
Chapter 3 Working with database parts

For descriptions of the functions of the Using the CIS interface

windows in the CIS interface, see The
CIS work environment on The CIS user interface includes standard Windows
page 1-6. interface functionality along with a few additional
features to make your work environment easy to use. You
can also customize the layout of CIS windows for each of
Tip Right mouse button access for the most your Capture projects. The main CIS interface is
commonly used CIS commands is available comprised of the part manager and CIS explorer
in the project manager, schematic page windows. Additional CIS menu commands are
editor, part manager, and CIS explorer interspersed throughout the menus in Capture.
windows.

Using the part manager window

To open the part manager window, do the You can adjust the work environment for the part
following: manager in the following ways:
1 From the project manager’s Tools • Sort the part manager data by any one of the data
menu, point to Part Manager and columns.
choose Open.
• Adjust the part manager display by changing data
For information about how to use the part column width and splitting the window into panes.
database management features of the part
• Display the toolbar.
manager, see Viewing and updating
part status on page 4-98.

58
 Using the CIS interface

To sort information in the part manager

1 Click the heading of the column you want to sort by. The column by which the data in the part
To reverse the sort order, click the same column manager is currently sorted is indicated by
heading again. a triangle icon. If the triangle points
upward, the data is sorted in ascending
column heading column heading border order. If it points downward, the data is
sorted in descending order.

To adjust the part manager display

1 To adjust the width of a column, select the right border
of the column heading and drag it to the left or right.
2 To split the part manager into panes, choose Split from
the part manager’s Window menu.

To display the part manager toolbar

1 Move or dock the toolbar as desired.
2 To display the name of the button command, point at The tasks that you use these tools to
the button briefly. perform are described later in this section.
3 To display the toolbar, choose Toolbar from part
manager’s View menu.

59
Chapter 3 Working with database parts

4 To hide the toolbar, click the hide button in the top

corner of the toolbar.

Using the CIS explorer window

CIS displays the CIS explorer when you The CIS explorer contains two tabbed windows—the
choose Place Database Part or Link Local Part Database and the Internet Component
Database Part from a schematic page in Assistant (ICA). You can navigate between these
Capture’s schematic page editor. windows by clicking either one of the tabs at the bottom of
Information about how to use the database the CIS explorer. Each window consists of a set of docking
part features of the CIS explorer is covered windows that can be redisplayed as floating windows or
in the following sections of this chapter. hidden. The Local Part Database window also contains a
non-docking part selection window that cannot be
redisplayed as floating or hidden (the database parts
window).

60
 Using the CIS interface

Using docking windows

Docking windows can be positioned and sized
independently like standard windows. But, they allow
you added control over your workspace in relation to the
other windows inside the CIS explorer. Docking windows
have these unique features:
• Docking to the main window
docking window
• Expanding or contracting relative to other windows
• Floating over other docking windows
Depending on the function of the window, you can also CIS retains the size, position, and state of
choose to show or hide some docking windows. the windows between Capture sessions.

To dock a window in the CIS explorer

1 Drag the window by the double bar over another
border of the CIS explorer. The other windows
automatically adjust to allow the window you are
moving to dock on that border.

hide button

expand/contract
arrow

double bar

To expand or contract a window relative to other windows

1 Click the arrow above the window’s double bar to Since the expand/contract feature only
expand or contract the window in the direction of the functions horizontally, the arrow is dimmed
arrow. The bordering window automatically expands if the window is not bordered by another
or contracts to fit the new window size. window on the left or right.

61
Chapter 3 Working with database parts

To change a docked window to a floating window

1 Double-click in the window border. The docking
window redisplays with a title bar instead of the
double bar.

window border

To dock a floating window

1 Double-click the window title bar to return the
window to its previous docked location, or drag the
window by the title bar to a different docking border.

To position a floating window over a dock (without docking it)

1 Press and hold down C and drag the window by the
title bar.

To show or hide a window

1 To show a window, choose the window name (for
example, Visibility) from the View menu.
2 To hide a window, click the hide button in the top
corner of the window, or choose the window name
from the View menu.

62
 Using the CIS interface

Using the database parts window

You can use the spreadsheet format of the database parts The database parts window is part of the
window to do the following: main CIS explorer window—you cannot
hide or dock it. This is so that the window
• Sort rows using column values
will be present at all times to place and link
• Adjust column widths database parts.
• Change the order of the columns
• Hide or unhide columns Once you set up the columns, CIS saves the
Note For a description of the database parts window, see The database new settings for your next session.
parts window on page 1-9.

63
Chapter 3 Working with database parts

To sort rows using column values

The column by which the data is currently 1 Click a column heading to select the column, then click
sorted is indicated by a triangle icon. If the the column heading again to sort by its values. Click
triangle points upward, the data is sorted in the same column heading again to reverse the sort
ascending order. If it points downward, the order.
data is sorted in descending order.
column heading column heading border

To adjust column widths

1 Select the right border of a column heading and drag
it to the left or right.

To change the order of the columns

1 Click on a column heading to highlight it.
2 Drag the column heading to the left or right until the
vertical red line is in the correct location.

CIS keeps a separate column display To hide columns

configuration for each part type folder. So,
1 Click on a column heading to highlight it.
when you hide or unhide a column, CIS only
hides or unhides the column for the part 2 Click the right mouse button on the column heading,
type folder whose parts are currently and choose Hide Column.
displayed in the database parts window.

64
 Using the CIS interface

To unhide columns
1 Click the right mouse button on any column heading,
and choose Unhide Columns. CIS displays the Unhide
Columns dialog box.

2 Select the names of the columns you want to unhide

and click OK.

65
Chapter 3 Working with database parts

Placing a database part on a

schematic page
For information about locating and placing This section describes how to do the following:
parts from the internet component
• Locate a part in your parts database.
assistant (ICA), see Using the ICA to
locate and create a new database • Place a database part on a schematic page.
part on page 3-81. When you place a database part, CIS includes all database
part properties to be transferred.
Note The Place Database Part command will not work unless you have
entered the schematic part name in your database and have set the
Schematic_Part property type in the configuration.

Using the explorer to locate a database part

You can use the explorer to locate a particular part in your
database.

To locate a database part with the explorer

1 From the schematic page editor’s Place menu, choose
Database Part. CIS displays the explorer window.
2 In the explorer window, choose the Explore tab. The
drum icon (labeled Benchacc in this example)
represents the part database.
3 Choose or double-click the drum icon, to expand the
database into the configured part tables. Similarly,
choose on the table to expand the tree to display the
first-level part type folders.
Tip If you want to display the whole part tree structure, from the View
menu, choose Expand Part Tree.
4 Locate the part you want to place. When you open a
part type folder at any given level, the database parts
at that level are displayed in the database parts
window. For information about adjusting the display

66
 Placing a database part on a schematic page

of part information and property columns in the

database parts window, see Using the database parts
window on page 3-63.

Note CIS uses the part type property contents from your part
database to determine the folder hierarchy. For a description
of how to define your part database hierarchy, see Creating
a part database on page 12.

Using the query feature to locate database parts

You can also use the query feature in the CIS explorer
window to locate all parts in the database that fit a set of
criteria. This is useful when you want to view all the
available parts that match a set of attributes. To use the
query feature, you must first create the query criteria, then
execute the database search.

Creating and executing a query

1 From the schematic page editor’s Place menu, choose
Database Part. CIS displays the CIS explorer window.
2 In the Explorer window, choose the Query tab.

67
Chapter 3 Working with database parts

3 In the first cell in the Property column, type in the

name of a property or choose one from the cell’s
drop-down list.

4 In the first cell in the Compare column, type in a

logical operator or choose one from the cell’s
drop-down list. The available logical operators
include the following:

This operator... Means this...

= Equal to

< Less than

> Greater than

<= Less than or equal to

>= Greater than or equal to

!= Not equal to

Contains Contains

5 In the first cell in the Value column, enter a value. If

you’re using the equal to (=) logical operator, you can
use wildcard characters for the value: an asterisk (*)
matches a group of characters, and a question mark (?)
matches any single character.
Since a database search identifies only 6 Repeat steps 3 through 5 as necessary to construct
those parts that meet all the search criteria, subsequent rows of search criteria. You can delete a
you can use additional rows of criteria to query row by selecting the row and then
pinpoint specific parts. pressing D.

68
 Placing a database part on a schematic page

7 To perform the query, press R or choose

Re-search Database from the Update menu. CIS
displays the results in the database parts window. To gain a better understanding of database
queries and their results, see the examples
in the CIS online help.

Placing a local database part on your schematic

After locating the database part from the local part You can define property place holder
database, you can place it on your schematic page. If you positions in the schematic library for
want to place a part from the ICA, see Using the ICA to properties which you want pre-positioned.
locate and create a new database part on page 3-81. For example, you can define a Tolerance
property in the resistor schematic part and
Note If your database contains mechanical (non-electrical) parts, you
position it so that when the part is placed,
can place them on your design. However, if you want the the property position is satisfactory. See the
mechanical parts to be included in a CIS bill of materials, you must Orcad Capture User’s Guide for more
place them on the root schematic or on a schematic that is information.
referenced by a hierarchical block on the root schematic. For
information about root schematics and hierarchical blocks, see the
Capture User’s Guide or Capture online help.
Any properties specified during configuration as
transferable are copied to the placed part and are present
in the placed part properties.
CIS sets the appropriate property visibility. If the property
is set to Visible and exists in the library, CIS uses the
property position defined in the library; otherwise, CIS You can also use the library convert feature
displays the property in a default position. If you change to hold two different orientations of the
the position of a property in the part editor, any part, one for the normal orientation and
subsequent updates to the part (using the Link Database one for the 90-degree rotation. See the
Part command) retain the new position. Orcad Capture User’s Guide for more
information.

69
Chapter 3 Working with database parts

To place a database part on your schematic

1 In the database parts window, select the part you want
to place.
For information about associating multiple 2 If the database part has multiple schematic parts
schematic parts with a part in your associated with it and you want to select a different
database, see the Schematic Part property schematic part name, select one from the drop-down
entry in Table 1 on page 16. list for the Schematic Part property name.

down arrow in value field indicates that multiple

schematic parts are available in a drop-down list

For information about associating multiple 3 If the database part has multiple PCB footprints
PCB footprints with a part in your database, associated with it and you want to select a different
see the PCB Footprint property entry in PCB footprint name, select one from the drop-down
Table 2 on page 19. list for the PCB Footprint property name.
4 If you want to override the default visibility settings of
There are four possible visibility settings: one or more transferable part properties, change the
settings in the visibility window.
CIS displays the property with
the part on the schematic page. 5 Start placing the part by doing one of the following:
CIS does not display the property • In the database parts window, double-click your
with the part on the schematic selected part.
page. • From the Update menu, choose Place Database
CIS does not modify the property Part.
visibility. If the property does 6 Click to place the part. Press E when you’re finished
not exist, it is set to invisible. placing instances of this part.
CIS does not allow this property
to be set as visible on schematic
pages.

You cannot change the visibility setting of

properties that have not been configured as
transferable in the database. The row of an
unchangeable property has a light gray
background in the Visible column.

70
 Browsing part properties

Browsing part properties

Database parts may include browsable properties. These
properties actually specify links to documents or web
sites. CIS allows you to browse properties for which the For information about configuring CIS, see
Browsable option was set during configuration. Creating a configuration file on
page 2-26.
To browse a database part property
1 In the database parts window, click the database part Since the browsing feature is generic, you
property you want to browse. The cursor turns into a can view virtually any kind of data. You can
hand when you point at a browsable property. include references to your component
datasheets on your company’s intranet, as
Word files, Acrobat files, or any other
format. For example, you may want to
view package drawings, mechanical
models, simulation models, and so on.

CIS launches the appropriate browser based on the Example: If the part property value is a URL
value of the part property. such as:
http://www.chipmfgr.com/
datasheets/74ALS138.html

CIS starts your default web browser and

displays the web page for that URL.

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Chapter 3 Working with database parts

Creating a new database part

Almost every design will use some new parts that aren’t
in your part database and do not have a company part
number. CIS lets you create a new part while you’re
working and save it to the database. This allows you to
continue working without having to stop for the part
approval process. When you save a temporary part to
your database, CIS can automatically assign a temporary
part number and track the part for you in the part
manager. Later, if the part is approved and assigned a
For more information about updating part company part number, CIS can automatically update your
information on designs, see Viewing design with the new part information.
and updating part status on page
You can create new database parts using one of the
98.
following methods:
• Derive a new database part from your local part
database. See Deriving a new database part from the local
part database below.
• Derive a new database part from a part placed on a
schematic page. See Deriving a new database part from a
placed part on page 3-77.
• Locate and create a new database part using the
internet component assistant (ICA). See Using the ICA
to locate and create a new database part on page 3-81.
Note You must have write permission for the part and footprint libraries
to save a part with the internet component assistant (ICA).

Deriving a new database part from the local part

database
You can create new database parts using parts that are
already stored in your database. Once you have selected
and altered an existing database part, you can store it as a
temporary part in your database and place instances of the
new part on schematic pages.

72
 Creating a new database part

To derive a new part for the part database

1 If a schematic page is not already open and active,
open a schematic page.
2 From the Place menu, choose Database Part. CIS
displays the CIS explorer.

3 Use the explore and query features to locate the part For more information about locating parts
you want to use as the basis for creating your new in your local part database, see Placing
database part. a database part on a schematic
page on page 3-66.
4 Select the desired part in the database parts window.

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Chapter 3 Working with database parts

5 From the Edit menu, choose Derive New Database

Part. CIS displays the New Database Part dialog box.

You cannot change the selected table in the 6 Enter the appropriate values for the new part’s
Save Part To area. This is because you are database properties in the Contents column.
deriving the new part from a placed part
that is already in your part database, so the
Note If you have selected Assign Temporary Part Numbers
new part is automatically placed in the Automatically in the configuration, a temporary part number
same table as the existing database part. is already assigned which you cannot modify.
7 Modify the visibility settings for each property as
desired.
8 If you want to choose alternate schematic parts or
footprints for the new database part, do the following:
a Click the Browse button in the Schematic Part area
to choose alternate schematic parts or in the
Footprint area to choose alternate footprints. CIS
displays the Select Schematic Part or Select
Footprint dialog box (see graphic below).

74
 Creating a new database part

b If you want to include the library name with the

selected schematic parts or footprints, select the
Attach the Library Name option. You can include
the library name to avoid confusing the schematic
part or footprint name with an identically named
one in a different library.
c In the Schematic Part or the Footprint list, select a Tip If you know what library your
part or a footprint. The part or footprint displays in footprints or schematic parts are stored in,
the preview window. highlight only that library in the Configured
Libraries list. This will greatly reduce the
Caution Only select a schematic part from your own custom
number of schematic parts you have to
libraries; do not select a part from the libraries that are scroll through to find part or footprint
supplied with Capture (resource libraries). Resource names.
libraries are often changed by upgrades to new versions
of Capture. If the name or path of the schematic part you
select is changed during an upgrade, it will become
invalid for all your database parts.
Caution If you are deriving a new mechanical (non-electrical) part
and choosing an alternate schematic part, you must
choose a schematic part with no pins. If mechanical parts
with pins are placed in a design, they will invalidate
netlists generated from that design.

75
Chapter 3 Working with database parts

d Click the Add button to move the schematic part

or footprint to the Selected Schematic Parts or
Selected Footprints list. You can remove it from
the list by selecting it and clicking the Remove
button.
e Repeat steps c and d until you have selected all the
schematic parts or footprints that you want to be
available for use with the database part.
f If you selected more than one schematic part or
footprint, use the up and down arrows to arrange
the order of the parts or footprints. The top one
will be the default value for the database part. The
order of the whole set determines the order in
which they will display in the scroll-down list of
the Schematic Part or PCB Footprint property
value cells of the CIS explorer’s database parts
window.

Order in the Selected Schematic Parts list Order in scroll-down list of Schematic Part
property value cell in CIS explorer’s database
parts window

g Click OK. CIS returns you to the New Database

Part dialog box.
Note Once the new part is added to the 9 Click the Place Part button. The dialog box closes, the
database, you must have administrative new part is added to the part database, and you are
privileges for the database to modify the returned to the schematic page with the pointer in
properties that you set above. place part mode.
10 Click to place the part. Press E when you’re finished
placing instances of the part.

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 Creating a new database part

Deriving a new database part from a placed part

You can create new database parts using parts that you
have already placed on schematic pages. While you are
deriving a new database part, you can change the values
and visibility settings of the database part properties.
By default, CIS does not automatically copy all placed part
properties to the part database. The properties that are
automatically transferred have all three of the following
characteristics:
• They are mapped to database part properties in the
database configuration.
• They have been set to transfer to designs in the
database configuration.
• They have a value for the placed part.
If you want other property values to be added to the
database, you can manually add them during this
procedure, but only if the property is mapped in the
database configuration.
As soon as the new part is stored in the database, you can
place instances of the part on schematic pages. The part
will remain a temporary part, however, until your
database administrator assigns a permanent part number.

To derive a new part from a database part

1 Open the schematic page that contains the placed part
you want to use to derive a new database part.
2 Select the placed part.

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Chapter 3 Working with database parts

3 From the Edit menu, choose Derive Database Part. CIS

displays the New Database Part dialog box.

4 In the Save Part To area, choose the database table in

which you want to save the new database part.
Note If you are deriving the new part from a placed part that is
already in your part database, the new part is automatically
placed in the same table as the existing database part. CIS will
not allow you to select a different table.
5 If you want to change the value of a database property,
enter the new value in the Contents column.
Note If you have selected the Assign Temporary Part Numbers
Automatically option in the configuration, a temporary part
number is already assigned which you cannot modify.
6 Modify the visibility settings for each property as
desired.
7 If you want to choose alternate schematic parts or
footprints for the new database part, do the following:
a Click the Browse button in the Schematic Part area
to choose alternate schematic parts or in the
Footprint area to choose alternate footprints. CIS

78
 Creating a new database part

displays the Select Schematic Part or Select

Footprint dialog box.

b If you want to include the library name with the

selected schematic parts or footprints, select the
Attach the Library Name option. You can include
the library name to avoid confusing the schematic
part or footprint name with an identically named
one in a different library.
c In the Schematic Part or the Footprint list, select a Tip If you know what library your
part or a footprint. The part or footprint displays in footprints or schematic parts are stored in,
the preview window. highlight only that library in the Schematic
Part Libraries or Configured Libraries list.
Caution Only select a schematic part from your own custom
This will greatly reduce the number of
libraries; do not select a part from the libraries that are schematic parts you have to scroll through
supplied with Capture (resource libraries). Resource to find part or footprint names.
libraries are often changed by upgrades to new versions
of Capture. If the name or path of the schematic part you
select is changed during an upgrade, it will become
invalid for all your database parts.
Caution If you are deriving a new mechanical (non-electrical) part
and choosing an alternate schematic part, you must
choose a schematic part with no pins. If mechanical parts
with pins are placed in a design, they will invalidate
netlists generated from that design.

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Chapter 3 Working with database parts

d Click the Add button to move the schematic part

or footprint to the Selected Schematic Parts or
Selected Footprints list. You can remove it from
the list by selecting it and clicking the Remove
button.
e Repeat steps c and d until you have selected all the
schematic parts or footprints that you want to be
available for use with the database part.
f If you selected more than one schematic part or
footprint, use the up and down arrows to arrange
the order of the parts or footprints. The top one
will be the default value for the database part. The
order of the whole set determines the order in
which they will display in the scroll-down list of
the Schematic Part or PCB Footprint property
value cells of the CIS explorer’s database parts
window.

Order in the Selected Schematic Parts list Order in scroll-down list of Schematic Part
property value cell in CIS explorer’s database
parts window

g Click OK. CIS returns you to the New Database

Part dialog box.
8 Click the Derive Part button. The part is added to the
part database with the automatically assigned part
number.

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 Creating a new database part

Using the ICA to locate and create a new database

part
You can use the ICA to access the activeparts web site’s
part database and locate and create parts that are not yet
stored in your local part database.
When you need to locate and create parts during a design
session, do the following:
1 Locate a part using the ICA. See Using the ICA to locate
a part on page 3-81.
2 Create and place a part using the ICA. See Using the
ICA to create and place a part on page 3-82.

Using the ICA to locate a part

Through the ICA, you can locate new parts using the part
database at the activeparts web site.
Note The activeparts database is updated as new part information
becomes available without requiring you to update your CIS
software installation.

To use the ICA to locate a part

1 Open a new or existing schematic design in Capture
and, if a schematic page is not already open and active,
open a schematic page.

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Chapter 3 Working with database parts

2 From the Place menu, choose Database Part. CIS

displays the CIS explorer.

Internet Component Assistant (ICA) tab

3 Click the Internet Component Assistant (ICA) tab at

the bottom of CIS explorer window. CIS displays the
activeparts web site.
Note The first time you access the activeparts web site, you will have
to create a login.
4 Use the activeparts part search features to locate the
part you want to place in your design or add to your
preferred parts database.
Note For information about using the activeparts search features,
refer to the activeparts online help.

Using the ICA to create and place a part

When you have found the part you want to create, you can
add the part to your database and place instances of the
new database part on a schematic page.

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 Creating a new database part

To use the ICA to create and place a part

1 From the activeparts web site in the ICA window, find
the part you want to create and place. If you need
instructions for finding a part, see Using the ICA to
locate a part on page 3-81.
2 Click the Place in Schematic button. CIS displays Step
1 of the New Database Part Wizard. The number of steps (1 to 3) in the wizard
and the options available (see the table
below) in Step 1 of the wizard will vary
depending on the following:
• The presence of the correct schematic
part for the database part in your local
libraries.
• The presence of the correct, configured
Layout footprint for the part in your
local libraries.

3 Select options in the wizard using the following table

as a guide:

If you want to... Do the following...

Save the part in your part Select the Save This Component In My Part
database* Database option, and choose the database
table in which you want the new database
part to be stored.

Save the schematic part Select the Save the Schematic Part option.
in a local library**

Save the Layout footprint Select the Save the Layout Footprint option.
in a local library**
* If you choose not to add the part to your part database, CIS will assign a temporary part
number to the placed part, but will not add the temporary part number to your database.
** These options will not be available if you already have the correct schematic part and Layout
footprint names for the new part stored in your local libraries.

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Chapter 3 Working with database parts

4 If you are saving a schematic part or Layout footprint

to a local library, complete the subsequent wizard
If you accept the CIS default library name steps. You will need to either accept the default library
and the library has not already been name supplied by CIS or browse to find a library in
created, Capture will prompt you to allow it which to store the part or footprint.
to create the library and add the new part
to that library. However, before you can Caution Only save schematic parts to your own custom libraries; do not
place the part from your local part save parts to the libraries that are supplied with Capture
database, you must add the new library to (resource libraries). Resource libraries are often changed by
your Capture configuration by doing the upgrades to new versions of Capture. If the library in which
following: you save the schematic part is replaced during an upgrade,
1 From the schematic page editor’s Place
you will lose the schematic part information associated with
menu, choose Part. the new database part.
2 In the Place Part dialog box, click the When you finish the New Database Part wizard, CIS
Add Library button. displays the New Database Part dialog box.
3 Browse for and select the new library
then click Open.
4 Click Cancel.
5 Exit and restart Capture.
You can now place the part from your local
part database.

5 Enter the appropriate values for the new part’s

properties in the Contents cells.
Note If you have selected Assign Temporary Part Numbers
Automatically in the configuration, a temporary part number
is already assigned which you cannot modify.
6 Modify the visibility settings for each property as
desired.

84
 Creating a new database part

7 If you want to choose alternate schematic parts or

footprints for the new database part, do the following:
a Click the Browse button in the Schematic Part area
to choose alternate schematic parts or in the
Footprint area to choose alternate footprints. CIS
displays the Select Schematic Part or Select
Footprint dialog box.

b If you want to include the library name with the

selected schematic parts or footprints, select the
Attach the Library Name option. You can include
the library name to avoid confusing the schematic
part or footprint name with an identically named
one in a different library.

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Chapter 3 Working with database parts

Tip If you know what library your c In the Schematic Part or the Footprint list, select a
footprints or schematic parts are stored in, part or a footprint. The part or footprint displays in
highlight only that library in the Configured the preview window.
Libraries list. This will greatly reduce the Caution Only select a schematic part from your own custom
number of schematic parts you have to
libraries; do not select a part from the libraries that are
scroll through to find part or footprint
names.
supplied with Capture (resource libraries). Resource
libraries are often changed by upgrades to new versions
of Capture. If the name or path of the schematic part you
select is changed during an upgrade, it will become
invalid for all your database parts.
Caution If you are creating a new mechanical (non-electrical)
part, the associated schematic part must not have pins. If
mechanical parts with pins are placed in a design, they
will invalidate netlists generated from that design.
d Click the Add button to move the schematic part
or footprint to the Selected Schematic Parts or
Selected Footprints list. You can remove it from
the list by selecting it and clicking the Remove
button.
e Repeat steps c and d until you have selected all the
schematic parts or footprints that you want to be
available for use with the database part.
f If you selected more than one schematic part or
footprint, use the up and down arrows to arrange
the order of the parts or footprints. The top one
will be the default value for the database part. The
order of the whole set determines the order in
which they will display in the scroll-down list of
the Schematic Part or PCB Footprint property
value cells of the CIS explorer’s database parts
window (see graphic below).

86
 Creating a new database part

Order in the Selected Schematic Parts list Order in scroll-down list of Schematic Part
property value cell in CIS explorer’s database
parts window

Note Make sure that you have a schematic part selected before selected schematic part
continuing. If you do not, CIS will return an error when you
attempt to place the part and you will have to repeat this
procedure to begin placing the part.
g Click OK. CIS returns you to the New Database
Part dialog box.
8 Click the Place Part button. The dialog box closes and Note If you chose to add the new part to
you are returned to the schematic page with the the database in step 3, a new record is
pointer in place part mode. added for the part at this point. Once this
new part is added to the database, you
9 Click to place the part. Press E when you’re finished
must have administrative privileges for the
placing instances of this part.
database to modify the properties that you
set above.

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Chapter 3 Working with database parts

Linking a placed part to a

Using the visibility window, you can database part
override the default visibility settings of
one or more part properties. You can use the part manager or the Link Database Part
command to assign a database part (and the associated
CIS displays the property with transferable properties) to one or more placed parts. By
the part on the schematic page. linking a placed part to a database part, you replace the
CIS does not display the property part and its properties with the database part and its
with the part on the schematic transferable properties. If you are linking a part
page. occurrence to a database part, both the occurrence and
instance properties will be set to the database properties.
CIS does not modify the property
visibility. If the property does Note CIS warns you if you select a database part to link to a group of
not exist, it is set to invisible. placed parts whose part reference prefixes or values differ. CIS will,
however, allow you to link a placed part to a database part with a
You cannot change the visibility setting of
different schematic part name.
properties that have not been configured as
transferable in the database. The row of an
unchangeable property has a light gray To link using the part manager
background in the Visible column. 1 From the project manager’s Tools menu, point to Part
Manager and choose Open. CIS displays the part
manager window.
You can group similar parts in the part 2 In the part manager, select a placed part or a group of
manager by sorting on one of the columns placed parts. To select a group of parts, do one of the
(for example, the Value column). Choose a following:
column heading to sort the list by the • For a group of nonadjacent parts, hold down C
information in that column; choose the and click the parts.
same heading again to reverse the sort
order. • For a group of adjacent parts, hold down S
and click the first then the last part in the range.
3 From the Tools menu, choose Link Database Part.
or
Click the Link Database Part toolbar button.
4 In the part database explorer:
Double-click the database part you want.
or
Select the database part you want and, from the
Update menu, choose Link Database Part.
88
 Linking a placed part to a database part

If the schematic part property for the placed part is

different from that of the selected database part, CIS
will highlight the database part’s row yellow when
you select it in the database parts window. Then, if
you double-click or choose Link Database Part, CIS
will allow you to change the schematic part property
of the placed part to match the database part.
Note In the visibility window, CIS displays the values of the selected
database part’s properties in the Database Contents column
and the values of the placed part’s properties in the Schematic
Contents column. If the value of placed part’s property is
green, then it matches the value of the property for the
database part. If the value of placed part’s property is red,
then the value does not match that of the database part.
Caution Because the schematic part used for the placed part will
change, you must check the schematic page to make sure that
you have correct connectivity when you are finished linking.
CIS links it to the placed part, and the appropriate
properties are transferred.

To link using the schematic page editor

1 Select one or more parts on a schematic page.
2 From the Edit menu, choose Link Database Part. CIS
performs a database query, using the keyed properties

89
Chapter 3 Working with database parts

for the database, then displays the results of the query

in the database parts window.

database parts window

Keyed properties are defined in the database

If you select several parts, CIS uses the configuration. Generally, though, the Value property
keyed properties and part reference prefix is the primary keyed property. The initial query
of the first part in the group (from top left searches for parts with a value matching that of the
to bottom right) for the initial query. placed part.
CIS also uses the configuration settings for Allowed
Part Reference Prefixes and Part Reference
Associations to filter the database for only those parts
that apply to the reference prefix of the selected parts.
3 Select the database part you want to apply to the
selected placed parts. You can also create a new query
if the initial query did not locate the part of interest.
4 In the part database explorer, do one of the following:
Double-click the database part you want.
or
Select the database part you want and, from the
Update menu, choose Link Database Part.

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 Linking a placed part to a database part

If the schematic part property for the placed part is

different from that of the selected database part, CIS
will highlight the database part’s row yellow when
you select it in the database parts window. Then, if
you double-click or choose Link Database Part, CIS
will allow you to change the schematic part property
of the placed part to match the database part.
Note In the visibility window, CIS displays the values of the selected
database part’s properties in the Database Contents column
and the values of the placed part’s properties in the Schematic
Contents column. If the value of placed part’s property is
green, then it matches the value of the property for the
database part. If the value of placed part’s property is red,
then the value does not match that of the database part.
Caution Because the schematic part used for the placed part will
change, you must check the schematic page to make sure that
you have correct connectivity when you are finished linking.
The database part is linked to the placed parts, which If any of the selected placed parts are
also receive the transferable properties, including the multiple-part packages and have defined
part value. part references, CIS updates all other parts
in the package at the same time. For
example, if the selected placed part is
U33B, CIS will update U33A, U33C, and
any other parts in the package as well. If
the selected placed part reference is
undefined, only the selected part is
updated.

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Chapter 3 Working with database parts

Viewing a placed part’s

database properties
You can view a placed part’s local and Internet database
properties right from the schematic page or the part
manager, if the part has been added to the local part
database. When you choose to view the part properties,
CIS displays a read-only version of the CIS explorer with
a comparison of the placed part’s properties to those of its
linked database part. You can also use this part viewing
capability to check the latest data sheet, stocking, and
pricing information from the Internet.

To view a placed part’s database properties

1 From the schematic page or the part manager, select
the part for which you want to view database
properties.
Note On the schematic page, the selected part must be in your local part
database for CIS to display part properties. If you attempt to view
the database properties of a part not stored in your local part
database, CIS will display the Local Part Database tab of the CIS
explorer window with no part information. If you then click the
Internet Component Assistant (ICA) tab, CIS will display an error
message page.
2 From the View menu, choose Database Part. CIS
displays the CIS explorer window in View Database
Part mode.
Note The View Database Part mode is a read-only mode. For this
reason, you cannot use the search or query functions of the
explorer window to search for, place, or link a database part.
CIS displays the database part property contents in the
database parts window. In the visibility window, CIS
displays both the contents of the database parts
properties and of the properties that have been

92
 Viewing a placed part’s database properties

transferred to the schematic. If the content of a

schematic property is green, then it matches the
content of the part database. If the content of a
schematic property is red, then the contents do not
match the part database.
3 If you want to check the latest data sheet, stocking, or
pricing information from the Internet, click the
Internet Component Assistant (ICA) tab at the bottom
of the CIS explorer. The Internet part property
information is displayed for the part, including
hyperlinked data sheet URLs for parts that have data
sheets associated with them.

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Chapter 3 Working with database parts

Copying part properties using

the part manager
For information about transferring You can also use the part manager to copy properties from
database part properties to placed parts, one part to another (or to several others) in the design. CIS
see Linking a placed part to a copies only those properties defined in the database
database part on page 88. configuration file as transferable.

To copy properties from one part to another

1 Open the schematic design that contains the part
properties you want to copy.
2 From the project manager’s Tools menu, point to Part
Manager and choose Open. CIS displays the part
manager, showing all parts in the design, sorted by
part reference.

You can use the Split command (from the 3 Select the part with the properties to be copied.
part manager’s Window menu) to display
4 Drag the selected part onto the part on the schematic
two areas of the part manager. This can
page that is to receive the copied properties.
make copying properties from one part to
another much easier (by dragging the part
across split panes) if the two parts are
widely separated in the part manager.

94
 Copying part properties using the part manager

To copy properties from one part to a group of parts

1 Open the schematic design that contains the part
properties you want to copy.
2 From the project manager’s Tools menu, point to Part
Manager and choose Open. CIS displays the part
manager, showing all parts in the design, sorted by
part reference.

3 In the part manager, select the part with the properties

you want to copy.
4 From the Edit menu, choose Copy.
5 Select the destination parts by holding down C
while you select individual parts to add to the selected
group, or by holding down S and selecting a
contiguous group of parts.
6 From the Edit menu, choose Paste. CIS copies the
properties from the first part to all the selected
destination parts.

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Chapter 3 Working with database parts

96
Finalizing and documenting
designs

Overview
This chapter describes the various procedures you use
when working with the Orcad Component Information
System (CIS), including the followinpg:
Viewing and updating part status on page 98
Creating design variants on page 103
Creating reports on page 104
Chapter 4 Finalizing and documenting designs

Viewing and updating part

status
You can also set up how CIS sorts and Use the CIS part manager to view and update the database
displays the information in the part status of placed parts in your design.
manager. For more information, see
Note You should always update part status prior to creating a report. By
Using the part manager window
on page 3-58.
making sure that all part status indicators are green before
creating your bill of materials and netlist, you ensure that your
report is complete.

Opening the part manager

When you open the part manager, CIS generates a report
describing the status of your design’s placed parts the last
time they were checked against the database parts. If you
have changed part properties on any placed parts or
placed any non-database parts since the last time you
updated part status, the report generated when you open
the part manager will not reflect the current status of your
design with respect to the database.

To open the part manager

1 Open a new or existing schematic design.
2 From the project manager’s Tools menu, point to Part
Manager and choose Open. CIS displays the part
manager, showing all parts in the design, sorted by
part reference.

If no configuration (.DBC) file has been

specified for use with the part manager, no
information will be displayed in these
columns when you open the part manager
for the first time. For information on setting
up a part database and configuration file,
see Chapter 2, Setting up Orcad
CIS.

98
 Viewing and updating part status

Updating the part status for your design

You can update the part status for your design using the
part manager. When you update the part manager, CIS
checks all the placed parts in your design against the part Example: Assume that an AND gate part in
database, and updates part properties where necessary. your database has a Part Number value of
Any properties that you have assigned to part instances 456. Suppose that you assign a Part
are retained when you update part status for your design, Number value of 123 to an instance of an
even if they differ from the values in the database. AND gate in your design. That Part Number
value applies only to that particular
Note You can also view an individual part's local and Internet database instance of the AND gate. When you update
properties. For instructions, see Viewing a placed part’s part status, CIS assigns the Part Number
database properties on page 92.) value 456 to all instances of the AND gate
except that instance, which retains the
To update part status for your design value 123.
1 Do one of the following: If you want to make sure that none of your
parts have been modified since they were
• From the project manager’s Tools menu, point to
placed from their original libraries, from
Part Manager and choose Update.
the Options menu in part manager, point to
• From the part manager’s Tools menu, choose Update Part Status and choose Verify Parts
Update Part Status. Against Libraries (.OLB). Then, when you
CIS checks each placed part against the database part update part status, any placed part with a
to which it is linked. The part database is searched for different timestamp than its library part
the Part Number property that matches the placed will be flagged yellow.
part, then transferred properties that are configured to Note If you turn on the Verify Parts
be updated are compared. Against Libraries (.OLB) option when you
have placed parts in the design using a
For each placed part that is not current, you are
previous version of CIS (Release 9.0 or
prompted with the Update Part dialog box. This
earlier), all parts placed from the previous
dialog box lets you decide whether or not you want to
Capture libraries will have mismatched
update the placed part properties with the transferred
timestamps and be flagged yellow. If you
properties from the database part.
get an undesirable result, turn off the
Verify Parts Against Libraries (.OLB) option
and update part status again.

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The first row lists the database part and its properties,
and the second row lists the placed part and its
properties. The differences between the database part
and placed part are highlighted in red.
2 Click one of the following buttons:

Click this button... To do this...

Yes Update the placed part.

Yes All Update all placed parts whose properties don’t

match the database part properties.

No Not update the placed part.

No all Not update any of the placed parts whose

properties don’t match the database part properties.

Note In some cases, CIS cannot automatically determine the correct

database part with which to refresh the placed part. In these
cases, you must wait until the update is complete and link the
placed part to a database part. (See Linking a placed part
to a database part on page 88.)
When complete, a list of updated parts and
discrepancies with the database is written to the
session log. Then, the part manager window displays
the updated part status. The Part Status column
contains both text and color-coded icons that indicate
whether your placed part is linked to a part in a part
database. The following table lists all the possible
status conditions and what the each status condition
means.

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 Viewing and updating part status

This status... Means the part...

Green icon Is approved and current

Yellow icon Is in the approval process

Red icon Would be incorrect if you generated a BOM

Approved Has a defined part number property type

Temporary Has a temporary part number

Undefined Has no part number property

Current Transferable properties match those of the

database part

Defined Has a part number property

Undefined part Has an undefined part reference

reference

Not current Has at least one transferable property that

does not match the database part properties

Duplicate Has a part number that occurs more than once

in the part database

Not found Has a part number that does not exist in the
part database

If your configuration specifies that CIS assign temporary

part numbers automatically, each status is preceded by
either Temporary Part (if the placed part number prefix is
the temporary part number prefix) or Approved Part.
When the status of all the parts in your design is Current,
you are ready to generate a report such as a bill of
materials.
Once you have updated part status, the part manager also
includes tips for parts with a red icon status. The tips give
more detail about the part’s status and about placed part
properties that do not match the database part properties.
To display a tip, point briefly over the status column.
Note The part status is based only on the part properties you have
specified to be transferred from the part database. Other properties
that may reside in the part are not checked.

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Saving the status report

You can save the contents of the part manager window to
a text (.PRP) file. The report file is saved (in the current
sort order) in tab-delimited format which can be edited
with a spreadsheet program or word processor.

To save a status report

1 Choose one of the following options:

To do this... Select this option...

Example: If your design’s filename is Save the report file using the name From the File menu,
MYDESIGN.DSN, CIS automatically names of your design file select Save.
your report MYDESIGN.PRP when you
Save the report file using the name From the File menu,
choose the Save command. of your choice select Save As.

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 Creating design variants

Creating design variants

Note For more information about design variants and the procedures for
creating and documenting them, see the CIS online help.
Design variants are different assembly configurations of Examples of product variation
your basic or core design. When manufacturing design requirements include:
variants, the fabricated board will match the core design • Use in geographical regions with
while the variants define how the board should be different performance requirements
populated with parts. You can create and maintain all of for component attributes such as power
your design variants within a single Capture project. level, emissions standards, etc.
Because your design variations are captured within a • Minor differences between product
single project, you can print variant schematic sheets and models such as the number and type of
create variant bills of materials without having to resistors.
maintain separate designs. Design variations include
different property values for common components and
different or not present components for identical
footprints.

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Chapter 4 Finalizing and documenting designs

Creating reports
A report contains relevant information about the parts in
your design. You can customize the report to include both
database and placed part properties. CIS supports the
following two types of reports:
Note If you want mechanical (non-electrical) parts to be included in CIS
reports, you must place these parts on the root schematic of the
design or on a schematic that is referenced by a hierarchical block
on the root schematic. For information about root schematics and
hierarchical blocks, see the Capture User’s Guide or Capture online
help.
• Standard bills of materials that you create completely
within CIS. See Creating a standard CIS bill of materials
below.
Crystal Reports is a widely-used report • Advanced reports that you generate from within CIS
design software produced by Seagate using templates created in Crystal Reports. See
Technology, Inc. Creating a report using a Crystal Reports template on
You can use Crystal Reports in conjunction page 4-109.
with CIS to make customized report
templates with more advanced features
than the standard CIS bill of materials,
including precision formatting and Creating a standard CIS bill of materials
formulas that total, filter, and analyze data
for highly specific results. A bill of materials lists all the parts in your design. You
You must have Crystal Reports installed on can use the standard CIS bill of materials feature to create
your system with CIS to create Crystal multiple, named report templates so that you can generate
Reports templates. If you do not own a copy separate bills of materials for the different requirements of
of Crystal Reports software, visit Orcad’s engineering, purchasing, and manufacturing.
web site at www.orcad.com for reseller
information.
If you want to make a Crystal Reports
template, see Creating Crystal
Reports templates on page 2-54.

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 Creating reports

To create a standard CIS bill of materials

Note Do not use the Bill of Materials command from the project
manager’s Tools menu to create your reports. This command does
not use your part database information to produce the bill of
materials. Only the CIS Bill of Materials commands from the
Reports menu utilize your part database information.
1 From the part manager’s Reports menu, point to CIS
Bill of Materials and choose Standard. CIS displays the
Standard Bill of Materials dialog box. You can also access the CIS Bill of Materials
commands using the project manager’s
Reports menu.

2 In the Template Name text box, type in a name for the You can create multiple, named templates
template, or select one from the drop-down list. and define a different format for each.
However, since a bill of materials file is, by
3 Select a part property you want in the bill of materials
default, saved using the design name and a
and click the Add button. The part property moves to
.BOM extension, you’ll have to save each
the Output Format list. You can also double-click a
report under a unique filename using the
property to move it from one side to the other.
part manager’s Save As command (from
the File menu).

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Tip The Select Properties list only includes schematic properties

that you have configured to be transferred from the database.
If you want to include a schematic property in your bill of
materials that is not in your part database, you must type in
its exact name and then choose the Add button. If you want to
delete an added schematic property from the Select Properties
list, select the property and click the Delete User Property
button.
Note The property types that appear in the Select Properties list box
include the following:

Default CIS property names

You specify the properties that are Properties transferred from placed parts on schematics
transferred from the database to your Properties transferred from database parts
placed parts when you configure CIS.
Properties transferred over the Internet through the ICA

The order of the items in the Output Format 4 Repeat step 3 until all the properties you want in the
list box determines the order in which they bill of materials appear in the Output Format list box.
appear in the report. To change the order
5 Select at least one property in the Output Format list
of an item, select it and move it using the
box then select the Keyed option. You must do this to
up or down arrow buttons to the right of the
specify how CIS matches and groups records in the
Output Format list box.
report. Normally, you should set Part Number to
Keyed, so that parts with the same part number will be
grouped in the report.
Note Keyed properties that are missing from the placed part or have
blank contents are not grouped, but remain as distinct items in
the report. This is so that undefined parts display as separate
line items.

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 Creating reports

6 Select one of the Part Reference Options from the

following table:

To do this... Select this option...

Group parts with matching keyed Standard

properties on a single line

Put each part on a separate line* Standard – Separate

Line Per Part
Allow part ranges (such as R1– Compressed
R14)
* Item Number and Quantity are only listed in the first line of each grouping.

7 In the Exclude Prefixes field, specify part reference

prefixes for parts you do not want to include in the
report. Typically, you use this to omit parts that are
not purchased for manufacture.
8 If you want to export your report to spreadsheet
format and open it automatically in MS Excel, select
the Export BOM Report to Excel option
Note If your design has design variants, you will have the option of
selecting the variants whose part information CIS will use to
generate the bill of materials. See the CIS online help for more
information about creating bills of materials for design
variants.
9 Click the OK button. CIS automatically adds the CIS checks for parts that are grouped (by
template name for the bill of materials you have having the same part number, for
designed to the Template Name list so that you can example), but that have different
use the template again the next time you want to properties or packaging or have duplicate
generate a bill of materials. part references between instances of the
If any design errors are encountered during report parts.
creation, a dialog box prompts you to view the errors CIS creates a report of the entire physical
in the session log. design regardless of the schematics and
pages selected in the project manager.

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Chapter 4 Finalizing and documenting designs

If no design errors are encountered during report

creation, the bill of materials report appears in a
You can choose a column heading to sort window.
the rows by the values in that column, and
choose the same column heading again to
reverse the sort order. You can adjust the
column widths by dragging the vertical
lines between the column heading names to
the left or right. If you save the bill of
materials, it is saved with the current sort
order.

Note If you have included properties in your report that are

configured as browsable, CIS will hyperlink (blue underline)
the part values for those properties. You can click on the
hyperlinks to display the latest version of the source file.
You can use a spreadsheet application to 10 To save the report, select one of the save options from
sort the exported output by multiple keys. the following table:

To do this... Select this option...

Save the report into the design folder From the File menu,
using the default file name*. Note choose Save.
that you will overwrite any report
previously saved using this default
file name.

Save the report using a new file name From the File menu,
into the directory of your choice. choose Save As.
* CIS creates the default file name by concatenating the design name and the
name of the bill of materials template used to generate the report. For example,
if the design is named BENCH.DSN and the template is named ENG BILL OF
MATERIALS, the bill of materials file will be named BENCH_ENG BILL OF
MATERIALS.BOM by default.

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 Creating reports

11 Specify a filename, save location, and format type. By

default, CIS saves the report in tab-delimited format,
but you can choose any of the following formats:
• TAB - Tab Separated Format
• (Excel) CSV - Comma Separated Format
• Access - Compatible with Microsoft Access as well
as Seagate Crystal Reports.

Creating a report using a Crystal Reports template

In addition to the standard CIS bill of materials, the print If you want to make a Crystal Reports
preview, print, and export functions of Seagate’s Crystal template, see Creating Crystal
Reports software have been integrated into CIS to allow Reports templates on page 2-54.
you to use Crystal Reports templates without having to
install the software on your system. You only need access
to the template files on your local drive or a network to
generate your custom reports.
You can distribute reports you create in Crystal Reports in When you export a report to a different file
many ways, including the following: format, you may lose some or all of the
• Print and distribute by hand formatting. The export function can only
preserve as much formatting as the export
• Export in Crystal Reports Designer format (.RPT) format allows.
• Attach to an e-mail message in MS Word (.DOC) or
Excel (.XLS) format
• Post in an MS Exchange folder in MS Word (.DOC) or
Excel (.XLS) format
• Export to HTML and publish on the Internet

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Chapter 4 Finalizing and documenting designs

To select and setup a predefined Crystal Reports template

1 From the part manager’s Reports menu, point to CIS
Bill of Materials and choose Crystal Reports. CIS
You can also access the CIS Bill of Materials displays the Crystal Reports Bill of Materials dialog
commands using the project manager’s box.
Reports menu.

Sample Crystal Reports templates (.RPT

files) are provided in
ORCAD\CAPTURE\SAMPLES. These 2 In the Crystal Report Template list, select a report
templates are designed to be used only with name, or click the Browse button and locate another
the BENCH.XLS and BENCH.MDB sample template.
part databases. You must create your own
Crystal Reports templates to work with your
preferred parts database.
If you want to create more templates, see
Creating Crystal Reports
templates on page 2-54. You must
have a copy of Crystal Reports software to
create your own templates. Visit Orcad’s
web site at www.orcad.com for reseller
information.
110
 Creating reports

3 Select one of the Part Reference Options from the

following table:

To do this... Select this option...

Group parts with matching keyed Standard

properties on a single line

Put each part on a separate line Standard – Separate

Line Per Part
Allow part ranges (such as R1– Compressed
R14)

4 In the Exclude Part Reference Prefixes field, specify

part reference prefixes for parts you do not want to
include in the report. Typically, you use this to omit
parts that are not purchased for manufacture.
Note If your design has design variants, you will have the option of
selecting the variants whose part information CIS will use to
generate the report. See the CIS online help for more
information about creating reports for design variants.
5 Select an option from the following table:

To do this... Click this button... Then proceed to...

Print your report Print To print a Crystal Reports report

below

Preview your report before printing or Print Preview To preview a Crystal Reports
exporting report below
Export your report to a file, an MS Export To export a Crystal Reports report
Exchange folder, a Lotus Notes on page 4-113
database, or MS Mail.

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Chapter 4 Finalizing and documenting designs

Note After you select one of the above options, CIS generates the
report. This can take several minutes, depending on the
number of parts in your design and the complexity of the
CIS creates a report of the entire physical Crystal Reports template. CIS checks for parts that are grouped
design regardless of the schematics and (by having the same part number, for example), but that have
pages selected in the project manager. different properties or packaging or have duplicate part
references between instances of the parts.

To print a Crystal Reports report

Depending on the design of the Crystal 1 If you have not done so already, complete To select and
Reports template, you might be required to setup a predefined Crystal Reports template on page 4-110.
input some information about your design 2 When CIS displays Crystal Report’s Print dialog box,
(for example, part number or revision select the print options you want and click OK.
level) before you print.
To preview a Crystal Reports report
1 If you have not done so already, complete To select and
setup a predefined Crystal Reports template on page 4-110.
2 When CIS displays Crystal Report’s print preview
The toolbar also displays status information window, you can browse through the report using the
about the records in your report. navigation buttons on the toolbar.
total to be
current page zoom setting
processed

percentage of number page backward page forward

total processed read controls controls

112
 Creating reports

3 When you are ready to print or export your report,

select one of the toolbar options from the following
table:

To do this... Click this button... Then proceed to...

Print your report To print a Crystal Reports report on

page 4-112
Export your report to a file, an MS To export a Crystal Reports report
Exchange folder, a Lotus Notes below
database, or MS Mail.

To export a Crystal Reports report

1 If you have not done so already, complete To select and
setup a predefined Crystal Reports template on page 4-110.
2 When CIS displays Crystal Report’s Export dialog
box, select the format in which you want to export the
report. For example, if you want to convert the report
to Microsoft Excel 4.0 format, choose Excel 4.0 (.XLS)
from the list.

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Chapter 4 Finalizing and documenting designs

3 From the Destination list, select one of the following

options:

To do this... Select this...

When you export a report to a disk file, CIS Save the report to a disk file Disk file
displays the Choose Export File dialog box.
Do the following: Attach the report to a MS Mail Microsoft Mail
e-mail document (MAPI)
1 Select a path and file name for your
file. Store the report in an MS Exchange Exchange
folder Folder
2 Click OK. The program exports the
report to a disk file in the format you Attach the report to a Lotus cc:Mail Lotus cc:Mail
specify. e-mail document (VIM)
Send the report to a Lotus Notes Lotus Notes
database Database

While the program assigns the native

extension to all files you export in a specific
4 Click OK. The export process begins.
word processor, database, or spreadsheet
format, it automatically assigns the .TXT
extension for all files you export in one of
the common data interchange formats.
However, the program you want to use the
data in may require an extension other
than .TXT. Consult the manual for that
program to determine the correct file
extension, and change the extension
accordingly in the File Name text box.

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Glossary

administrative preferences Options that you can set to customize database

configuration features (for example, allowing duplicate
part numbers or assigning temporary part numbers
automatically).
allowed part reference prefixes The part reference prefixes that you assign to the data
source tables of a part database during configuration.
These assignments decrease search time when you are
linking database parts by limiting the data source tables
that CIS searches.
applicable part reference prefix The part reference prefixes that you assign to the part
types of a part database during configuration. These
assignments decrease search time when you are linking
database parts by limiting the part types that CIS searches.
bill of materials See BOM.
blank property A database part property that does not have a value.
BOM Bill of materials. A report that includes a set of properties
for all the physical parts required to build a design.
browsable property A property that is set in the configuration (.DBC) file to
allow references to datasheets, drawings, and documents
in your part database. Referenced file locations can be
local or Internet URLs.
CIS Component Information System. A part management
system that helps you manage part properties within your
schematic designs, including part information required at
each step in the printed circuit board design process.
CIS explorer The environment where you search for and retrieve a
variety of part information for use in your schematic
designs.
Glossary May 17, 2000

core design A schematic design from which design variants can be

created.
Crystal Reports A widely-used report design software produced by
Seagate Technology, Inc. The Crystal Reports Print, Print
Preview, and Export options have been integrated into
Orcad CIS to create customized bill of materials reports
for printed circuit board designs.
data sheets Documents published by component manufacturers that
contain the specifications engineers need to select the
correct parts for their printed circuit board designs.
data source A data source consists of a database filename or server
name and an associated ODBC driver with which to
access the database.
database A collection of information related to a particular subject
or purpose, such as maintenance of a list of approved
parts.
database configuration (.DBC) file The file that enables CIS to access and use your part
database. When you configure CIS, you can specify the
database tables that CIS uses, the part properties that will
be transferred to your designs, the visibility of transferred
part properties, and the part type associations. This
information is stored in the .DBC file.
database field name See table property name.
database part A part whose identifiers and properties are collected in a
database.
database table A subset of database information with a common
identifier or property, such as capacitors. Tables organize
data into columns (called fields) and rows (called records).
DBC See database configuration (.DBC) file.
design errors Errors in the electrical connectivity of your design. If CIS
finds design errors while generating a bill of materials, a
dialog box will prompt you to view the errors in the
session log so that you can fix them and generate a valid
bill of materials.

116
***Draft*** Glossary

design variant A variation of the core design of a project that you can use
to create a bill of materials for a different version of the
project. All variations are kept within a single design. For
more information about design variants, see the CIS
online help.
EE Enterprise Edition. A previous release of the Orcad
Enterprise CIS product offering. Enterprise Edition
evolved from the DDL product originally developed by
an Orcad Industry Partner called Q-Point. The software
was packaged and shipped under the product names
Orcad Capture EE and Orcad Express EE. The current
release is Orcad Capture CIS with the option to include
Express and PSpice.
Enterprise Edition See EE.
ERP Enterprise resource planning. See MRP.
footprint See PCB footprint.
ICA Internet component assistant. A tabbed window of the CIS
Explorer that makes new components accessible to you
over the Internet by providing access to the activeparts
web site. Using the ICA, you can download component
information to create temporary parts in your local
preferred part database for immediate use in your
schematic designs.
Activeparts web site A web site that allows access to a part database and is itself
accessible through the internet component assistant
(ICA). When you locate a part at activeparts through the
ICA, you can place the part directly onto a schematic page
and add the part to your local preferred parts database
(PPD).
ICA property name A property that you select during database configuration
that maps property names on new parts created with the
internet component assistant (ICA) to corresponding
database property names in your preferred part database.
ICA supplier preferences Preferences that you set when configuring your database
to specify the component suppliers you wish CIS to search
for part pricing and availability and the order in which
you want them searched.
instance A part or a symbol that you have placed on a schematic
page.
117
Glossary May 17, 2000

intelligent unit conversion The method that the database query feature uses to
interpret common magnitude identifiers in part
definitions. For example, intelligent unit conversion
recognizes 2.7K, 2,700, 2.700K, and 0.0027M to be equal.
internet component assistant See ICA.
Internet part A part stored in a web-based part database that is
searchable over the Internet. Parts stored at the activeparts
web site are Internet parts.
keyed property A part property that CIS searches your preferred part
database for when you are trying to link a placed part to a
database part. You set which properties are keyed when
you are configuring your database. Normally, you set
only the Value property as a key so that CIS searches the
database for parts with a specific value.
Link Database Part The command you use to link a part you’ve placed on a
schematic page with a part in your preferred parts
database. Once these parts are linked, you can
automatically update a placed part when the database
part changes.
manufacturing resource planning See MRP.
MIS Management information services. The department
responsible for creating and maintaining company-wide
information systems.
MRP Manufacturing resource planning. The computerized
method for planning the use of a company's resources,
including scheduling raw materials, vendors, and
production equipment processes.
not present See part not present.
occurrence An instance placed on a schematic page with one or more
property values that have been changed from the normal
instance values.
ODBC Open Database Connectivity. Microsoft technology that
provides a common interface for accessing heterogeneous
databases. Using ODBC, CIS interfaces directly with
whatever database or spreadsheet you want to use to
create and maintain your part database.
Open Database Connectivity See ODBC.

118
***Draft*** Glossary

package A physical part that contains one or more logical parts. For
example, a 2N3905 transistor, a fuse, and a 74LS00 are
packages. Each part in a package has a unique part
reference comprised of a prefix common to all the parts in
the package, and a letter unique to each part. For example,
a 74LS00 whose part reference prefix is U15 would have
four parts whose part references are U15A, U15B, U15C,
and U15D.
part A part is a basic building block of a design. A part may
represent a physical component, or it may represent a
function, a simulation model, or a text description for use
by an external application. A part's behavior is described
by a SPICE model, an attached schematic folder, HDL
statements, or other means. Parts usually correspond to
physical objects–gates, connectors, and so on–that come in
packages of one or more parts. Packages with more than
one part are sometimes referred to as multiple-part
packages. See also package.
part database A collection of part information. See also database.
part description A brief textual description of a part.
part instance A part placed on a schematic page.
part manager A CIS window that summarizes the status of all the parts
in a design. Using the part manager, you can update part
status, link database parts to placed parts, and create
design variants.
part not present A variant part setting indicating that a core schematic’s
part is not installed in the footprint for a design variant.
You can set parts as present or not present when you
create design variants.
part number The number that uniquely identifies a part within the
database.
part property A property of a part. See also property.
part reference association An association between a particular part type and the part
reference prefixes used in the part database for that part
type.
part reference prefix A single letter designator for a part type. For example, C
is the part reference prefix for the part type capacitor.

119
Glossary May 17, 2000

part status The status of a placed part relative to the part database.
Part status can be approved and current (green), in the
approval process (yellow), or incorrect in the bill of
materials (red). For a complete list of possible part statuses
and their definitions, see the table on page 101.
part type A group of parts that have similar electrical functionality,
such as capacitors or resistors.
part type delimiter The character that indicates a hierarchical level within a
path in the database. You can choose your part type
delimiter when you are configuring your database. By
default, the delimiter is a backslash (\) character.
part type property contents The part type as defined in your database's part type
property (such as resistor, capacitor, or IC). When you
configure your database, you can associate these part type
properties with part reference prefixes.
PATH environment variable The directory path that a Windows application uses to
search for a file if the file is not in the application’s
installation directory or the current working directory.
PCB footprint A description of the physical layout dimensions of pads
for a component on a printed circuit board.
PDM Product data management. See MRP.
Place Database Part The command you use to place a part on a schematic page
from your preferred parts database or the internet
component assistant (ICA). Once you have placed a part,
CIS can automatically update the placed part when the
database part changes.
PPD Preferred parts database. The database in which you store
and maintain all the parts and part properties you use in
your designs. The database parts you place on or link to
your designs from the PPD remain linked to your PPD.
This way, when you change a database part, CIS can
automatically update the placed parts on your designs.
preferred parts database See PPD.
present See present part.
present part A variant part with a core schematic’s part installed in the
footprint. You can set parts as present or not present when
you create design variants.

120
***Draft*** Glossary

property A characteristic of an object that can be edited. A property

consists of a name and a value. Examples of property
names are part value and color. Their respective property
values can be something such as .1uF and red.
property name The name of a part property. You can use a different name
for the same property in your database than for your
placed parts. You define property names when you are
configuring your database. See also property.
property type The property type determines how CIS interprets the
database property. Your database must include a property
of type Part_Number in every table. Other examples
include Normal, Schematic_Part, and Part_Type. See also
property.
property visibility The default visibility setting of a property when it is
copied to from your database to a placed part. You set
property visibility when you are configuring your
database. See also visibility.
query A question about the data stored in your database tables,
or a request to perform an action on the data. Using CIS,
you can query your preferred part database and the part
database at the activeparts web site.
report A report is an organized presentation of data. Using CIS,
you can create standard bills of materials as well as more
advanced reports using Crystal Reports templates.
schematic part The name of a part as listed in a local Capture library
(.OLB files) and the database parts window. The CIS
explorer searches these libraries for schematic parts when
you place, link, or derive database parts.
schematic part property The part name property. This property is required to use
the Place Database Part command. When entering a name
for this property, you may include the library name, a
backslash (\), and then the name of the part as listed in the
Capture library.
source library A Capture or Express library from which you can place a
part.
source package The name of a part as it appears in a Capture or Express
library.

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Glossary May 17, 2000

SQL Structured query language. A language used in querying,

updating, and managing relational databases.
structured query language See SQL.
tab-delimited file A file whose discrete elements of data (such as part
property values) are separated by tabs. You can save CIS
report files in tab-delimited format and then modify the
information with a spreadsheet editor or word processor.
table property name The name of a part property as it is defined in the part
database. Also known as the database field name.
table property type The data type for a part property. Most properties are type
Text, but there may be other data types.
temporary part number A part number that CIS automatically generates to track
newly created parts. CIS enters the number into the part
record in the database as well as in a special table named
TMPPRTS.
temporary part number prefix The prefix that CIS appends to temporary part numbers.
You can set this prefix when you configure CIS.
TMPPRTS table A table in your part database that CIS creates when you
enable temporary part number tracking. CIS
automatically monitors the TMPPRTS table and notifies
you if a temporary part in the design has been promoted
to an approved part.
transferable properties Properties that CIS transfers from database parts to parts
you place on your schematic. You can set the properties
that CIS transfers to your designs during database
configuration.
uniform resource locator See URL.
Update Part Status The command you use to update your design’s placed
part properties to reflect changes in the part database.
When you update part status for your design, CIS detects
property values that you have changed for part instances
and allows you to retain the values for the schematic part
or, when possible, choose to automatically update the
values to match those in the database. CIS displays the
updated part status in the part manager.

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***Draft*** Glossary

URL Uniform resource locator. Text used for identifying and

addressing an item in a computer network (for example,
http://orcad.com). In short, a URL provides location
information so that your browser can find and display
items from a remote network.
value The part value. Examples are 1.2K, 10.0uF, and 74ALS374.
CIS supports the use of common magnitude identifiers
(such as K and uF).
variant property A part property with a different set of values than the
same part property in the core design. Variant properties
are used to create design variants.
visibility The setting that determines whether a part property is
visible on your schematic page. You can set the default
visibility for part properties during database
configuration. You can also override default visibility
settings when you place parts and when you select placed
parts on the schematic page.

123
Glossary May 17, 2000

124
Index

A BOM
creating a part database from a design, 20
activeparts creating Crystal Reports templates, 54
using the ICA to locate, 81 creating standard CIS, 104
using the ICA to locate and place, 81 creating using Crystal Reports templates, 109
using the ICA to place, 82 definition of, 115
activeparts web site, definition of, 117 exporting Crystal Reports, 113
administrative preferences previewing Crystal Reports, 112
Administrative Preferences tab, 48 printing Crystal Reports, 112
definition of, 115 Standard CIS Bill of Materials dialog box, 21, 105
setting, 47 browsable properties
allowed part reference prefixes definition of, 115
definition of, 115 setting, 18, 42
setting, 30, 43 browsing part properties, 71
applicable part reference prefixes
definition of, 115
setting, 46
C
CIS
definition of, 115
B setting up, 11
bill of materials, See BOM CIS bill of materials, See BOM
blank properties CIS Configuration command, 27, 33, 37, 45, 47, 50
definition of, 115 CIS Configuration File dialog box, 27, 33, 37, 45, 47, 50
transferring, 48
Index

CIS explorer database parts

definition of, 115 browsing properties, 71
Internet Component Assistant (ICA) tab, 6, 82 creating new, 73
Local Part Database tab, 6 definition of, 116
overview, 6 deriving new, 77
using the window, 60 placing, 66
commands querying for, 67
CIS Bill of Materials working with, 57
Crystal Reports, 110 database parts window
Standard, 105 overview, 9
CIS Configuration, 27, 33, 37, 45, 47, 50 using, 63
Link Database Part, 88–90 database tables
Open Part Manager, 58, 88, 94–95, 98 configuring part properties, 32, 36, 40
Place Database Part, 66, 70 definition of, 116
Save, 102, 108 databases
Save As, 102, 108 choosing a format, 12
Toolbar, 59 creating a configuration file, 26
Update Part Manager, 99 creating a part database, 12
Component Information System, See CIS creating from an existing design, 20
configuration files defining part reference associations, 43
creating, 26 definition of, 116
creating manually, 32 determining the part properties, 14
creating using a wizard, 26 EDTN’s ICselector, 9
definition of, 116 extracting part information from MRP, 22
editing, 36 setting the field format, 20
setting up, 36 setting up the ODBC data source, 23
Configure Database dialog box, 34, 38 using more than one table, 20
copying properties, 95 deriving new database parts, 77
core designs design errors, definition of, 116
creating design variants from, 103 design variants
definition of, 116 creating, 103
Crystal Reports definition of, 117
Bill of Materials dialog box, 110 dialog boxes
creating a report from a template, 109 CIS Configuration File, 27, 33, 37, 45, 47, 50
creating templates, 54 Configure Database, 34, 38
definition of, 116 Administrative Preferences tab, 48
exporting a report, 113 ICA Supplier Preferences tab, 51
previewing a report, 112 Part Reference Associations tab, 46
printing a report, 112 Crystal Reports Bill of Materials, 110
New Database Part, 74
Standard Bill of Materials, 21, 105
D Update Part, 99
data sheets, definition of, 116
data sources
definition of, 116 E
setting up ODBC, 23 EE
database configuration (.DBC) files, See definition of, 117
configuration files product evolution, 3
database field name, See table property name Enterprise Edition, See EE

126
 Index

enterprise resource planning, See ERP

ERP, definition of, 117
L
explorer window Link Database Part command
Explore tab, 8, 66 definition of, 118
Query tab, 8, 67 using, 88–90

F M
footprint window, 7 management information services, See MIS
manufacturing resource planning, See MRP
MIS, definition of, 118
MRP, definition of, 118
I
ICA
creating database parts, 82
definition of, 117
N
ICA property name, 41 New Database Part dialog box, 74
locating parts, 81 not present, See part not present
overview, 4
placing parts on a schematic, 82
setting supplier preferences, 50 O
setting up access to external part data, 53 occurrence, definition of, 118
using ICA windows, 60 ODBC
using the ICA, 81 definition of, 118
ICA home page, 9 setting up the data source, 23
ICA property names Open Database Connectivity, See ODBC
definition of, 117 Open Part Manager command, 88, 94–95, 98
mapping to database property names, 41
ICA supplier preferences
definition of, 117
setting, 50
P
ICA Supplier Preferences tab, 51 packages, definition of, 119
instances part databases
definition of, 117 choosing a format, 12
deriving new database parts, 72 creating, 12
updating part status, 99 creating a configuration file, 26
intelligent unit conversion creating from an existing design, 20
CIS database query feature, 17 defining part reference associations, 43
definition of, 118 definition of, 119
internet component assistant, See ICA determining the part properties, 14
Internet part, definition of, 118 extracting part information from MRP, 22
setting the field format, 20
setting up the ODBC data source, 23
using more than one table, 20
K part descriptions
keyed properties definition of, 119
defining part reference associations, 44 determining part properties, 14
definition of, 118 part instances, definition of, 119

127
Index

part manager part type property contents

adjusting the display, 59 definition of, 120
copying part properties, 94 setting up part reference associations, 46
definition of, 119 part types
displaying the toolbar, 59 defining part reference associations, 43
linking parts, 88 definition of, 120
opening, 58, 98 property, 15
overview, 10 part window, 8
saving the window contents, 102 parts
sorting information, 59, 98 browsing properties, 71
splitting into panes, 59 creating new, 73
updating part status, 99 definition of, 119
using the window, 58 placing, 66
viewing and updating part status, 98 querying for, 67
part not present PATH environment variables, definition of, 120
definition of, 119 PCB footprints
display value, 49 definition of, 120
part numbers footprint window, 7
definition of, 119 PDM, definition of, 120
determining part properties, 14 Place Database Part command
property, 15 definition of, 120
temporary, 49 using, 66, 70
part properties placing a local database part, 69
browsing, 71 PPD, definition of, 120
configuring CIS for use, 32, 36 preferred parts database, See PPD
creating reports for, 104 present parts
definition of, 119 definition of, 120
determining for a part database, 14 present, See present parts
optional for a database, 18 product data management, See PDM
required for a database, 15 properties
updating for placed parts, 99 copying, 95
part reference associations definition of, 121
defining, 43 part number, 15
definition of, 119 part type, 15
Part Reference Associations tab, 46 transferring to the design, 14
part reference prefixes property names
definition of, 119 assigning, 14
limiting database tables searched, 43 definition of, 121
matching to part types, 44 ICA property names, 41
setting as allowed, 30, 43 Orcad property names, 41
setting as applicable, 46 table property name, 40
part status property types
definition of, 120 CIS interpretation, 40
viewing, 10 definition of, 121
viewing and updating, 98 icons in Standard CIS Bill of Materials dialog
part type delimiter box, 106
definition of, 120 table property types, 40
setting, 48

128
 Index

property visibility table property names, definition of, 122

default settings, 41 table property types, definition of, 122
definition of, 121 temporary part number prefixes
overriding default settings, 42, 70, 88 definition of, 122
visibility settings, 41 setting, 49
visibility window, 8 temporary part numbers
definition of, 122
description, 49
Q enabling, 49
promoting to an approved part, 49
query
TMPPRTS table
database, 17, 67
approving temporary parts, 49
definition of, 121
definition of, 122
Toolbar command, 59
transferable properties
R definition of, 122
reports using the Link Database Part command, 88
creating a part database from a design, 20
creating Crystal Reports templates, 54
creating standard CIS, 104 U
creating using Crystal Reports templates, 109
uniform resource locator, See URL
definition of, 121
Update Part dialog box, 99
exporting Crystal Reports, 113
Update Part Status command
previewing Crystal Reports, 112
definition of, 122
printing Crystal Reports, 112
using, 99
Standard CIS Bill of Materials dialog box, 21, 105
URL
browsable properties, 42
browsing a database part property, 71
S definition of, 123
Save As command, 102, 108
Save command, 102, 108
schematic part property V
definition of, 121
values, definition of, 123
using, 16
variant properties
schematic parts, definition of, 121
definition of, 123
sorting
visibility
bill of materials, 108
default settings, 41
part manager, 59, 98
definition of, 123
source libraries, definition of, 121
overriding default settings, 42, 70, 88
source packages, definition of, 121
property visibility settings, 41, 70, 88
standard CIS bill of materials, See BOM
visibility window, 8
visibility window, 8
T
tab-delimited files W
definition of, 122
windows
saving a part status report, 102
database parts, 9, 70
saving a standard CIS bill of materials, 109

129
Index

explorer
Explore tab, 8, 66
Query tab, 8, 67
footprint, 7
part, 8
visibility, 8
wizard, using the database configuration, 26

130