Components and Library Management Tutorial

Created: September 23, 2026
Updated: October 7, 2026

At a Glance

This learning path introduces the core tools and workflows for managing components and libraries in Altium. Learners will explore component creation and maintenance, library migration and health monitoring, part sourcing, and BOM management to support consistent and reliable design data throughout the product development process.

Go Deeper with AI:

This content provides new users with a practical introduction to managing components and libraries in Altium Designer. Through step-by-step tutorials, learners will explore the essential workflows used to create, maintain, organize, and validate component data, building the foundational skills needed to support consistent and reliable design processes.

Create, clone, and edit components while applying templates to improve library consistency.
Migrate existing libraries and use health monitoring tools to maintain high-quality component data.
Source manufacturer parts and manage BOMs with ActiveBOM to support informed design and supply chain decisions.

1 - Creating and Cloning Components

This section introduces the process of creating and cloning components in Altium, helping users understand different ways to build and manage library content. Users will:

Create new components from scratch or import component data from the Altium Cloud Library.
Define component details such as name, type, location, and template.
Add models, parameters, and datasheets to complete the component.
Use the cloning feature to create new components based on existing ones.
Save and publish components to make them available in your workspace.

1a - Create a Component

1b - Batch and Cloned Components

2 - Editing Components

This section guides users in how to edit existing components in Altium, including updating models, modifying parameters, and managing part choices. It allows users to:

Edit component models by selecting a new model or revising an existing one.
Update component parameters and add information such as manufacturer links or datasheets.
Save changes to create a new component revision and update outdated revisions in designs.
Manage Part Choices to connect components with manufacturer and supplier information.
Configure and update Part Choice Lists to keep component data accurate and current.

2a - Edit an Existing Component

2b - Edit a Part Choice

3 - Work with Component Templates

This section demonstrates how to use component templates in Altium to standardize component creation and support the use of generic components during the design process. Users will:

Create component templates that define parameters, naming schemes, storage locations, linked models, and other reusable settings.
Apply templates when creating new components to automatically populate predefined information.
Add models and parameters to templates and save them as managed workspace content.
Use generic components as placeholders in schematics when a specific manufacturer part has not yet been selected.
Replace generic components with specific physical components later in the design process using parameter-based search and matching tools.

3a - Create a Generic Component Using a Component Template

3b - Place a Generic Component

4 - Library Imports

The importing libraries section explains how to import and migrate existing libraries into Altium, including footprint, symbol, and integrated libraries. In this section, users learn to:

Use the Library Importer to migrate file-based libraries into an Altium workspace.
Import PCB footprint libraries and organize migrated models within the workspace structure.
Import schematic symbol libraries and automatically create associated components and symbol models.
Review folder structures, assign component types, and validate libraries before completing the import process.
Identify and resolve common migration issues, such as duplicate models or missing footprint links, to ensure a successful import.

4a - Importing Libraries to Altium

4b - Importing Schematic Symbol Model Libraries

5 - Library Health Dashboard

The library health section shows users how to use the Library Health Dashboard to review component quality and identify issues within a managed component library. Users can:

View overall library health, including component counts, usage status, and issue summaries.
Monitor component health across supply chain, model, and component data categories.
Filter dashboard results to focus on components that are actively used in designs.
Investigate detailed reports to identify affected components and recommended fixes.
Refresh health checks and customize results by excluding specific components or issue categories.

5a - Library Health Dashboard

6 - Manufacturer Part Search

This section demonstrates how to use the Manufacturer Part Search in Altium Designer to find, evaluate, and select components from manufacturer and supplier databases. Users are shown how to:

Search for components by part number, description, or electrical and mechanical parameters.
Use categories and filters to narrow results and identify suitable parts more quickly.
Review model availability and quality before adding components to a design.
Compare multiple components side-by-side using part details and specifications.
Check supplier availability, pricing, and lifecycle status when selecting parts.

6a - Manufacturer Part Search

7 - ActiveBOM

This section models how to use ActiveBOM in Altium Designer to create, review, and manage Bill of Materials (BOM) data throughout the design process. It demonstrates the process to:

Create an ActiveBOM document to view components, part choices, pricing, and supplier information.
Compare manufacturer and supplier options based on availability, cost, and lifecycle status.
Use BOM checks to identify warnings, errors, and missing component data.
Rank preferred part solutions and manage supplier selections for BOM items.
Update outdated components and add or edit part solutions to resolve BOM issues.