Create a Library from a Project to add to Altium 365

Created: May 7, 2025
Updated: June 18, 2025

This video demonstrates how to create an Altium Designer Library from a project to add to Altium 365. It also shows users how to use the File Library Importer to parse a file and validate components and map parameters in the project.

Agenda

Create an integrated library - generate and import a library of components and footprints from a project schematic and PCB.

Parse the data and define the component types - verify the defined components from the import and select those components that were not predefined by the importer.

Validate the components - check for errors in the components and validate the data.

View the log and place components - view the log for the data imported and search and place components into an Altium 365 schematic.

Related Resources

Workflows screenshot

Customer Onboarding Guide This onboarding guide is designed to give your team the tools and collaboration capabilities you need to modernize your electronics design workflow. Read Article

5:37 Component Types Verses Folders Summary: In Altium 365, the component library is an essential place to store your electronic design data. The library is organized in several ways. The first way is through component types, or dynamic labels, wherein a component type is assigned to that component. The second organizational method is via folders in the Explorer. The Explorer is used to setup and organize items and set sharing rights. The video then moves into Altium Designer, and Watch Video

6:42 Component Templates and the Manufacturer Part Search Panel This video demonstrates using component templates to bring components into a managed library in Altium 365. Watch Video

1:30 Download File Permissions This video demonstrates how to check to see if a user has permissions to download a file in Altium 365. Watch Video

4:55 Upload OrCAD Design Files This video walks through the process to import an OrCAD Design File into Altium 365. It also discusses how to view project history and comment on designs. Watch Video

9:02 Version Control System in Altium 365 This video demonstrates the version control system in Altium 365. In this system, projects are available in the web interface in folders. Sharing rights are set up per folder or per project, and can be set by editor, or by viewer. A new project template is created in Altium Designer and saved to the Altium 365 Workspace, and the Altium 365 version control system is enabled to view the project history. In Altium Designer, the project is created locally on the C Drive for quick access, and it is saved to Altium 365. A schematic is opened and two parts are placed with an annotation and saved to the server. The project history in the version control is opened, and the history of the project is discussed. A tag is created, and a comparison of the tag to a previous commit is made. Other options in the history are discussed as well, including reverting to a previous version. Likewise, a where used for components feature is demonstrated to trace parts across a project, and the process to prevent users from making duplicate conflicting changes is also shown. These history changes are also available on the web on Altium 365. Next, the process to create a personal version control server via a template on an SVN server is demonstrated. The project is committed to the SVN locally and moved into Altium 365 to utilize the web viewer and Altium 365 capabilities. However, this disables web viewer history visibility. Finally, the local version control system is migrated to the Altium 365 git version control to once again view the full project history. Watch Video

4:30 Update Components to the Latest Revision This video demonstrates the process to update components to the latest revision. This may be necessary if a component is placed before updates need to be made in the Altium 365 Library. However, Altium 365 can help users identify any changes to components and update them. Within the Properties Panel in Altium Designer, the revision status identifies if a component is using the latest revision available. If this is not the case, users can click the refresh button to update to the latest revision. Likewise, there are also two methods to update multiple components at once. The first method is to select all of the components and right click and choose update to the latest revision in the Item Manager. Then one can open the ECO, modify any necessary components, and execute these changes. Furthermore, components can also be updated in the BOM Dock in the Active BOM. This pulls in information tied to each component, but the revision status is disabled by default. By right clicking in the column header, choosing select columns, and selecting the revision status “eye” icon, this enables the revision visibility. Users can then right click and update components to the latest revision in operations, and ensure that their part components are up to date. Watch Video

4:22 Relink Design Components to Managed Components This video demonstrates how unmanaged projects can use managed components, even when a user is offline and using a local machine. In order to link this local project to an Altium 365 Workspace and integrate the resources of Altium 365 into this project, open tools and then the Item Manager. The Item Manager will scan the design and load any components within the design, showing that they are unmanaged. To relink these components located in the local library to the Altium 365 components, click auto match to match each component. If any components fail to match, users can select and navigate to the individual components and manually match them. Then, an ACL and ECO are generated, the changes are executed, and the components are updated. After this is completed, all of the components are updated to the latest revision. Configure the parameters "Visible on Add" by selecting enable for the "PackageCase" parameter and click okay. Refresh the screen and choose a component within the capacitors folder and place it. Now the case size is visible for that capacitor and the Properties Panel also displays this value. Watch Video

1:14 Configure Visibility of Parameters on Components This video demonstrates how to enable parameters when placing a component. The first step is to open the Explorer Panel, and within components, open the capacitors folder and right click for properties. Configure the parameters "Visible on Add" by selecting enable for the "PackageCase" parameter and click okay. Refresh the screen and choose a component within the capacitors folder and place it. Now the case size is visible for that capacitor and the Properties Panel also displays this value. Watch Video

2:57 Add Dictionaries for Component Templates This video shows how to add dictionaries to be used in component templates. Watch Video

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