Support for Multiple Footprints in a Component Template

Altium Designer 17.0, in conjunction with the Component Template Editor extension, brings support for defining multiple PCB footprints as part of a Component Template. Any number of footprint model links may be specified, and this will be a welcome feature for those wishing to create components that reference 3 footprints, satisfying the IPC requirements for different density levels (L (least or minimum copper), M (most, or maximum copper), and N (nominal, or median copper)).

To add an additional footprint model definition to the template, simply click Add to add a new parameter, then choose the PCBLIB entry on the drop-down menu associated to the Type field.

Turn a newly added parameter into a footprint model definition by setting its Type to PCBLIB.

An example component defined in the Component Library Editor, using a referenced Component Template. The template has three footprint models defined, which are broguht
into the CmpLib. Notice that the PCBLIB model entry in the template is used as the default footprint model (PCBLIB (default)) in the component library.