Schematic Library Options

The Library Editor Options tab of theSchematic Library Options Dialog.

Summary

This dialog allows the designer to define options that are specific to the active schematic library document. The dialog is divided over two tabs, collectively providing controls for defining the look and feel of the schematic library sheet, enabling and sizing grids, and specifying the units of measurement to be used.

Access

In the Schematic Library Editor, click Tools » Document Options or right-click in the workspace and select Options » Document Options from the context menu to open the dialog.

Options/Controls

Library Editor Options Tab

Options

• Size - use this field to choose from a range of standard sheet sizes. The following sizes (featuring both metric and imperial) are available: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0, A, B, C, D, E, Letter, Legal, Tabloid.
• Orientation - use this field to specify the orientation of the sheet, either Landscape or Portrait.
• Unique Id - the current unique identifier for the document. The Unique ID (UID) is a system generated value that uniquely identifies this current document. A new UID value can be entered directly into this field.
  • Reset - click this button to have the system generate a new UID for the document.
• Show Border - enable this option to have a border drawn on the sheet. The border bisects the sheet in both horizontal and vertical planes, providing an absolute origin point (0, 0) at its center. It is this point that is used as a reference when drawing the symbol for the component. The color of the border is determined by the Border color field.
• Show Hidden Pins - enable this option to have all hidden pins revealed on the sheet (including their designator and display name).
• Always Show Comment/Designator - enable this option to have the Comment and Designator Value strings displayed on the sheet. By default, the Designator value will be * and the Comment value will be taken from the component's Comment field, as defined in the Component Library document.

Custom Size

• Use Custom Size - Enable this box to use custom sheet size settings. Define the X and Y custom sizes in the fields below the check box.
  • X - Use the field to enter a custom width for the current schematic library sheet.
  • Y - Use the field to enter a custom height for the current schematic library sheet.

Colors

• Border - Click on the color sample to edit the origin's color. In the resultant Choose Color dialog box, select a predefined color or create a custom color.
• Workspace - Click on the color sample to edit the workspace's color. In the resultant Choose Color dialog box, select a predefined color or create a custom color.

Grids

• Snap - The snap grid is the grid that the cursor is locked to when placing or manipulating objects on the sheet. This grid should be left on at all times except when specifically placing or moving objects that need to be off grid, like text. The visible grid is the grid you see on the sheet, which acts as a visual reference. Typically it is set to be the same as or a multiple of the snap grid. Use these controls to turn the Snap grid on or off, and to set the grid size.
• Visible - The visible grid is the grid you see on the sheet, which acts as a visual reference. Typically it is set to be the same as or a multiple of the snap grid. The setting of the visible grid does not affect the cursor snap movement. This is determined by the Snap grid settings.

Library Description 

Use this field to enter a description for the schematic library document.

Units Tab

The Units tab of the Schematic Library Options dialog.

Use the dialog's Units tab to specify the units of measurement to be used for the sheet. A range of unit types are available, across both Imperial and Metric systems.

Imperial Unit System

• Use Imperial Unit System - Enable this option if you want to use imperial units in your schematic projects. You would also need to choose which imperial units to be used (DXP defaults - 10 mil, mils, inches and auto imperial units) in the Imperial unit used drop down list.
  • Imperial unit used - Choose one of the available imperial units; mils, inches, DXP default units (10 mils) or auto imperial. If the Auto imperial unit is selected, the system will switch from mils to inches when the value is greater than 500 mils.

Metric Unit System

• Use Metric Unit System - Enable this option if you wish to use the metric units for your schematic projects. You would also need to choose which metric unit to be used (millimetres - mm, centimetres - cm, meters - m and Auto-Metric) in the Metric unit used drop down list.
  • Metric unit used -  Choose one of the available metric units; millimeters, centimeters, meters, or auto-metric. If the Auto imperial unit is selected, the system will switch from mm to cm when the value is greater than 100 cm.