Incorrect Link in Project Variant

Parent category: Violations Associated with Documents

Default report mode:

Summary

This violation occurs when a single-part component has been chosen as an Alternate Part for a multi-part component - in a defined Variant for the active design project - and there is more than one part of the original base design component placed within the design. For example, consider a base design with multi-part component R1 - an isolated resistor network with 8 sub-parts. Also consider that four of those parts have been placed (R1A, R1B, R1C, R1D). Now, let's consider a defined variant of that base design, where an alternate part has been chosen to be used in place of that original base part. The chosen part should also be a multi-part component, that can easily accommodate switching out the four sub-parts currently used in the design. However, if, by mistake, a single-part resistor component is chosen as the alternate, it does not have the capacity to facilitate the switching-out of existing sub-parts R1B, R1C, and R1D. The Compiler therefore flags this as an incorrect link.

Notification

If compiler errors and warnings are enabled for display on the schematic (enabled on the Schematic - Compiler page of the Preferences dialog) an offending object will display a colored squiggle beneath it. A notification is also displayed in the Messages panel in the following format:

Incorrect link between project variant "<VariantName>" and schematic component Component <ComponentPhysicalDesignator> (<ComponentLogicalDesignator>) <BasePartComment>

where:

• VariantName is the name of the design variant in which the erroneous alternate component has been defined.
• ComponentPhysicalDesignator is the physical designator for the affected component (the designator as displayed on the compiled tab view of the relevant schematic document on which the component in question resides).
• ComponentLogicalDesignator is the logical designator for the affected component (the designator as displayed on the Editor tab view of the relevant schematic document on which the component in question resides). If the logical and physical designators are identical, then this entry will not be displayed.
• BasePartComment is the value for the Comment parameter for the affected component, as defined in the base design.

Recommendation for Resolution

Use the Details region of the Messages panel to cross probe to the component in question. If only one part of the original multi-part component is being used, then you can simply delete any other placed instances and recompile the project. Since the alternate part is a single-part component, it is sufficient for replacement for the single used part of the original multi-part component.

However, this approach, while effective, is not so desirable. It is more like a band-aid rather than resolving the underlying issue. A far better approach is to choose a better alternate part for the component, in the relevant design variant. To do this:

1. Select the relevant variant from the Variants toolbar. Then right-click on a part of the base multi-part component, and choose Part Actions » Variants. This gives access to the Variant Management dialog, with only the offending component, in only that chosen variant, presented.
2. Use the Component Variation field to access the Edit Component Variation dialog.
3. With the Alternate Part option still selected, simply use the other options in the dialog to browse to, and choose, a more suitable replacement component to be used in that specific variant of the design.
4. OK out of the dialogs and recompile the design project - the incorrect link violation should now have been resolved and no longer appear (unless, of course, there are multiple components with this issue, in which case simply repeat the previous steps).