Updating a Flexible Board Assembly from an IDF File

You can compare and update a board assembly with an IDF file.

Important:
  • Panels are not managed by the Compare & Update command.
  • The profiles of flexible boards are not updated.

Before you begin:
  • Activate the 3D representation of the board.
  • In Me > Preferences > 3D Modeling > Electrical and Electronic Systems > Circuit Board Design > Constraint Mode, select the Use intermediate product check box.
  • In Me > Preferences > 3D Modeling > Electrical and Electronic Systems > Circuit Board Design, select a Board Assembly option to define how components are grouped in the tree.

    For information, see Board Assembly.

  • To import/update board content that takes the physical component data model into account, select the Use the physical component data model option in Me > Preferences > 3D Modeling > Electrical and Electronic Systems > Circuit Board Design > Board Assembly.

    For more information, see Board Assembly.

    • If you select the option, and a component or a physical component is found in the database, it is imported/updated as is.
    • If you select the option, and no physical component is found in the database, the empty structure (without geometry) of a physical component is created in the tree after import/update. It contains nodes such as 3D Package, 3D Package Wrap, Wrap 3D Shape and a Footprint. These items are generated thanks to the IDF information (Part number, Package number, axis system coordinates, angle, offset, etc.) of the physical component.
    • If you do not select the option, the empty structure of a component (not a physical one) is created.
See Also
In the Knowledge Base
Procedure to import new and updated components belonging to the same board face in two different subproducts
  1. From the ECAD Collaboration section of the action bar, click Compare & Update .
    The Circuit Board Design dialog box appears.
  2. Under Selected files, click Browse to import an IDF file and a library. You can load objects in session by running the Content Chooser. See Using the Content Chooser.

    Note: For more information, see Exchanging IDF Data.

  3. Under Data Source, select the location where to retrieve the components' reference and geometry:
    OptionDescription
    Catalog The query is done in the catalog. If no objects are found, the query is done in the library.

    You can declare your electrical catalog in Data Setup. For more information, see Administration: About Data Setup for Flexible Circuit Board Design.
    Database The query is done in the database. If no objects are found, the query is done in the library.

    By default, this option is activated.
    None The query is done in the library.

    Tip: To import content that takes the original MCAD or ECAD environment into account, select Associate a CSV file for placement and browse to select a CSV file.

    This option is available only if you import components from the database. For more information, see About CSV Files.

  4. Under Update Board Options, select either of the following:
    OptionDescription
    Check on Board Compares your whole board assembly with the imported IDF file.

    By default, this option and the first four check boxes are selected.
    No check on Board Filters the update by comparing only the components with the imported IDF file.
  5. Under Holes options, select an option to define how the holes are displayed after the update:
    OptionDescription
    Draw only Holes are represented by a drawing on the board.
    Drill all All the holes on the board are drilled.
    Custom Allows to define additional options for the drilling.
  6. Click OK to launch the update.
    The Report dialog box appears. The modifications detected between your board assembly and the imported content are listed in six tabs.
    Note: Modifications detected for holes and pockets are listed in the Board tab whereas those for partial holes are listed in the From To Holes tab.
  7. Click a tab, and then select an object in the list to highlight the modifications made on this object in the 3D area.
    In the following example, a component is selected. Its position is modified.

  8. To define the status of a modification, right-click an object and select one of the following actions:
    • Validate selected modification(s)
    • Reject selected modification(s)
    • Reframe on selected Modifications

    Tips:
    • To apply the same status to all the objects in the list, click Select/Unselect all before editing a status.
    • For layers, tracks, and partial holes, defining the status for one object modifies all the other objects.

    • The status of the detected modifications are updated in the report.
    • In the 3D area, validated modifications are highlighted.

    • In the tree, imported and updated components are grouped according to the Constraint Mode option you previously selected.
  9. Optional: Manage the update report:
    1. In the User comment column, enter additional information.
      Comments are then added to the report.
    2. Select Generate Textual Report to list the accepted and rejected modifications in a new document.

      The directory path in which the report is stored is set in your preferences under Update Board Assembly From IDF in the Board Assembly tab.

    3. Select Attach the report under the Board Assembly to save the document under the board assembly.

      To retrieve the report, explore your product in Product Finder. In the tree, right-click the document and select Open.

  10. Click OK.
    Your flexible board assembly is updated according to the modifications you validated. Modifications are visible in the fold and unfold views.

    Important:
    • If a patterned hole is deleted after the update, the pattern is deactivated. The same behavior occurs for constraint areas.
    • If you reject the modification of a product or component, the holes attached to it are not deleted.