AutoCAD Electrical 2023 – Matching the Footprint Database to the Parts Database

By Miles Nicholson

When you add new parts to the parts database, you should also edit the footprint database to associate either dimensions or a physical drawing to the new part(s). The quickest and easiest way is to wait until you need to place the new part as a footprint for the first time within an assembly drawing (Associating a Footprint). If a part has a mandatory accessory (ASSEMBLYCODE) defined within the parts database, then the part should also have a mandatory accessory (ASSEMBLYCODE) defined within the footprint database in order to match up.

You can add several components associations with their counterpart footprints at the same time, but this can only be done within the Footprint Database Editor.

The DWG symbol will either need to be created or supplied by the manufacturer and it can either be a “dumb” DWG or a DWG with associated intelligence (AutoCAD® Electrical will add electrical intelligence on the fly when a footprint is inserted).

Select the Panel ribbon tab > Other Tools panel Footprint Database File Editor

Select if the manufacturer already exists

Select if the manufacturer is new

In this example, select to create a new manufacturer table.

Enter CADLINE

Select

Select

As an example of a part with a mandatory accessory defined within the parts database, a relay would have a unique identifier in the ASSEMBLYCODE and the mandatory accessory of a base would have the same unique identifier in the ASSELMBLYLIST. Refer to Assigning Mandatory & Optional Accessories

In the footprint database, the combination of the Catalog Number & Assembly Code must match the combination defined in the parts database. Wild cards are allowed however which simplifies and reduces the number of combinations that need to be defined. Wild cards can be used within the Catalog Number and the Assembly Code fields.

Wild cards are allowed in the search meaning that you can have one footprint catalogue number associated with several parts in the default_cat.mdb

*             =             match any characters

?              =             match any single character

#             =             match any single numeric digit

@            =             match any single alphabetic character

If we were to define a footprint entry for the pushbutton and contact example discussed within the Assigning Mandatory & Optional Accessories document, then the values would be:

Catalog Number               =             MAIN_9999

Assembly Code                 =             ASSY GROUP NAME       

Tip: The assembly code/list value can simply be a concatenation of the part numbers of the accessories that make up that group which makes it easier to understand.