Explicit Component Types

Old Content - see latest equivalent
Modified by Jason Howie on May 31, 2017
Contents

Altium Vault 2.6, in conjunction with Altium Designer 16.0, brings the ability to define explicit component types. With a range of supported types, this enhancement to components facilitates targeted searching through the Vault's Advanced Search facility - a facility that not only allows you to search by component type, it allows you to search smarter with supported unit-aware component parameters.

For more information on the Advanced Component Search facility and how component type is used, see Advanced Components Search.

The following sections take a look at the supported component types, and where in the software you can specify a component's type.

Supported Component Types

The following component types are supported for assignment:

  • Capacitor
  • Connector
  • Crystal & Oscillator
  • Diode
  • Fuse
  • IC
    • Amplifier
    • Interface
    • Memory
    • Power Supply
    • Processor
  • Inductor
  • LED
  • Resistor
  • Sensor
  • Switch
  • Transformer
  • Transistor

Specifying Component Type in a Component Template

This functionality requires that the latest version of the CMPT Editor extension is installed. The CMPT Editor can only be accessed if the extension is installed as part of your Altium Designer installation. This extension is installed by default when installing the software but in case of inadvertent uninstall, it can be found  on the Purchased tab of the Extensions & Updates page (DXP » Extensions and Updates).

The type of component is specified through the system parameter ComponentType. Simply click on the associated Default Value field, and then click the  button to access the Component Type Editor dialog. Use this to select the required type of component and click OK - the chosen type will be inserted as the value for the ComponentType parameter in the main parameters grid.

Example Component Template with the ComponentType system parameter set to Resistor.

Specifying Component Type in a Component Library

The type of component is specified through the Type attribute in the Component region of the definitions area. Simply click on the Type field, and then click the  button to access the Component Type Editor dialog. Use this to select the required type of component and click OK - the chosen type will be inserted as the value for the Type attribute in the main definitions grid.

Example Component Library, with the Type attribute for a component definition set to Diode.

The Type field for multiple component definitions can be set in a single action. Simply select the Type field for each required component definition, then choose the type for one to apply to all others.

Specifying Component Type in a Part Request

As part of the Part Request feature, you can specify the type of component that you are requesting to be created by the Librarians. When creating the request - either through the Vaults panel, or through the Vault's browser-based interface - simply choose the type using the Component Type field.

Example request for a new sensor part, with the Component Type set to Sensor (browser-based interface and Vaults panel illustrated).

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