Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
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7. Questions about the LCDB

1. I want to copy the LCDB (Component Database for Schematic Design) to another computer, but I do not know which files I should copy.



To copy the LCDB (Component Database for Schematic Design), copy the following three files:

If the LCDB is already in use at your place, there will be a search file "xxx.rlt" included in the library. This file is automatically created when you save data from the LCDB Editor or execute part placement commands from the Sheet Editor. In that case, you do not need to copy xxx.rlt.
However, if you have no write permission to the directory containing LCDB, rlt file cannot be created. If this is true, copy rlt file too, or change the permission.
If you want to change the names of the files when copying them, note that the names of the referenced component file (xxx.cmp) and database file (xxx.dbf) are set in the parameter file (xxx.prf). So be sure to change these names using a text edito.
Make sure all three files have the same name.




2. I want to change the contents of the component file (xxx.cmp).



The component file (xxx.cmp) contains information on pin assignments of each component, equivalent definitions of pins, and the like. The contents of this file cannot be edited using an ordinary editor.

Use the LCDB Editor to edit this file.




3. I want to add or change the properties defined in the LCDB (Component Database for Schematic Design).



The properties defined in the LCDB (Component Database for Schematic Design) are set in the parameter file (xxx.prf). To add properties, do the following.

Adding properties to the template parameter file

Edit the template parameter file ($ZDSROOT/info/lanlcdb.prf) using an editor.

lanlcdb.prf

I you add properties to the LCDB, be sure to also add them to the property definitions file (PropSpec). Otherwise, the properties you added will not be reflected in the Sheet Editor, and you will not be able to check them.

Adding properties using the LCDB Editor

You can add or change properties using the LCDB Editor providing that they are set in the property definitions file (PropSpec).
Choose [Data] - [Properties] from the menu bar.

Adding pin information

To add pin information, edit the parameter file (xxx.prf) using an editor.

temp.prf

I you add properties to the LCDB, be sure to also add them to the property definitions file (PropSpec). Otherwise, the properties you add will not be reflected in the Sheet Editor, and you will not be able to check them.




4. When executing [Place] - [components Library], the parts registered in the LCDB (Component Database for Schematic Design) are not searched correctly.



Component search file (xxx.rlt) may be faulty. Create the correct rlt file. Delete rlt file. Then activate the LCDB editor to open the file, and proceed with save without doing anything including editing. A new search file (xxx.rlt) will be created.

If the property values of "cdbName" begin with"cdbName" the line is interpreted as a comment. Therefore, do not use "#"at the beginning.




5. I want to output the information registered in the LCDB (Component Database for Schematic Design) to a list.



You cannot output the parts registered in the LCDB to a list.
You can use the database file (xxx.dbf) and EXCEL or some other spreadsheet program to output a list of registered parts and properties.




6. Although component information described on the package is registered,
an error
"Package symbols are not registered in the LCDB" is encountered and no nets are extracted.


If there are multiple entries of component information described on the package within the same part, net output and other processing may not be performed.

To maintain integrity with the Board Designer and PWS libraries, as well as the LCDB (Component Database for Schematic Design), there can only be one entry for the component information described on the package. However, multiple entries are accepted for parts described on the gate because there are parts of different types of gates.



7. I do not know where I should set the equivalent definitions of pins.



Set the equivalent definitions of pins in the LCDB (Component Database for Schematic Design). At this time, write the equivalent definitions using the pin IDs set in the pin assignment data.

Use the following expressions to write equivalent definitions.

  • "=" ... Use the equal sign "=" to specify exchangeable pins.
  • "(",")" ... Use parentheses "()" to specify the priority of expressions.
  • "," ... Use a comma "," to separate multiple definitions.



8. When I edit the LCDB properties, how can the changes be reflected in the circuit diagram?


After you have finished entering the properties of the parts in a schematic sheet, any information added to the properties is not reflected in the components on the schematic sheet. The properties set in the LCDB (Component Database for Schematic Design) are only reflected when parts are entered into schematic sheets. Therefore, you need to reload the registered information from the LCDB.
If, after adding or editing information in the LCDB (Component Database for Schematic Design) you want the changes to be reflected in schematic sheets, you can use one of the following five methods.

1. Reload Parts Info. (utilities)
For the parts selected on the schematic sheet, reload the parts information using the property values assigned to the symbols as the keywords.


2. Components Attribute reload from LCDB (Data Converter)
Reload the parts information using the property values assigned to the symbols as the keywords. If hierarchical layers are involved, you can specify whether you want the changes to be reflected in both definition and instance layers or only in the instance layer.

3. Parts Rule Based Search
Choose parts from the LCDB using the Parts Rule Based Search dialog box and reflect their property values.


4. Auto Parts Rule Search
For the parts selected on the schematic sheet, choose parts from within the LCDB using theAuto Parts Rule Search dialog box and reflect their property values.

5. Swap Components
For the components selected on the schematic sheet, choose the parts from within the LCDB and replace them.

CR-5000 System Designer Operating Guide -MASTER-
Chapter1. Editing Schematics 1-5 "Parts"



9. From which symbol library are the symbol sheets specified in the LCDB (Component Database for Schematic Design) searched?



The symbol sheets registered in the component information of the LCDB (Component Database for Schematic Design) are searched from the symbol libraries written in the symbol search path of the data resource file (landata.rsc) that is referenced by the circuit directory (xxx.cir).

However, if symbol sheets of the same name exist, they are loaded from the symbol library written in the high-order part of the symbol search path.

Searched sequentially in order of the search symbol path numbers, beginning with 0
0 - 1 - 2 - 3 ...


10. How can op-amps (gate parts that include common pins) be registered in the LCDB (Component Database for Schematic Design)?



For common pins, set [YES] for the pin assign property [isCommonTerminal] of component information.
Op-amp


When using power supply boxes to represent power supply pins that are common pins, components whose component type is "Gate" and components whose component type is "Power Supply Box are required.

Gate

Symbol Pin ID

isCommonTerminal

pinNumber

pinLabel

io

1 NO 1,7 OUT OUTPUT
2 NO 2,6 IN- INPUT
3 NO 3,5 IN+ INPUT
4 YES 4 V- VCC
5 YES 8 V+ VCC


Power

Symbol Pin ID

isCommonTerminal

pinNumber

pinLabel

io

1 NO 4 V- VCC
2 NO 8 V+ VCC
 

When using default power supplies to represent power supply pins that are common pins, components whose component type is "part" also are required.

Part

Symbol Pin ID

isCommonTerminal

pinNumber

pinLabel

io

1 NO 1 OUT1 OUTPUT
2 NO 2 IN1- INPUT
3 NO 3 IN1+ INPUT
4 NO 4 V- VCC
5 NO 5 IN2+ INPUT
6 NO 6 IN2- INPUT
7 NO 7 OUT2 OUTPUT
8 NO 8 V+ VCC



11. I want to divide parts comprised of 100 pins or more into multiple sheets to place.


Add the same reference and same part name to those parts when placed on the schematic sheet. They will be output as the same part to a netlist.
When registering these parts in the LCDB (Component Database for Schematic Design), use a component type of
"gate". Make sure the symbols used have the same number of pins as the registered gate component.
Placing parts comprised of 100 pins divided in three sheets

Register two types of gate components in the LCDB.
One type should be registered as having two gates, and the other type as having one gate.



12. When registering in the LCDB, do I have to register the pins that do not exist in symbols?


You need to register even the pins that do not exist in symbols.



13. When I try to open the LCDB, a message "File (xx.prf) is locked" is displayed and the LCDB is opened in reference mode.


The lock file (xxx.___) is created when the LCDB is edited. This prevents the edited sheet file from being edited by some other user.
If this message is displayed when the LCDB is not being edited, look up the user host in the message dialog box and after confirming that the LCDB is not being edited, erase the lock file and try to open the LCDB file again.
The system also leaves a lock file if you have forcibly exited the System Designer with the LCDB open or the System Designer has terminated abnormally.
The lock file is created in the LCDB's storage directory "xxx.___."


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