Libraries

Proteus comes equipped with over 50,000 library parts as standard. Each schematic part is packaged with one or more PCB footprints which are typically IPC-7351 compliant. Additionally, most parts contain property definitions such as stock code numbers which can be used in the bill of materials report.

This provides a solid baseline of all libraries for users and provides many of the most common parts used in a typical PCB design.

When a search for a library part is made the installed libraries are searched first. If no matches are found a web search then takes place automatically. Over 15 million parts along with their footprints (and often 3D STEP models) are available for import into Proteus, making sure users can quickly get the part they need.

Parts are imported from the website by double clicking the mouse on the required part. Not only are parts then ready for placement in the current project but they are also stored in the installed user libraries for use in future designs.

Integrated web search and automatic import is available via both Samacsys and SnapEDA.

There are multiple independent vendors of library parts and also some library parts available on supplier websites such as Digikey. Proteus enables import from these tools via the PADS ASCII™ v9.5 file format. Parts can be downloaded from the website or tool of choice in this format and then brought into Proteus from a generic part import dialogue form.

Generic import links up the Proteus Design Suite with the users tool of choice for sourcing library parts.

Large FPGA's provide unique library challenges. Normally, they need to be split into multiple schematic elements and there are also a large number of ball mappings that may be subject to change as the design evolves.

The integrated web search is the first place to search as it will often return the schematic part already fragmented into elements. Proteus also provides a dedicated way to manage the schematic elements during BSDL file import. Users can often find BSDL files on manufacturer websites for large BGA packages.

When it comes to packaging the BGA Proteus supports the import of both Altera and Xilinx pinout files which automates the mapping process and makes it far less error prone.

Regardless of how the library parts are imported (or even created directly in Proteus) good management of user libraries is important. Proteus comes with a dedicated library manager module which easily allows users to create new libraries, move parts between libraries and compare parts in different libraries.

A dedicated property management interface can be launched from Library Manager to allow for easy and consistent management of library part information such as preferred supplier, minimum order quantity or cost.

Users can even compare all of the parts on an old design to the latest version of the parts in the libraries via a dedicated change management tool - extremely useful when a new design iteration is required.