Frontend

Parts Frontend was designed to increase productivity and to facilitate Altium library maintenance. 

The Frontend application allows multiple users to edit the backend database.

Parts Frontend (click to view image)

Command Buttons:

New - Create a new part (record).

Make Like - Create a new part with options to reuse existing Symbol and Footprints. 

Save - Save the current record.  Validates required user inputs.

Unlock / Lock - Locking the data entry in the Frontend prevents accidental editing while viewing and searching the backend database.

Lock does NOT lock the Backend database, it disables data entry in the user's Frontend for the currently displayed record. This is a view only mode that can be used to prevent accidental editing.

Delete - Deletes the current record.

Filter (Search) can be used to quickly find and sort parts data.

Show All - Command Displays all Records (un-Filtered View).

Verify Files - Verifies Footprint and Symbol files exist and validates Altium Library Refs.

In the designer mode only the current record's Footprint and Symbol files are verified.

In the Librarian mode there are options to verify the Selected Record or All records.

Black Hat

The Black Hat supports a drag and drop (Copy All and Paste) feature to populate the selected record with parametric data from suppliers such as Digi-key or Mouser. 

Designer and Librarian Modes

The Parts Frontend is available in two user modes, Designer and Librarian.

The Librarian mode has features that are not included in the Designer mode. These features can be found in Tools.

The Designer and Librarian modes can be evaluated in the Demo Version of the Frontend application by selecting Designer or Librarian mode in the starting screen.

Note in the licensed version of the Parts Frontend the Application Key determines if the user has Designer or Librarian privileges.

That's It.