Lifecycle

The Lifecycle parameter is an optional feature in the Parts database.

Parts is configured with the Lifecycles shown below.

New;Checked;Released;Production;Deprecated;End of Life;Obsolete

Users can add or edit lifecycles by editing the configuration file.

click on image to view

The default LifeCycle is New when the record is created.

The Deprecated, End of Life and Obsolete life cycles can be used to discourage users from placing components in a design.

Tip: 

Include the life cycle parameter in your BOM and review with your team or customer which parts in the design have the greatest risks.

Risks:

Parts which have new symbols or footprints are the highest risks parts.

Checked parts are new parts which have been checked against the datasheet, preferably by a second set of eyes.

Released parts are parts that have been released to customers.

That's It.

Trim and Clean

Automatic 'Trim and Clean' is used to scrub the data in the Parts table.

Leading and trailing spaces, CR, LF and TAB characters are removed from the data.

Non-Breaking Space (NBSP) characters are replaced with standard ASCII spaces.

These characters may be embedded in data that users cut and paste from web pages.

Multiple space characters are reduced to a single space.

Notes: 

When the Save Command button selected the current record is Trimmed and Cleaned.

Trim and Clean is applied when data is imported using Parts Tools > Import Excel.

That's It !

Verify Libs

Librarian mode shown below

In the Designer mode only the currently Selected Record is verified.

The Librarian mode includes an option to Make Library Paths and Verify All Files in the Library.

Library references are used in *.PCBLib and *.SCHLib files to identify a specific symbol or footprint within a library.

Each symbol and footprint listed in the database is verified by reading the library files.

The user is alerted if either the file or reference is not found.

Verifying file paths and library references will ensure your parts are displayed in Altium's Components Panel.

Make Library Paths can be used to create relative Library Paths if a SchLib files exist in the symbols folder that have the same name as the Library Ref.

Make Library Report when enabled the User Defined Field "Lib Report" will be populated with messages if errors are detected while verifying the files

The Make Library Report can enabled in the Configuration Options.

 

Tip:

Single part library files have only one library part reference. Parts supports both single and multiple part library files. However single part libraries are highly recommended.

If all parts are in a single library file how will users be able to collaborate?

If a user opens a library with 1000 parts, then all 1000 parts would be in a locked while the library file is open making it very difficult to collaborate.

Single part files are your best choice for collaboration and library maintenance.

That's It !

Parts Frontend Basics

The New Parts Frontend (11/10/2018 )

Added Octopart Search for Mfr Part Numbers.
Updated Supplier Search for Digi-key and Mouser

Click on images to view

The Parts application was designed to efficiently maintain Altium Database Libraries.

Shortcut Keys:

Ctrl + Home	Jump to the First Record
Ctrl + End	Jump to the Last Record
Tab	Forward to Next Field
Shift + Tab	Back to Previous Field

Parts has standard Window's application commands like:

Ctrl + A               Select All Records.

Ctrl + C               Copy.

Ctrl + V               Paste.

Ctrl + F               Find and Replace.

Ctrl + X               Cut (Delete).

Ctrl + Z               Undo Changes.

When Frontend in the locked state the records are in a view only mode. 

Toggle the Lock/Unlock button to switch between the view only and edit modes.

At the upper left side of the main window are the five most frequently used commands.

New, Make Like, Save, Lock and Delete

User Tips are shown on the status bar at bottom of the main window.

That's It !