Parts Folder Permissions

Parts must be installed (extracted or copied ) to a folder in which the user has Full Control.

For example users will always have Full Control of folders on their Desktop.

As a test Right Click and Create a New Folder on your Desktop, then . . .

Right Click on the New Folder > Select Properties > Security Tab




Note as shown above the user has Full Control of the folder.

Permissions Related Problems:

If a user tries to run the Parts_Fronted.accde in a Program Files (x86) sub folder, the user may get the message shown below.





Checking the Program Files (x86) folder properties reveals the user does NOT have Full Control of the folder.

Test: Try moving the Parts folder to the Desktop and run the Parts application.

The Program Files (x86) folder is not a good location for the Parts database.

Windows 10 users may not have write permissions to the Program Files (x86) folder.

Solution: Select or Create a Folder where you have Full Control Permissions.

Example: C:\Users\YourName\Parts



To support multiple users the Parts Backend should be installed on a network drive.

To add user defined fields to the backend you must have Full Control (Permission).

Related Links:

Moving the Backend
Take Ownership of a Folder on Win 10

That's it !

Starting ID

By default Parts uses the ID field as the Primary Key. The application also supports using company part numbers for the Primary Key.

When the primary key is not a Mfr Part Number or a Company Part Number you will be able update components in the schematic with another Mfr Part Number or a Company Part Number if needed.

This unique ID key provides greater level of flexibility than a company part number key.

Selecting the New or Make Like command increments the ID to the next higher ID number.

The ID key is not restricted to being only the next higher number. If desired the librarian can unlock the ID field and enter a number for the ID.

The only restriction is that the ID number can not already be in use because the primary key is a unique number. Duplicate IDs are NOT allowed in the Parts database.

The Parts demo has a default starting number a 30000, however if you want start your database at a lower number like 10000 you can delete all the records then select New and enter your desired starting number.


To delete all records, press Ctrl + A, then press the delete key on your keyboard.

You can also use Tools > Export Excel, renumber the IDs in Excel, then Tools > Import Excel.

To prevent breaking links in existing projects IDs should not be changed after components have been placed in a design.

Using a five or six digit starting number will create nice looking ID numbers.

For example (recommended):

30000
30001
30002

30003

30004

While starting at 1 would create IDs like (not recommended):

1
12
103
1001
10000

It's your choice, however I recommend starting at 30000. This will allow for records to be added as needed with IDs below 30000 or higher than the highest ID used in the database.

Note: There is an option in the Frontend Configuration to keep the ID locked. This lock can be used to prevent users from tampering with the unique ID keys.

That's it !

Customizing Parts

You can rename the Parts.DBLib file to CompanyName.DBLib and the DBLIB will still be connected to the Parts_Backend.accdb.

You can also rename the Parts_Backend.accdb. After renaming the database you will need to open the DBLib file in Altium and connect to the renamed database file.

Also see these links:

Configuration Options
Company Part Numbers
Datasheets
Moving the Backend
Preferred Manufacturer Names
Part Types and Sub Types
Starting ID
Supplier Solutions
User Defined Fields

That's it !