SnapMagic Search Import Guide

Altium

Most Altium files are saved in the native format ( .IntLib) however you may occasionally run into cases where they're saved as .lia. After unzipping the file, check the extension of the file you downloaded and follow the relevant instructions below.

Import Steps (.IntLib)

Follow these steps to import symbols & footprints into Altium Designer using the .intlib format:

  1. Double-click the downloaded .intlib file or drag & drop the downloaded .intlib file to the Altium window.
  2. A pop-up window will appear. You have a choice to Extract Sources or Install Library.
  • Extract Sources will allow you to open the library into the Projects window as an Integrated Library project.
    • Install Library will install the library and add it to your Libraries Panel.

Import Steps (.lia)

Before import, make sure the P-CAD importer is installed. To do so, follow these instructions here.

Follow these steps to import symbols & footprints into Altium Designer using the .lia format:

  1. Open Altium.
  2. Drag the .lia file into Altium. This will invoke the P-CAD Import Wizard.
  3. Click Next until you reach the Current Layer Mapping window.
  4. If present, map the layers as follows:
    • For Layer '10', choose: Mechanical Layer 1
    • For Layer '20', choose: Mechanical Layer 13
    • For Layer '21', choose: Mechanical Layer 15
  5. Follow the remaining prompts to complete the import.

FAQ for Altium Import

The footprint I'm using has board cutouts. Why? What layer are they on?

If a footprint has non-circular plated through-holes (ex: slots), we export them as board cutouts. If you follow the instructions above, these cutouts will appear on Mechanical Layer 1. When manufacturing your design, please ensure that you send gerber files for Mechanical Layer 1 to your PCB manufacturer.

Cadence Allegro

Import Steps for Cadence Allegro V16 & V17

  1. Simply double-click on the .dra file to open it in Allegro.

Import Steps for Cadence Allegro Versions before V16

  1. Add files to your padstack path ( See How).
  2. Double-click allegro-builder.bat to run the script.

First time importing a part from SnapMagic Search?

Make sure you have completed the first-time setup tasks ( See How).

FAQ for Cadence Allegro Import

What if the batch file won’t run on my machine?

Footprints can also be imported manually. The second half of the tutorial video above also demonstrates these steps.

OrCAD Capture

Import Steps

Follow these steps to import into OrCAD Capture:

  1. Select File > Import Design.
  2. Select the EDIF tab.
  3. For the Open field, click the Browse... button, and select the .edf file you downloaded.
  4. For the Configuration file field, click the Browse... button, then select the EDIF2CAP.CFG file included in the .zip folder.
  5. Click Ok.
  6. Click File > Open > Design...
  7. Navigate into the downloaded folder. Select Files of type to All Files (.).
  8. Select the .olb file generated in the same folder and click Open.

DesignSpark PCB

Follow these steps to import into DesignSpark PCB:

  1. Extract the .zip file.
  2. In DesignSpark PCB, go to File > Libraries or click the Libraries icon on the File bar.
  3. To import the symbol, click on the Schematic Symbols tab.
  4. Create a new library by clicking on New Lib... or choose an existing library that you have.
  5. Browse to your preferred folder and save the new library.
  6. Click on Add File and browse to the folder where you extracted the contents from the zip file.
  7. Select the .dsl file.
  8. Close the Library Manager and go to your Schematic or PCB Design to select your component from your library.

DipTrace

Import Symbols

  1. Launch DipTrace Launcher.
  2. Select Component Editor.
  3. From the main menu click Library and select Open.
  4. Select the .eli file downloaded from SnapMagic Search and click Open.

Import Footprints

  1. Launch DipTrace Launcher.
  2. Select Pattern Editor.
  3. From the main menu click Pattern and select Insert from Another Library....
  4. In the Insert Patterns windows, click on the drop-down menu for Libraries and select Other Libraries.
  5. Choose the library you downloaded from SnapMagic Search, then click on the results that shows up in the Components section and click Insert to open it.

Eagle

Import Steps

  1. Open Eagle and go to the Control Panel.
  2. Expand Libraries and you’ll see the lbr folder.
  3. Locate the part you’ve downloaded from SnapMagic Search and drag it to the lbr folder in Eagle’s control panel.
  4. Right-click and select use.
  5. The part is now ready to be used in a schematic or board.

eCADSTAR

Follow these steps to import into eCADSTAR:

  1. Open eCSLibMerge.exe select the .zip file you downloaded.
  2. eCSLibMerge.exe will merge the zip file containing library data into the user’s library as specified within the Product Settings dialog of eCADSTAR.
  3. Use the search bar on the left pane of the window (Library Searcher) to search for the imported part.

ExpressPCB Plus

Import Steps

Import Symbols

  1. Launch ExpressSCH Plus.
  2. Click on Component > Component & symbol Manager.
  3. Click on Import Eagle Part.
  4. Select the .lbr file downloaded from SnapMagic Search and click Open.

Import Footprints

  1. Launch ExpressPCB Plus.
  2. Open a new or existing project.
  3. Click on File > Import Eagle File.
  4. Select the .lbr file downloaded from SnapMagic Search and click Open.

Autodesk Fusion

Import Steps

  1. Launch Autodesk Fusion.
  2. Click on Open and then Open from my computer.
  3. Select the .lbr file downloaded from SnapMagic Search and click Open.
  4. The library will be loaded and from the Device tab, you will be able to see the symbol and the footprint, double-click to open them.

KiCad (V6 and later)

Import Steps for KiCad (V6 and later)

Import Symbols

  1. Extract the content of the downloaded _ *zip_ file.
  2. In KiCad, go to Preferences.
  3. Click on Manage Symbol Libraries.
  4. On the Global Libraries tab, click on Browse Libraries.
  5. Select the .kicad_sym file, then click Open.

Import Footprints

  1. In KiCad, go to Preferences.
  2. Click on Manage Footprint Libraries.
  3. On the Global Libraries tab, click on _ Browse Libraries_.
  4. Navigate to the Folder where the .kicad_mod file is located and click Select Folder.

TARGET3001! (V20 and later)

Follow these steps to import into Target3001!:

  1. Download the Symbol and Footprint in Target3001! format from SnapMagic Search.
  2. Once downloaded, the part will automatically appear on your cursor to place it in the schematic.

Note: If the file is not automatically recognized by your Target3001!, follow the steps of this article.