Creating/modifying catalogue parts

By SkyCAD Systems on 2025-04-25 - 09:49

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Creating/modifying catalogue parts

By SkyCAD Systems on 2025-04-25 - 09:49

Description

This tutorial covers the different methods you can use to create and modify catalogue parts, so you can take advantage of the 'Assign from Catalogue' feature.

Topics covered

Catalogue part, creating a catalogue part, modifying a catalogue part, catalogue, part layout, parts-list, BOM.

Video version

NOTE: This tutorial video was created using an older version of SkyCAD.
Ribbon buttons' appearance and positions may differ if you're using version 1.3.25 or higher.
Thank you for your patience while we update this tutorial.

Written version

What is a catalogue part?

A catalogue part is a component with a part number which has been saved to the catalogue.

Unlike symbols from the symbol library, which are simply graphical representations, catalogue parts represent real-world components which have part numbers.

A catalogue part can have a part number, manufacturer, specific pin numbers, a layout image and more.

Catalogue parts are not always linked to symbols on the schematics, e.g. an end stop in a terminal strip can be assigned a catalogue part, but it will not be linked to a symbol on the schematics.

Before following this tutorial

Check the online parts catalogue to see if the part is available for download
If you wish to create/modify a catalogue part which has I/O (inputs/outputs), such as a PLC, drive, controller, etc., please follow the block generator tutorial to create/modify that part instead of this tutorial, as the block generator is specifically tailored for such components.

Creating a catalogue part

If the catalogue part would normally be linked to a symbol(s)

If the part has connection points (where wires would connect), these are the steps you should follow:

Insert all related symbols (coil, contacts, etc.), even if you will not use some of them in your current project
Link the symbols together so all the symbols represent the same component (you should see the same component tag above each symbol)
Change the terminal/pin numbers on the symbols to reflect the real terminal/pin numbers on the physical component
Double-click on any of the symbols to reach the properties of the component
Fill out the Part number property (mandatory) and other properties (optional).
Side note: if you would like to add a property, see the Catalogue Tools tutorial.
Select the heading of the component

go to the Home tab and Save
That catalogue part can now be assigned to any component of the same class. See Assigning part numbers tutorial.

If the catalogue part would never be linked to any symbol(s)

A good example of this would be a component which has no connection points, such as a door-mounted handle for a circuit breaker, an end stop for a terminal strip, or a legend plate accessory for a pushbutton.

Add the component/accessory to the project/component/terminal strip via the Create/Add tab. Alternatively, go to the Catalogue Tools tab, select Add new catalogue part, choose the relevant class and click OK
Explore the properties of the component
Fill out the Part number property (mandatory) and other properties (optional)
Side note: if you would like to add a property, see the Catalogue Tools tutorial.
Select the heading of the component, go to the Home tab and Save
That catalogue part can now be assigned to any component of the same class. See Assigning part numbers tutorial.

Modifying catalogue parts

There are two different ways to modify a catalogue part:

Catalogue Tools -> Open Catalogue Part
In-context

Open Catalogue Part

If you do not want the modifications to affect existing instances of this catalogue part (i.e. existing projects/systems) you must use this method to create a new revision of the catalogue part before making the modifications, so existing instances using the previous revision of the catalogue part will be unaffected.

Go to the Catalogue Tools and select Open Catalogue Part
Choose the class to which the catalogue part belongs and click OK
Choose the catalogue part you wish to modify and click OK to open the catalogue part in the tree view
If you do not want the modifications to affect existing instances of the catalogue part, close the current revision of the catalogue part, create a new revision, then make the modifications
If you want the modifications to affect existing instances of the catalogue part, proceed to make the modifications
Close the catalogue part in the tree view, saving the changes when prompted

If you followed step 5 above and wanted to see those changes reflected in your current project, close and re-open the project.

Tip: You can select the catalogue part, go to the Show tab and select the relevant buttons to see more information belonging to the catalogue part.

In-context

This method is best used when you want to make a minor modification to the catalogue part and do not mind the modification occurring on existing instances of the catalogue part (i.e. existing projects/systems, even if their revisions are closed).

After the catalogue part is added to a project, make the desired modifications to that catalogue part in the project, explore the properties of the component (so you can see the Part Number property), go to Home tab and choose Save.

You should see a message box saying:

“<Part Number> successfully saved.”

To update the other components of the same part number throughout your current project, close and re-open the project.

Tip: You can select the catalogue part, go to the Show tab and select the relevant buttons to see more information belonging to the catalogue part.

Creating/modifying catalogue parts

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