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How does Altium decide what Libraries to search when you Add a Footprint Model?

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I am building a custom library of parts (LibPkg) that consists of a SchLib and PcbLib. Sometimes I create custom footprints and sometimes I link to existing footprints that are in a vendor IntLib.

The one dialog that always confuses the hell out of me is the "Add Footprint" from Library, especially the 4th (last) PCB Library source. Sometimes it will give me the option to take the footprint from my own IntLib. Other times it will specify the PcbLib instead. And sometimes it disables the 4th option entirely.

Can anyone explain the logic of how it decides what to let you pull from on this magical/unpredictable 4th PCB Library option?

Thanks
 

Altium searches for parts first in the project libraries then in installed libraries and then in the search path.
 

The part that I don't understand is the last option of the 4, which is auto-filled by Altium. How does it determine this library?

Also, if making an integrated library and adding a footprint to an SchLib model, does it make more sense to link to the footprint in the PcbLib, or the compiled LibPkg?
 

There is a model assign to it in the schematic symbol itself. see image below.
In there is also a path or location for the footprint.

footprint.PNG
 

I don't understand what you are trying to say, but this is the dialog I'm talking about. I understand that this is where you assign the footprint model to the schematic symbol.

To use your screenshot, I'm trying to understand where Altium gets this library:
"Use the footprint from component library Component.SVNDbLib"

Is this the last library that was pulled from? It changes unpredictably on my system.
 

In my case this is the install database library. Do you have assign "Any" to the footprint model? you may need to assign a specific library.
 

Yes, I have the "Any" option, but that doesn't end up showing components that are in an IntLib. I don't like "Any" because that has the potential to reference different libraries depending on what system the final IntLib is installed in. However, using "Any" is often useful to find the location of a footprint if by luck you know the exact name.

My decision is that I'm always going to specify the library name and always specify the PcbLib name (not try to reference an IntLib). This is the only option that doesn't require a full path name, so my hope is that this is more "portable" when the final complied IntLib is moved between systems.
 

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