Is it possible to script the creation of multiple libraries in a DxDataBook configuration, including the linking to DSN data source tables and setting property annotation / mapping? We have around 200+ 'libraries' - or categories as we view them - and would like to avoid doing all that setup for the configuration by hand.
Thanks-
-j
Hi Matija -
Thanks for the tip. We'll probably start up with this method for our initial setup. I did investigate the DxDatabook configuration file format a bit more. We're considering writing a small library to parse / write the particular XML format for the file, given that our libraries tend to evolve quite a bit over time. Shouldn't be to hard, unless Mentor changes the format often.
-j
Hello j and Matija
Please let me know if you have tested it and works without any draw-backs or if Mentor can give a warning not to do this for so-and-so reasons.
Good luck.
Reinhald
Hi Reinhald-
Interesting. I never looked at a project file that had dxdatabook properly set up before. Thanks for the heads up. I think we're going to avoid editing the project files, even if it's a centrally used template. In that scenario, projects created a year ago might not get updates to the dxdatabook configuration without editing them, or importing a new config from updated project. Overall we want to avoid putting more problems in the engineers' path. They're already going to complain enough at switching to a new tool.
Thanks,
-j
Based on this info (adding libraries to the .prj file) you are talking about the unlicensed DxDataBook and not the licensed add-in with a database (Access, SQL, etc.) behind it and .dbc files in xml format.
This is a fine (although it isn't recomended to edit .prj files) method. But you could (should) use a project template. Basically it is a seed project that is ready to go.
Check out the Project Template Webinar on SupportNet. There are also troject template TechNotes for netlist projects and for Expedition projects.
Hello j,
I didnt see any answer to your automation request, and I also have no anwer that could directly answer your request.
And I will tell you how I found out that doing a lot of DxDB config can be eased by hand if you do the right sequence.
If you build a library and add a table, then you have to click for quiet a long time to set this up for every library. What I found out is that if you do it in a clever way with the right sequence, then you can save a lot of time. I have set up around 80 libraries in round 40 min, most of the time was waiting for the tool to do a refresh or scrolling.
I started out with a "template" library that is the most "common" of them all. I set up the dxdb configuration as I liked it. The queries to your system have to be similar, that means the names of the properties you want to annotate must be identical. that means that the query has to deliver consisten fields.
The key is to follow this sequence exactly:
1) copy the library
2) with right mouse button open property and rename the library
3) in the renamed library select the table and do an add table with the new query from your system
4) select the old table and delete it
Repeat for all libraries and do not bother with the few libraries that will have different settings.
Only when you are finished with them go back to the one that have to have special settings.
You will notice that doing it in this order the new added table will follow the settings of the old present table. This will save you the trouble to click on every line of the table to set the visibility, annotation and similar fields.
Hope this will help you.
Matija