I'm trying to design a shield with LCD. The LCD part I used comes from sparkfun's Eagle library. It has 4 drill holes one on each corner. I would be done if it were not because of the drill hole on the top right corner overlapping with a part.
I tried to open the Eagle library editor and duplicate that LCD into a package LCD-16X2-3HOLES so I don't lose the original. I just couldn't find any way to copy the LCD-16X2 package to a new package. I appreciate some help. How do I copy content from one package to another? It seems natural to create one package and dup one so you have all the pads.
Thanks. I removed one drill hole from the original library. Now how do I import the original package? Say I have a backup library with that part. Thanks again.
I just figured this out a couple of days ago. Here is the process I have been using to A) Create my own parts into a single library and B) Edit parts from other libraries.
Create (or Open) the "new" library.
From the control panel window select File -> New/Open -> Library
-> A blank window will open, it looks like a blank schematic window.
Go back to the Control Panel Window.
Click the disclosure triangle for "Libraries"
Click the Discloure Triangle for the Library you file you want (in this case Sparkfun.lbr)
There are two different listings inside of a Library here. The "Device" and the "Packages". If you copy the "Device" then all of its Packages will be copied too. Alternatively you can just copy the Package. Devices have have 4-AND-Gate Icon (listed first) and Packages have the IC Icon.
In this specific case, I would suggest looking for your LCD Device.
Right-Click on the desired Device and select "Copy to Library."
The library you opened up in Step #1 becomes the "Copy to Library."
Eagle will copy the device and return you to the blank screen. (Making you wonder if actually did anything.)
Now in the Library Editor, select the Menu Library -> Device
This will list all of the devices in your Library. In this case, you probably only have one which will be the LCD Device you just copied.
Double click on your device
This will load an editor window with 4 Panes. You'll see the Symbol, Description Text (Editable), PCB Package, and Package List.
If you Right-Click on one of the Packages, you can select "Edit Package."
This takes you into the Package Editor.
-> At this point any time you tell Eagle to Save, it will save your new Library with the changes you've made.
Interesting. This works very well. I learned Eagle from some Tutorials and learned a much more clumsy way to do this. This will definitely save me a lot of work compared to my older approach.
Once I came up with those steps I started to realize how libraries really work in Eagle. I plan to write this up and add screenshots because in 2 months when I need to make another part, I'm going to forget what to do.
Up until now, I had been following a Sparkfun tutorial and creating a new library file for each component. The breakthrough was when I learned the "Copy to Library" trick. Now I have a library of parts and packages I created (or "borrowed".) Which is great, because I made a modified SOIC-8 style package. Now I just create a new device, draw a symbol, and then attach pre-drawn package.
Thanks a lot James. I've tested your way. It works perfectly. I still wonder when I copied the LCD16X2-3HOLES and LCD16X2 devices to one new library. I wonder if their symbols LCD16X2 combine or stay separate. From my list there is one LCD16X2 under symbol.
