Eagle - Quickly Updating Footprints

From DP

Introduction

When checking PCB layouts and creating 3d models of boards, sometimes it's necessary to quickly tweak a footprint. There are many options available - this page attempts to describe the fastest and least painful.

There are various reasons for needing to update a library within Eagle.

Replacing a component with a Different Origin

This is generally useful if the Eagle footprints have already been created with, say, an origin placed in the center of the first pad. Most of the Dangerous Prototypes Sketchup Models have origins placed in their centers. Rather than ruin this convention, the Eagle footprint origin could also be changed.

1. Turn on all layers
2. Select everything using the group command
3. Move the group so it is centered about the origin

Renaming a Footprint

The eagleup plugin relies on footprint names and model names being identical for matching. Sometimes conventions between the footprints and models won't match and it is desirable to rename from within Eagle.

1. Library-->Rename

Replacing a Footprint

You can easily bring in new footprints from within an Eagle board file:

replace <fooptprintname>@<libraryname>

This is extremely fast and will replace all occurrences of the footprint on the board in one shot, which is excellent when iterating and trying to get models and footprints matched up properly!