Creating components and pads with Multisim and Ultiboard

This document is not designed to be a detailed step-by-step guide to create components.

It explains the basic process to create new components with footprints and pads using
both MultiSim and UltiBoard. Details on component and pad creation can be found in
the help files of the respective programs.
To create a new component you need to do two major steps:
1) Create the layout footprint in UltiBoard
2) Use the Component Wizard in MultiSim
Step 1: Layout Footprint in Ultiboard
1. First try to place a component in Ultiboard and look through the databases to see
if somebody has already created the footprint for you. If so write down the exact
name of the footprint then skip this section.
2. Select Tools Component Wizard
3. Create the component following the steps in the Wizard and referring to the Help
file.
4. Place your component then right click and select In Place Part Edit
5. Edit the part and pads using the drawing tools and when you are done again right
click and deselect In Place Part Edit
6. Save the part to the database using the instructions in the Help file. Remember
the exact name of the component you created since you will need this name in
MultiSim. You might want to save the name in a text file to make it easy to copy
and paste.
7. Repeat these steps for all the components you need to create.
8. It is very important you name your footprints using standardized
conventions so others can use them. For example TO252-3L is a standard
footprint while team3transistor2 is not. We will occasionally delete footprints
that arent named properly from the database.
Step 2: Create a new component in MultiSim
1. Use the Tools Component Wizard in MultiSim to create a new component.
2. Follow the steps to create a component referring to the Help file if you need to.\
3. In Step #1 paste the name of the component you created earlier then select use
component for both simulation and modeling.
4. Step #2 of the wizard is where you set up the footprint. This step is confusing
since you cant select the footprints you created from a list, you need to enter
their names. Click Select a Footprint.
5. Select the database where the footprint is stored. If the footprint is already there
select it from the list, if not click Add.
6. On the Add step paste the name of the footprint you created in the Footprint and
the Ultiboard Footprint dialog boxes. Make sure you set all the other settings
correctly. For more information look in MultiSim help for Select a Footprint
dialog box.
7. Click OK then select the footprint you just added.

8. In Step #3 it is a good idea to copy a symbol for the component from a database
then edit it so it clearly identifiable as a component you created. Make sure the
pins match the datasheet. You will need to open the symbol editor then click on
the Draw1 tab to edit the symbol.
9. Complete the rest of the wizard and save the component using the exact same
name as the UltiBoard footprint to avoid confusion. Note that you must create a
family to be able to save the component.