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The Query utility in P-CAD Library Executive is a perfect aid in finding the ideal component for a design. For a simple example, we would like to place a capacitor on your PCB design.

Although you can use Query from P-CAD Library Executive, as in Exercise 3. This example illustrates using the Query dialog directly from the PCB design in which you want to place the component.

The Query utility is embedded in the Place Component and Place Part commands of PCB and Schematic.

1. In PCB, check Library >> Setup contains your required Libraries.
2. Choose the Place >> Component command from the Place menu. Click in the workspace, and the Place Component dialog appears. ClickQuery.

Specify the Search Criteria:

In this case, we would like to place a capacitor. In the sample library all capacitors have the letters CAP somewhere in their component name.

Click in the Criteria (And) column to the right of the ComponentName field, and select the IsLike operator. Enter the expression: IsLike *CAP*. The two * wildcards indicate that CAP can be in the beginning, end, or middle of the name. The embedded Query dialog should look like the following:

Using Query Results to Place a Component:

When you click Query, the Query Results Viewer appears. The Viewer contains all source components satisfying the selected search criteria.

3. You can use the Query Results to place a capacitor in your design. You will be choosing the CAP300 capacitor to place in the blank PCB workspace.
4. Select the row containing the capacitor CAP300 by clicking on the row number to its left.
5. Click the Place button. The design workspace reappears.
6. The Place Component dialog appears with the chosen component selected in the Component Name list.
7. Click OK. A component is now attached to the cursor. Use the ghosted component outline to accurately place the component on the workspace. Once place we can use Space to attach the next component to the cursor.

Return to the exercise index. Proceed to the next exercise.