Table of Contents

• 1 Home screen details
• 1.1 Navigation options
• 1.2 CAD file type
• 1.3 Search type area
• 2 Library search methods
• 2.1 Search by part number
• 2.2 Browse categories (parametric search)
• 3 Library search results
• 3.1 Search results screen
• 3.1.1 Navigation options
• 3.1.2 Product attributes selection
• 3.1.3 Results pagination
• 3.1.4 Library file indication
• 3.1.5 Preview selection
• 3.2 Product preview
• 3.2.1 Library file/product image preview
• 3.2.2 Product data summary
• 3.2.3 Add to download collection
• 4 Downloading the Library collection
• 4.1 Collection Manager screen
• 4.1.1 Navigation options
• 4.1.2 Library files list
• 4.1.3 Collection name
• 4.2 Library files download
• 4.2.1 Download process
• 4.2.2 Downloaded files
• 5 Download this tutorial as a .pdf file
• 5.1 Download this tutorial as a .pdf file In Chinese

1. Home screen details

1.1. Navigation options

See above highlighted in blue

View download history – gives access to previously downloaded component collection

ModelSource help – link to specific user forums where discussions around ModelSource take place

1.2. CAD file type

See above highlighted in green

Here you can choose the file format you would like to download libraries in. This is required to proceed to search results

1.3. Search type area

See above highlighted in orange

See the next section for details on library search methods

2 Library search methods

Schematic/PCB libraries can be searched in two ways:

2.1 Search by part number

This search method is used when an exact or generic Part Number is known:

2.2 Browse categories (parametric search)

This search method is used when the exact RS Part Number or MPN is not known. Search results for this search would display entire product families which you are already familiar with from the RS eCommerece website*:

*We have limited the data set to eliminate product families that don’t contain any board level (PCB) components

As an example to find Operational Amplifiers product family you need to browse as following:

3. Library search results

Both Part number search and Browse categories search take you to the same screen showing the search results. While the Part number search will result in one to a handful of matching products, the Browse categories search will result in displaying the entire RS product family.

3.1 Search results screen

3.1.1 Navigation options

Area 1 above, highlighted blue

Back to search – takes you back to the search screen

ModelSource help – link to specific user forums where discussions around ModelSource take place

View your collection – this contains all components selected for download so far – see further sections

3.1.2 Product attributes selection

Area 2 above, highlighted green

Your search results can be narrowed down by selecting one or more product attributes. Each selection needs to be applied using the ‘Update results’ button (A, highlighted red)

3.1.3 Results pagination

Area 3 above, highlighted purple

This allows you navigating through multiple pages of search results

3.1.4 Library file indication

Area 4 above, highlighted yellow

The small round (+) icon indicates the presence of library file for your selected CAD format.

3.1.5 Preview selection

Clicking on any of the visible products (B, highlighted brown) will display a full product preview

3.2 Product preview

3.2.1 Library file/product image preview

Area 1 above, highlighted blue

The three images are a visual aid to confirm that the component library file that is about to be added to download collection is corresponding to the right device. An image of actual component is shown that can be visually matched to corresponding PCB footprint. Preview of a schematic symbol is also shown.

3.2.2 Product data summary

Area 2 above, highlighted green

The full set of product attributes are displayed here in one place. This helps double checking that the selected device is correct for your design.

3.2.3 Add to download collection

The ‘Add to collection’ button (A, highlighted red) adds the currently previewed device to your download collection

4 Downloading the Library collection

4.1 Collection Manager screen

After adding at least one item to download collection (see section 3) click ‘View your collection’ button:

This takes you to the Collection Manager screen:

4.1.1 Navigation options

Area 1 above, highlighted blue

Back to results – takes you back to the results screen

ModelSource help – link to specific user forums where discussions around ModelSource take place

4.1.2 Library files list

Area 2 above, highlighted green

List of files selected for download. You can remove unwanted library files by clicking the (x) icons (A, highlighted red)

4.1.3 Collection name

Area 3 above, highlighted orange

Name your collection if you wish for it to be remembered for re-download in the future. You need to click Save (B, highlighted red) in order to save the collection name, otherwise it will be forgotten and not saved to download history. Click ‘Download this collection’ button (C, highlighted red) to start download.

4.2 Library files download

4.2.1 Download process

Click the ‘Download this collection’ to start download:

Depending on your browser settings typically this brings up the download window:

Save the zip file to your local hard drive

4.2.2 Downloaded files
Inside the downloaded zip file you will find a set of individual zip files, one for each downloaded component:
Each zip file contains the library files specific to the CAD format you have selected in the beginning of the ModelSource search:

Double click the readme.txt file for instructions on how to install the library file in your Schematics/PCB design tool.
If you have any questions and would like to discuss with other users please go back to ModelSource and click the help button to go to the ModelSource forums.

* NOTE: for DesignSpark format it is not necessary to download libraries from this website inerface. Please make sure you upgrade to Version 4 which has a built-in interface to ModelSource and allows simplified drag-and-drop of the components to your designs. See the guide video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=fpN7yEUR6VM

Download this Article in Chinese

Downloads

• ModelSource (Schematic/PCB Libraries) Tutorial pdf

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