PowerAccess is a database based tool to expand component and library management, reporting and linking functionality for PADS. Contains now pDB which works independently without MsAccess or runtime.

Quickly compare parts in a Logic or a Layout file to your reference library and find the differences. You will find new parts (or parts not in your library), verify part level attributes and also the decal level attributes for PADS Layout.

There are three different strategies:

• new parts (not exist in library)
• attributes (with selective job update)
• local attributes (attributes that exist in the job but not in library

The GUI displays the differences intuitively and you can use crossprobing. The report can be exported to Excel if desired.

You can also pick desired attributes from a list and update the job without affecting other attributes.

Define variants with ease. You can define variants in the tool and back annotate to Logic file. The tool creates a variant table to show variants graphically in Logic. Variant definition can be annotated to PADS Layout as well.

For BOMs the tool will collect attributes (and possibly linked data) also for substituted parts.

Take the advantage of spreadsheet. You can convert the entire parttype library to an Excel spreadsheet, modify and convert back.

You can also run an attribute update by index. This can be used to add attribute information to PADS library.

Also, you can import data from an external source to be shown in component searches and to be included in BOMs. The data can be directly linked (by an index field) or cross-linked. PowerAccess has a tool to build cross-link index tables easily.

The tool saves the PADS library paths in the backend database. When launched it will compare the current PADS library path to saved values and indicate if there are differences. You can then update PADS paths with a single click.

The function is useful when different library sets are used. It is easy to update the library paths for each library set (each library set is saved in it's own backend database).

Also in a multiuser environment it makes it easy to distribute the correct library paths.

Renumbers parts by page or linear. Definable RefDes offset. Batch or interactive. Renumbers both schematic and Layout at the same time (driven by schematic).

Free option, just registration required.

Use Excel to create a complete part (single or multi-gate, symbol and parttype) on a single Excel spreadsheet. Reads data from the spreadsheet and writes to PADS Library.

Use copy/paste to enter pin numbers and names to Excel - avoid typing errors. Extremely easy to move groups of pins from one gate to another.

Free option, just registration required.

The installation package can be downloaded from here (pDB9.1.20Setup.exe). Works with PADS 2007, 9.0 and 9.1.

Most of the functionality is available in the compiled pDB application, and the rest are being ported. The Access based application (PowerAccess) requires PADS Logic ja Layout 9. If you don't have Microsoft Access in your computer, the free runtime will work just fine. It can be downloaded from Microsoft web page.

You can have a timed license for testing.