Introduction to PCBA Visualizer

PCBA Visualizer is a powerful tool designed to help engineers and PCB designers create, edit, and manage Bill of Materials (BOM) for their printed Circuit board assembly (PCBA) projects. With its intuitive interface and robust features, PCBA Visualizer streamlines the BOM creation process, saving time and reducing errors.

This user guide will walk you through the features and functionalities of the BOM Editor in PCBA Visualizer. By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to efficiently create and manage BOMs for your PCBA projects.

Getting Started with BOM Editor

To start using the BOM Editor in PCBA Visualizer, follow these steps:

1. Launch PCBA Visualizer on your computer.
2. Click on the “BOM Editor” button in the main toolbar or navigate to “File” > “New” > “BOM”.
3. A new BOM Editor window will open, ready for you to start creating your BOM.

BOM Editor Interface Overview

The BOM Editor interface is divided into several sections to help you navigate and work with your BOM data efficiently. Here’s a brief overview of each section:

Section	Description
Toolbar	Contains buttons for common actions such as saving, opening, and exporting BOMs.
Component List	Displays a list of all components in your BOM, along with their properties.
Component Details	Shows detailed information about the currently selected component.
Design View	Provides a visual representation of your PCB design, with components highlighted.
Properties Panel	Allows you to edit properties of the selected component or the entire BOM.

Creating a New BOM

To create a new BOM in PCBA Visualizer, follow these steps:

1. In the BOM Editor, click on the “New BOM” button in the toolbar or go to “File” > “New” > “BOM”.
2. A dialog box will appear, prompting you to enter a name and description for your new BOM. Fill in the required information and click “Create”.
3. Your new BOM will be created, and you can start adding components to it.

Adding Components to Your BOM

There are multiple ways to add components to your BOM in PCBA Visualizer:

1. Manual Entry: Click on the “Add Component” button in the toolbar or right-click in the Component List and select “Add Component”. Fill in the component details in the Properties Panel and click “Save”.

2. Import from CSV: If you have a CSV file containing component data, you can import it into your BOM. Click on the “Import” button in the toolbar, select “CSV” as the file type, and choose your CSV file. Map the columns to the appropriate BOM fields and click “Import”.

3. Drag and Drop from Design: If you have a PCB design open in PCBA Visualizer, you can drag components directly from the Design View into your BOM. The component properties will be automatically populated based on the design data.

Editing Component Properties

To edit the properties of a component in your BOM, follow these steps:

1. Select the component in the Component List.
2. In the Properties Panel, modify the desired properties such as reference designator, quantity, manufacturer part number, etc.
3. Click “Save” to apply your changes.

You can also use the table view in the Component List to quickly edit properties for multiple components at once. Simply double-click on a cell to edit its value.

Managing BOM Data

PCBA Visualizer provides several features to help you manage your BOM data effectively.

Sorting and Filtering

You can sort your BOM data by clicking on the column headers in the Component List. To filter your BOM, use the search box above the Component List or click on the “Filter” button in the toolbar to open the advanced filtering options.

Grouping Components

To group components in your BOM based on a specific property, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the column header for the property you want to group by (e.g., “Manufacturer”).
2. Select “Group By This Column”.
3. Your components will be grouped based on the selected property, with expandable/collapsible groups.

Assigning Custom Properties

In addition to the standard BOM properties, PCBA Visualizer allows you to assign custom properties to your components. To add a custom property:

1. Click on the “Custom Properties” button in the toolbar.
2. In the dialog box, click “Add Property”.
3. Enter a name and select a data type for your custom property.
4. Click “OK” to add the property to your BOM.

Custom properties will appear as additional columns in the Component List, and you can edit their values in the Properties Panel.

Exporting and Sharing BOMs

Once you’ve created your BOM, you can export it in various formats or share it with others.

Exporting BOMs

To export your BOM, click on the “Export” button in the toolbar and select the desired file format (e.g., CSV, Excel, PDF). Choose a location to save your exported file and click “Export”.

Sharing BOMs

PCBA Visualizer allows you to share BOMs with team members or collaborators. To share a BOM:

1. Click on the “Share” button in the toolbar.
2. In the dialog box, enter the email addresses of the people you want to share the BOM with.
3. Set the access permissions (e.g., view, edit) for each person.
4. Click “Share” to send an invitation to the specified recipients.

Shared BOMs can be accessed and edited by multiple users simultaneously, with changes synced in real-time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can I import BOMs from other software into PCBA Visualizer?
   Yes, PCBA Visualizer supports importing BOMs from various formats, including CSV, Excel, and other popular PCB design software. Simply click on the “Import” button in the toolbar and select the appropriate file type.

2. How can I quickly find a specific component in my BOM?
   You can use the search box above the Component List to quickly find components based on any property value. Alternatively, you can apply filters using the advanced filtering options to narrow down your component list.

3. Can I create multiple BOMs within a single PCBA Visualizer project?
   Yes, you can create and manage multiple BOMs within a single project. Each BOM is treated as a separate entity, allowing you to work on different versions or variations of your PCBA design.

4. Is it possible to compare two BOMs in PCBA Visualizer?
   Yes, PCBA Visualizer includes a BOM comparison feature. To compare two BOMs, open both BOMs in separate tabs, then click on the “Compare” button in the toolbar. The software will highlight the differences between the two BOMs, making it easy to identify changes.

5. Can I generate reports from my BOM data?
   Yes, PCBA Visualizer allows you to generate various reports from your BOM data, such as component count reports, cost reports, and more. Click on the “Reports” button in the toolbar to access the available report templates and customize them according to your needs.

Conclusion

The BOM Editor in PCBA Visualizer is a comprehensive tool that simplifies the process of creating, editing, and managing bill of materials for your PCBA projects. By leveraging its intuitive interface and powerful features, you can streamline your BOM workflow, reduce errors, and collaborate more effectively with your team.

This user guide has provided you with a detailed overview of the BOM Editor’s functionalities, from creating new BOMs and adding components to managing data and exporting/sharing BOMs. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll be able to make the most of PCBA Visualizer’s BOM Editor and enhance your PCBA design process.

For more information and advanced tutorials, please refer to the PCBA Visualizer documentation or reach out to our support team.