OECL Dictionaries and Element Relationships
An OECL file aims to be a complete description of a component or an entire library of components.
Dictionaries
It does that by defining a series of dictionaries that describe various aspects of components.
| Entity | Dictionary |
|---|---|
| Components | ComponentBlueprintDictionary |
| Schematic capture graphic symbols | SymbolBlueprintDictionary |
| SPICE simulation models | SimulationModelBlueprintDictionary |
| Manufacturer-defined package names | ManufacturerPackageDictionary |
| Standard packages, also knows as land patterns | PackageBlueprintDictionary |
| Obsolescence and replacements | StatusDictionary |
| Ordering from a supplier | OrderingInfoDictionary |
| Organization of components into a hierarchy | ComponentCategoryDictionary |
Each of these contains a list of the entities (except for the ComponentCategoryDictionary). The ComponentBlueprintDictionary contains ComponentBlueprints, the SymbolBlueprintDictionary contains SymbolBlueprints, and so on.
Much of the information about components in general is common. There are probably thousands of operational amplifiers, but most use a common symbol. There are countless components available in the DIP-8 package. The dictionaries facilitate sharing so that the file doesn’t repeat common information. There only needs to be one graphic for an operational amplifier and there only needs to be on package for the DIP-8, and so on.
IDs Link Entities Together
A particular operational amplifier, however, needs to use a particular symbol and a particular package in the file. These are linked together with ids. The ComponentBlueprint for the operational amplifier will contain referenced to the id(s) for the symbol. All items that are referenced by another object contain an id attribute. It is quite easy to see which items are referenced by another - just look for the the id attribute.
The SymbolBlueprint element is referenced by a ComponentBlueprint, so it has an id attribute, but the Status element is not referenced by any, so it does not have an id attribute. The OrderablePackageConfiguration element is referenced by the Status element, so it has an id attribute.
Put together, the relationship between thinks looks like the following.
