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Eliminate Late Stage BOM Issues – Design Smarter From the Start FAQs

Published Date
Author Cadence PCB Solutions

Here are some comprehensive answers to all the questions asked in our recent webinar.

     

    1. Can Live BOM be used on local designs on disk, or does it only work on designs stored on OrCAD X cloud?

    Yes, Live BOM can be launched on any design, no matter if it exists on your local disk or cloud workspace.

    2. I am using CIS On-Prem database. The Database has MPN property details, however, Live BOM is not fetching this information, and it shows parts as unmatched – why?

    To use Live BOM with a CIS ODBC database, you need to set the "Component Information System" as "Local" from the workspace configuration dialog.

    Also, the default MPN property that Live BOM uses to fetch Supply chain information is "Manufacturer Name" and "Manufacturer Part Number". If the MPN property is specified differently on the symbol or in the Local CIS ODBC database, you have the option to map the MPN property to any name of your choice. This can be configured on the OrCAD X Capture extended preferences - Options --> Extended Preferences --> Live BOM settings.

    3. What is the difference between the Risk and High Risk filter categories?

    "Risk" tile categorizes or filters out the components which have design risk values as "High or Medium Risk”, whereas "High Risk" tile filters out the parts which have design risk value as "High Risk

    4. Do I need an additional subscription from Datalynq and Sourcengine to use Live BOM?

    Live BOM is part of OrCAD X Professional and OrCAD X Professional Plus - no additional license or subscription is required.

    5. Can Live BOM be used on my library to validate supply chain readiness?

    This is currently not supported – However, you can use OrCAD X CIP (Component Information Portal) to validate library-level supply chain availability.

    6. Is it possible to undo changes made to the schematic by Live BOM?

    Unfortunately, Live BOM changes are not stored as part of the OrCAD X Capture undo stack. Changes made to the schematic by Live BOM are only preserved once you have saved. If you have not yet saved your design, you can close it without saving it and revert to its original saved state.

    7. How many alternate MPNs does Live BOM provide for each part?

    The number of alternate parts displayed will vary depending on the original MPN. Alternate parts are specified by Sourcengine based on their sourcing experience and part equivalency.

    8. Do I need to switch my OrCAD X Capture schematic to Variant view mode in order to view variants in Live BOM?

    This is not necessary. In the upper right corner of the Live BOM interface, there is a combination box with “Base BOM” listed. Use this combination box to specify the variant you would like to view/configure within Live BOM.

    9. How many letter grades are used in Live BOM, and what does each grade signify?

    The Live BOM dashboard supports grades from A to D, with A being the best – i.e., best availability. Each grade is a BOM health guide and is calculated based on lifecycle, design risk, multisource availability, and market availability.

    10. Does Live BOM contain compatible schematic symbols and footprints for new part placement?

    No – Live BOM is not intended for new part placement. Instead, use the integrated component search within OrCAD X Capture. The component search interface is integrated with SnapMagic, Ultra Librarian, and SamacSys – all of which provides the schematic and PCB models along with the MPNs. Once the parts are placed in the design, Live BOM will dynamically verify the part information and provide supply chain status.

    11. How does Live BOM work with CIP and CIS centralized libraries?

    OrCAD X CIP (Component Information Portal) is used in conjunction with the part creation and library health and maintenance process. It allows you to manage schematic symbols, footprints, and parametric data in a central database; with live pricing and availability from suppliers like Digi-Key, Mouser, Arrow, etc... Live BOM is similar where it provides up to date pricing, availability, lifecycle status, and sourcing risk insights from Sourcengine, but at the design level.

    12. Is there a way to add other properties to the Live BOM table?

    Yes – in Live BOM configuration settings you have the ability to customize the parameters that appear within Live BOM. Sources include schematic properties, CIS database, and properties available from Sourcengine.

    13. Does ODBC to Live BOM linking need any special license or subscription?

    Live BOM utilizes the Sourcengine API to acquire all technical and supply chain parametric data – an ODBC link is not required. If you are referring to using Live BOM with your local CIS database refer to question 2.

    14. Where does Live BOM get the price range and supply chain information from?

    All supply chain and technical parametric information is extracted from Sourcengine: https://www.sourcengine.com/

    15. Does Live BOM suggest alternative parts for discontinued, NRND, and EOL components?

    Yes - based on the MPN provided, it will list all available form, fit, and function alternatives.

    16. If I have placed a part from the Library Database (CIS), how is this linked to Live BOM – does it use the schematic VALUE property?

    Live BOM is not linked with the CIS database. Once the part is placed in the schematic, Live BOM uses the Manufacturer Part Number property to initiate a supply chain query. If the MPN does not exist, Live BOM will use the available technical parameters to narrow the list of applicable components. Live BOM verifies the metadata that is annotated to the schematic by CIS.

    17. I don't want to place each part and run Live BOM. Is there anything to run against the Library Database to do this?

    This functionality is not currently available but is planned. However, you can use CIP to verify the component information at the library level and Live BOM to verify at the design level.

    18. When Live BOM suggests alternates, is it only considering the value or is it considering all the parameters and footprint of the current part?

    Live BOM looks at form, fit, and functional equivalents.

    19. To link to Ultra Librarian and SamacSys, is there a subscription that needs to be purchased from Cadence or directly from them?

    SamacSys is free, and an Ultra Librarian (UL) subscription can be acquired directly through UL. UL provides a free tier but requires you to register. Also, note that CIP supports part validation at the library level.

    20. Many of the parts in my CIS database have become obsolete. Each component has an internal part number that does not correspond to a manufacturer’s part number (e.g., CAP-000123). Can Live BOM be used to find replacement parts, and can it be used to update our database?

    Refer to the answer in question 16.

    21. If the CIS/CIP are not cloud based but local server based will this make a difference in operation?

    No – you will be required to update the location of the CIS source to be local verse cloud – as outlined in the answer to question 2.

    22. How does Live BOM handle unstructured data - description not in a uniform format, duplicate manufacturers – i.e. Panasonic, Panasonic electronics?

    Live BOM will use the existing parameters on the part as search keywords to narrow possible MPN results.

    23. Is CIS considered local or cloud?

    Component Information System (CIS) supports both local (ODBC) or cloud (Unified CIS) configurations.

    24. Can Live BOM be connected to our local database, so that the part suggestion is based on values or alternates suggested are from that database?

    Live BOM is indirectly connected to the CIS database, which is why it’s required to specify local or cloud CIS use as part of the workspace configuration. This connection allows:

    • CIS properties to be added to the Live BOM view
    • The use of alternate MPNs specified in the CIS database
    25. Will the alternate suggestion be the exact equivalent parts only, or any other replaceable parts too?

    Alternate suggestions are based on form, fit, and functional equivalents, but we always urge users to verify technical information from the datasheet, which is provided, if available, within Live BOM.

    26. How accurate is Live BOM at suggesting form, fit, and functionally equivalent parts for an EOL component?

    Live BOM alternate accuracy is based on the information coming from Sourengine and Datalynq – for more information on alternate accuracy, I would urge you to contact Sourcengine – www.sourcengine.com

    27. Can Live BOM be used as a stand-alone solution versus being integrated in OrCAD X Capture?

    This is planned to be supported in the future as a web-based Live BOM portal.

    28. For alternative part comparisons, can you do a parametric search?

    Yes, you can always execute a parametric search. Note: if an MPN is present, Live BOM will always use that as its primary search field. There are plans to support part comparison in the future.

    29. Does Live BOM preserve PCB footprints when alternates are selected in my legacy design?

    Yes - it uses the existing symbol and footprint within your design and only updates the parametric properties.

    30. What about footprint parameters? How will it get updated based on the part we select?

    Live BOM does not annotate schematic symbols or PCB footprint to the design – only properties. In the case of alternate parts, Live BOM only uses FFF (form, fit, function) alternatives, which by definition would be the same symbol and footprint.

    31. I’ve noticed that Live BOM is failing to identify many obsolete parts. It also has trouble matching part numbers from certain manufacturers, such as NXP. How can Cadence improve the accuracy of Live BOM?

    Please provide us with either the design or a list of the manufacturer part numbers so we can validate what you’re seeing and notify Sourcengine. The part numbers you’re using are not the manufacturer’s part number and more likely an internal corporate part number (CPN) or the supplier’s own SKU number.

    32. In which version of OrCAD X is Live BOM available?

    Live BOM is available in 23.1 and higher.

    33. Can you please address the privacy-related concerns of a design when using the Live BOM feature in OrCAD?

    Live BOM does not read or store any design information like connectivity or topology. It only uses the properties on the parts, which is no different than uploading a BOM to any supplier website.

    34. CIP supported by Cadence or EMA?

    CIP is supported by Cadence and all its value-added resellers, including EMA.