Parametric data requires an editable database table that represents the
hierarchy of types of parts and their attributes (I call mine "COA" because
it works like a Chart Of Accounts). The attributes are linked under the
categories in this table. E.g. All electronic components have a footprint,
but only active digital logic has a family (CMOS, TTL, HC, HS, LS, etc...)
and only resistors have a value in ohms. 
http://techref.massmind.org/techref/para.asp?t=14&s=2

You have to link each part from the parts table (I call it "ItemType") to
its type in this table and record, in a third table, the part link, the
attribute (linked to COA), and the value of the attribute. Then you search
that third table (I call it "Tags") for attributes that link to the COA
attribute you are interested in, and have the values you want, then find the
parts in ItemType that match those Tags.

Here is the database:
http://techref.massmind.org/images/ecom/ecomdiag.png

I haven't written the user interface code, but I have done one or two SQL
queries that resulted in finding the correct parts.

--
James.

-----Original Message-----
From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu] On Behalf Of
Philip Pemberton
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 22:17
To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public.
Subject: Re: [EE] Parts management

Martin K wrote:
> It seems like a lot, but I have certainly spent a lot of time updating 
> spreadsheets lately. I think writing my own web app with LAMP + 
> javascript would be a better solution for myself and the small company I 
> work for, though. Does a F/OSS project for this already exist? Maybe I 
> should start a project.

I've started hacking on something... It's not much at the moment but it'll 
track what components you have, where they are, and how many are in a given 
location. What I'm trying to add now is parametric searching ("I want a 
resistor with a value of 470k and a 1/8W or higher power rating") and 
datasheet storage (store a couple of PDFs tied to a component), then add 
bill-of-materials handling.

Problem is, that ever present lack of spare time.

There's a live copy of a fairly old version of it at 
<http://isistest.philpem.me.uk/>; the latest beta has Digikey importing
(which 
works.. mostly).

I'm also playing around with a wxWidgets client for the database; I just
can't 
think of a decent way of handling parametric data in PHP/MySQL...

-- 
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