Placing parts
AAt a glance
- One picker searches mounted libraries, reviewed catalog packages and the parts this document already owns
- The library carries one discrete class per family — pick it, type the value and choose the footprint variant
- Provider availability is shown with its actual ready, blocked, stale or error state
- Multi-unit parts are first class: U1A through U1D remain one physical package
- Reference designators are assigned as you place and can be reannotated in reading order
- Rotate and mirror the ghost before placement; double-click value or reference text to edit
Press A or Place Part and search by name, keyword or category. Each result has a symbol preview. Parts already embedded in the project rank first because they are the exact definitions the document owns.
Concrete parts and discrete classes
A concrete part is a specific device such as NE555P. A discrete class is a family such as Resistor, Capacitor or LED. Pick the class, type the engineering value and choose the physical footprint variant. Values accept forms such as 10k, 4u7, 100nF, 4k7 and 2n2.
A value and footprint can identify matching orderable parts, but provider state is part of that answer. Ready, blocked, stale, quota, authentication and outage states stay visible. JetCad3 never turns an unavailable provider into a live-stock claim. See Designing around available parts.
Place and annotate
The part follows the pointer as a ghost. R rotates clockwise, Shift+R rotates counter-clockwise, M mirrors and Escape cancels. Connection snap takes priority near a pin or wire attachment point.
A designator is assigned on placement. Multi-unit parts share one physical package: four LM324 gates can be U1A through U1D while the power unit carries the shared supply pins. Reannotate renumbers a board or sheet in reading order without changing physical package identity.
Double-click the value or designator to edit it. Right-click for Properties…, including declared part fields, physical footprint, pinned MPN, sourcing evidence, DNP and BOM exclusion.