Open BOM Expert from the PCB-Investigator plugin menu. The dialog works with the current design and active step.

Part Match Library

Select the library used to search for matching parts and package information. A library must be selected before BOM or AVL data can be imported.

Use Import AVL File to run the configured importer, or use Load From Design to reopen AVL information previously stored with the design.

Import AVL File

Click Import AVL File and select the required importer type from the File type drop-down list. The available entries depend on the importer scripts configured in the BOM Expert settings.

The selected importer determines which data source or file format is processed and whether another configuration dialog is displayed. For the standard table-based workflow, see General BOM Importer. For customer-specific data sources and importer configuration, see Custom Importer Scripts.

Load From Design

Click Load From Design to reopen AVL information previously stored with the current job.

After importing or loading the data, BOM Expert compares the references with the components in the current step. The statistics show components found only in the layout, only in the AVL data, or in both, as well as components with or without a defined MPN.

The General BOM Importer is a configurable importer for tabular BOM or AVL files. When this importer is active, use it to define the relevant table area and assign the source columns before importing the data.

Set the header row and the first and last data rows. Then assign the columns for Reference, Part Name, and Description.

Use Standard when MPN and manufacturer are stored in separate columns. The importer also supports combined cells and cells containing multiple MPNs. The table on the right assigns the MPN and manufacturer columns, while the preview shows the data that will be imported.

Click Import BOM-Data after checking the row range, column assignments, and selected entries. The importer remembers previously loaded header structures and their column assignments. When a file with the same header structure is loaded again, the corresponding column definitions are applied automatically.

The General BOM Importer is one available import option. It can be supplemented or replaced by customer-specific importer scripts when the standard table-based workflow does not match the required data source.

Custom importers can support proprietary file formats, retrieve BOM or AVL data directly from a database, or apply customer-specific mapping and validation rules. An importer can display its own configuration dialog or process the data without additional user interaction.

Add and manage importer scripts in the importer section of the BOM Expert Settings. Configured importers become available for selection in the File type drop-down list when Import AVL File is used.

The upper list shows the component or AVL groups found during matching. Its most important columns are Name, References, Selected MPN/Manufacturer, and Status.

The lower list shows the available AVL and library candidates for the selected component group. Select the required candidate using its checkbox. The Pin Analysis column summarizes the comparison between the CAD package and the package stored in the selected library entry.

Use F3 and F4 to select the previous or next component entry.

The viewer on the right overlays the CAD package and the package of the selected library part. It can display package outlines, pin positions and sizes, body dimensions, polarity information, and matching results.

EPL components follow the IPC convention, with pin 1 positioned at the upper left. BOM Expert automatically matches packages that use a compatible orientation.

Manual alignment is only required when the layout follows a different convention that cannot be matched automatically. For example, if pin 1 is positioned in the center of the layout package, rotation alone cannot produce a matching alignment. Use the controls below the viewer to move, rotate, mirror, or reset the library package as required.

Use these transformations only to correct alignment differences. Select another library part when the package geometry itself does not match the component.

Additional controls open the CAD component properties or zoom to the selected component in the PCB view.

Settings

The settings control the available BOM and AVL importers, property names written during Apply, not-populated and component-ignore behavior, copying of library properties, the review library used for reported parts, and an optional action executed after applying the result.

Use the Report Missing Library Parts dialog when a selected MPN cannot be found in the active part library.

1. Select the affected component in the BOM Expert main dialog.
2. Right-click its entry in the lower part list.
3. Select Report missing Library Part.

The available component, MPN, manufacturer, and package information is prepared for the EPL recommendation workflow.

Recommend Parts to EPL

The Recommend Parts dialog prepares missing library parts for submission to EPL. It opens through Report missing Library Part in the BOM Expert main dialog.

The workflow contains two steps: Prepare – Map source properties and Review – Check generated drafts.

Prepare: Map Source Properties

The first page maps properties from the selected component data to EPL properties. Matching property names are assigned automatically. Review the mapping and correct it where necessary.

The properties are grouped into areas such as General, Geometry, Package, Part Information, and Value. Typical mapped values include the part name, description, manufacturer, package name, pin count, dimensions, value, and datasheet link.

Select a row to display a description of the corresponding EPL property. Click Next to generate the draft recommendations.

Review: Check Generated Drafts

The second page shows the generated EPL drafts. Select a draft on the left to review its editable part properties, package matching and preview, and optional STEP file.

Use the checkbox in the draft list to select the entries that should be recommended. Correct incomplete or incorrect values before submission. Use Search For Datasheet to search for additional technical documentation.

Package Matching

Use Match Packages with Library to search the available package libraries for compatible 2D and 3D packages. The preview compares the selected package with the CAD package. Use Create Package when no suitable package is available.

STEP File Upload

The STEP File Upload (optional) section allows a local 3D model with the extension .step or .stp to be added to the selected draft.

1. Select the draft.
2. Click Choose file… and select the STEP file.
3. Review the package and part information.
4. Select the draft and click Recommend.

Use Remove to clear the selected file.

Before submission, verify that the model belongs to the correct manufacturer part and that its dimensions, orientation, package assignment, and polarity match the component.

Report Wrong Library Part

Use Report Wrong Library Part when an existing library part contains incorrect or incomplete information.

The dialog shows the selected part, its current status, creation and modification information, and the available part properties. Use View Part in Browser to open the corresponding library entry.

Review and Correct the Part

Before reporting the part, correct wrong values and add missing information directly in the property table. The available groups can include the description, 3D information, geometry, and links.

Add an optional comment to explain the problem or the changes. Click Report to submit the corrected information, or Cancel to close the dialog without reporting the part.

The status message is displayed in the Status column of the upper component list in the BOM Expert main dialog. It shows the current result of the reference, part, and package matching for each component entry.

The Pin Analysis column in the lower MPN list shows the result of the pin and pad comparison between the CAD package and the selected library package. Matching results are highlighted in green; mismatches and missing information are highlighted in red. More than one message can be shown for the same candidate, for example Pin mismatch, Pins outside package.

BOM Expert displays setup and import messages in separate dialogs. Import inconsistencies are also written to the PCB-Investigator error log.

The following checks are documented for BOM Expert in the PCB-Investigator knowledge base.