I have a question about database-sourced parts and DNI (do not install, aka DNP…) parts:
In my v6 library I only had atomic parts when absolutely needed and general parts (cap, res…) simply had a value assigned in the schematic when placed, and I would set value to DNI as needed. It was easy to find in the DNI parts in the bom and deal with them.
Now as I move to a database for v7, everything is intrinsically atomic (not that there is anything wrong with that) but what to do about DNI parts? I can assign say an 0402 cap whose value is pre-defined as DNI and place as needed, but that gets clunky to do for more than a few types of parts that may be DNI. Unsure how to deal with DNI parts with the database since value will be hard-coded.
I heard about an upcoming “assembly variant” mechanism in the works somewhere and wonder how that plays into things. Should there be a DNI field for each symbol – something that is visible at bom-generation time? thx