¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

  1. LTspice
  2. Topics

Transferring opamps and other libraries

 

Is it possible to transfer previous LTspice libraries from previous versions and add to newer LTspice versions?
?
For instance, opamps and discrete active parts models, like transistors, that are available in version 4.23 is not available in version 24.0.12.
?
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Probably you can, but it would make your version of LTspice unique and might compromise updates. Instead, make your own 'MyLibraries' folder, under C:\ or Documents, and put the libraries you want into it.

On 2025-03-02 21:46, Carlos E. Mart¨ªnez via groups.io wrote:
Is it possible to transfer previous LTspice libraries from previous versions and add to newer LTspice versions?
?
For instance, opamps and discrete active parts models, like transistors, that are available in version 4.23 is not available in version 24.0.12.
?
--
OOO - Own Opinions only If something is true: * as far as we know - it's science *for certain - it's mathematics *unquestionably - it's religion

Virus-free.
 

On Sun, Mar 2, 2025 at 04:46 PM, Carlos E. Mart¨ªnez wrote:
Is it possible to transfer previous LTspice libraries from previous versions and add to newer LTspice versions?
Yes, of course.
?
Copy them to a location visible to LTspice.? Preferably it should be either the working directory with your schematics, or one of your user-defined Sym. and Lib. Search Paths, if you defined any.
?
Now, if you did either of these:
  • LTspice symbols with the full path to the model file embedded in the symbol
  • Direct references on your schematic to the full path to the model file
then you might find the job challenging, as you might need to fix the direct references (full paths).? If you used LTspice's dreaded feature to auto-generate a symbol from a library file, and did not "fix" the symbol it created, then be prepared to do some extra work.
?
For instance, opamps and discrete active parts models, like transistors, that are available in version 4.23 is not available in version 24.0.12.
Transistor models defined by .MODEL statements can go into your user.bjt or user.mos (or whatever) file.
?
More sophisticated IC models such as op-amps, will use .SUBCKT blocks, which do not go in any particular file but could be in any file (.lib, .sub, .mod, .txt, etc.).? See the general instructions at the top of this message.
?
Beyond this, it could be a case-by-case thing.? Many LTspice users seem to have a way of creating complicated setups that need extra attention.
?
Andy
?
 

On Sun, Mar 2, 2025 at 05:09 PM, John Woodgate wrote:

Probably you can, but it would make your version of LTspice unique and might compromise updates. ...

What John is talking about, is moving your models into LTspice's own symbol and model directories.? Doing that is frowned upon and generally should not be used anymore.? Maybe that is what you did previously.? Newer versions of Windows and/or LTspice will try to stop you from doing that.
?
But it is easy to put your models where LTspice will find them but where they are not in LTspice's own directories.
?
Keep in mind that many devices in LTspice need two parts: a symbol, and a model.? The symbol is not the model, and vice-versa.? The symbol file MIGHT be one that comes with LTspice, or it might be one that you created.
?
Andy
?
 

Thanks John and Andy.

I thought there might be an easier way that I was missing. But from my
Google research and the tutorials I saw I started to guess my desire
was hopeless.

Carlos

On Sun, Mar 2, 2025 at 7:16?PM Andy I via groups.io
<AI.egrps+io@...> wrote:

On Sun, Mar 2, 2025 at 05:09 PM, John Woodgate wrote:

Probably you can, but it would make your version of LTspice unique and might compromise updates. ...

What John is talking about, is moving your models into LTspice's own symbol and model directories. Doing that is frowned upon and generally should not be used anymore. Maybe that is what you did previously. Newer versions of Windows and/or LTspice will try to stop you from doing that.

But it is easy to put your models where LTspice will find them but where they are not in LTspice's own directories.

Keep in mind that many devices in LTspice need two parts: a symbol, and a model. The symbol is not the model, and vice-versa. The symbol file MIGHT be one that comes with LTspice, or it might be one that you created.

Andy
 

Carlos,
?
Since version 24.0.xx is not the newest version, did you try just installing it, effectively as an upgrade to your previous version?? It might leave everything in place including your user-provided models.? That is how LTspice upgrades used to work.
?
Today, with the latest versions (24.1.x), it probably won't be that simple.? But with 24.0.xx it might be, if you are lucky.? Maybe it's a bit of a stretch since your LTspice IV was quite old and I think the system library area did move when going from that to LTspice XVII.
?
Andy
?
 

Adding one more thought -
?
On Sun, Mar 2, 2025 at 04:46 PM, Carlos E. Mart¨ªnez wrote:
For instance, opamps and discrete active parts models, like transistors, that are available in version 4.23 is not available in version 24.0.12.
Would I be correct to say that the "missing" parts models were devices that you had previously added to LTspice?
?
LTspice should not have removed any models that had previously come with any older version of LTspice.? That being said, there are some device models that Analog Devices did remove from LTspice.? The JFET models were one example.? They should never have done that.? Other than that, all transistors and op-amps should still be there if they came with an older version of LTspice.
?
Most people inquire about the models they added to LTspice.
?
But it's also true that some LTspice users forget that they added a model, and then incorrectly assume that it came with LTspice.
?
Andy
?
 

Carlos,
Andy I is correct when he mentions locations for different versions of LTspice.
?
I still have both LTspiceIV and LTspiceXVII on my computer system.
Both versions are in their factory default locations.
?

C:\Program Files (x86)\LTC\LTspiceIV\scad3.exe

C:\Program Files (x86)\LTC\LTspiceIV\examples

C:\Program Files (x86)\LTC\LTspiceIV\lib

?

C:\Program Files\LTC\LTspiceXVII\XVIIx64.exe

C:\Users\(user name)\Documents\LTspiceXVII\examples

C:\Users\(user name)\Documents\LTspiceXVII\lib

?

Mike
 

Andy,
?
Of course I installed version 24.0, and I was talking indeed about the problems I was having when trying to run my sims with parts this version did not have in its library.
?
Carlos
 

On Mon, Mar 3, 2025 at 07:36 AM, Carlos E. Mart¨ªnez wrote:
Of course I installed version 24.0, and I was talking indeed about the problems I was having when trying to run my sims with parts this version did not have in its library.
Carlos,
?
Yes I understand that.? But are they parts that CAME with the older version, or are they parts that YOU added to the previous version?
?
People often forget that they added models to their copy of LTspice, and later assume that everyone else has the same models as they do, and that LTspice "came that way", when it did not.? This is one of the reasons why adding your new parts to LTspice's own library is not a good idea.? By keeping added models physically separated from LTspice's own built-in library, it helps to enforce the fact that the model in question did not come with LTspice.? The simulation runs just fine either way, whether an added model is kept separate from LTspice's own library, or added to it.? But it helps YOU see and understand that it was something you added.
?
Is it too long ago for you to remember if you added those models, or if they came with LTspice?
?
Speaking about op-amps, I think LTspice only ever had op-amp models made by Linear Technology or Analog Devices (including companies it acquired).? Models for op-amps that were not made by either company, would not have come with any version of LTspice and must have been added by you.? Note that LTC/ADI second-sourced a few op-amps too.
?
Also, I can't say this with 100% certainty, but I am not aware of any op-amp models made by LTC/ADI and included with LTspice, which were later dropped.? If it was there years ago, I think it is still there.
?
Transistor models are different.? LTC and ADI did not make them.? (Matched pairs being an exception.? But they did not make the transistors that come in LTspice's transistor libraries.)
?
Andy
?
?

1 - 10 of 10