Problem of seeing a created footprint

[dorato]

Hi I'm new here. I am having trouble after I create a footprint I can not see it in the library.  I have Altium 2004 running on Windows 7. I also am having the same issue on a computer with Windows XP. I talked to a rep from the company and she said the program should run in Window 7. I feel that there maybe something I am missing or something in the program that is not set up right. I read the manuals and search on  line. The steps I take to create the foot print is as follows. I start with new PCB library project. I keep it sample by using the new component wizard. Once the foot print is created I saved it in a folder with a new name that I can ID it by. I then go to the PCB board to place the part on the layout. by clicking on the libraries tab then click install and browse to the folder where I saved it at. I also click on the tab were you can select components, footprint and 3D models. I do not have a problem to create the components just the foot print. If I use the Window explore and go to the folder where  I save the footprint in and double click on it it will bring up the PCB editor program and show it. Can someone tell me what I am  missing.
 Thanks
Dorato

[Rufus]

It is possibly a problem with the Win7 virtualstore garbage.

Microsoft in its minute wisdom decided programs are not allowed to write files in the "Program Files" directory structure. Something which many programs do. To avoid breaking so many programs the OS silently places such writes in another location called the virtualstore.

Win7 also tries to fool the programs by making things in virtualstore look like they are in "Program files". I can't remember if it tries to fool users in explorer the same way (I never managed to stand UAC which this shit is part of for more than a couple of days). Sometimes or with some programs it fails to fool them and the program can't see a file it has just written.

The short version is don't create your libraries in the "Program files" directory tree and don't try modifying the ones that are already there (if you can actually tell where they are anyway - lol).

[AlfBaz]

Have you compiled the library? If so you normally find the compiled output in a sub directory to your saved location called "Project Outputs for <your lib name>"

[dorato]

Thanks for the info. I created a folder on my desk top then created a sub folder. I then made my footprint and saved it. I loaded up the library with the created footprint and now it is showing it. You were right that Window 7 must did something that will not allow you to see it.
 Thanks again
 Dorato