The Open Library... command (in menu File) brings a new library into Electric from disk. These libraries may have the extension ".elib", ".jelib", or ".delib" (the jelib format is the default, see Section 10-1).

Figure 3.23
You can also use the open-library icon from the tool bar.

Electric users with very old ".elib" files may have difficulty reading them into Electric. If you have been using versions of Electric prior to 7.00, it may help to upgrade to that version and read the libraries. Saving ".elib" files from version 7.00 will work properly in the current system.

By default Electric searches for libraries in the working directory, absolute file path references, and Electric's internal library directory. Users can specify additional directories to search by using a file called "LIBDIRS" placed in the working directory. This file specifies additional paths to search for library files. The file has the following syntax:

     * <comments>
     include <another_LIBDIRS_file>
     <library_directory>

Paths may be absolute or relative.

Besides Electric libraries, it is possible to read circuit descriptions that are in other formats with these commands in the File / Import menu: