Element files are used to describe one component which then may be used
several times within one or more layouts. You will normally split the
file into two parts, one for the pinout and one for the package description.
Using m4
allows you to define pin names as macros in one file and
include a package description file which evaluates the macros. See
the resource elementCommand for more information. The pins (and pads)
must appear in sequential order in the element file (new in 1.5) so that
pin 1 must be the first PIN(...) in the file.
Doing things this way makes it possible to use one package file for several different circuits. See the sample files dil*.
The lowest x and y coordinates of all sub-objects of an element are used as an attachment point for the cross hair cursor of the main window, unless the element has a mark, in which case that's the attachment point.