Octopart Integration

LoomCAD integrates with Octopart — a multi-distributor component search engine powered by the Nexar API — to import component data directly from millions of electronic parts across hundreds of distributors.

Overview

The Octopart integration allows you to:

• Search across multiple distributors simultaneously
• Import component specifications automatically
• Find similar parts and companion products
• Get datasheets and product images
• Keep component data up-to-date

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Supported Elements

Octopart fetch is available for all manufactured elements — same as DigiKey:

Element	Creation dialog	Inspector	Save to Library
Component	✅	✅	✅
Wire	✅	✅	—
Bundle	✅	✅	—
Bundle Splice	✅	✅	—
Pin	✅ (Terminal dialog)	✅	—

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Opening the Octopart Dialog

From the Inspector (editing an existing element):

1. Select any manufactured element on the canvas
2. Open the Inspector (if not already visible)
3. Click Octopart in the Inspector action bar

From a creation dialog (before the element is placed):

The Octopart button appears in every creation dialog for manufactured elements, alongside the DigiKey button. Click it while filling in properties to search and import data before confirming placement.

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Searching for Components

octopart-fetch-dialog.png

Octopart search dialog — full view with search form, categories panel, results list, and product card

Search Type and Input

At the top of the dialog, choose a search mode:

Mode	Description
Search by keyword	Free-text search by description or specification
Search by MPN	Exact manufacturer part number search
Show History	Browse previously fetched components

Enter your query and press Enter or click SEARCH.

Categories

The categories panel shows a hierarchical tree of Octopart product categories. Click a category to filter search results to that category only.

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Browse Results

Search results appear as a list with:

• Product thumbnail
• Manufacturer part number
• Manufacturer name
• Product description

octopart-results-list.png

Octopart search results list with part thumbnails, numbers, and descriptions

click a row to select it — the Product Card appears on the

right.

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Product Card

When you select a result, the product card shows:

octopart-product-card.png

Octopart product card showing navigation, Similar Parts/Companion Products buttons, details, and REPLACE action button

Navigation

Element	Description
← →	Navigate through product card view history
Similar Parts	Show physically similar parts
Companion Products	Show parts that work together

Product Details

• Category path
• Product photo
• Description and manufacturer
• Unit price and stock availability
• Technical parameters (scroll down)

Links

Button	Description
DATASHEET	Open PDF datasheet
VIEW ON OCTOPART	Open product page on Octopart website

Action Buttons

Button	Description
REPLACE	Overwrite all element properties with Octopart data

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Imported Data

Octopart provides the following fields:

Field	Description
partnumber	Manufacturer part number
description	Product description
manufacturer	Manufacturer name
manufacturerPN	Manufacturer part number (same)
datasheetURL	Link to datasheet PDF
productURL	Link to Octopart product page
imageData	Product image
ratedVoltage	Voltage rating (if available)
ratedCurrent	Current rating (if available)
maxTemp / minTemp	Temperature range (if available)

Compared to DigiKey

Octopart does not return pinCount, family, or packageType — these fields will remain empty after an Octopart import. Use DigiKey if you need those fields.

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Adding to Component Library

When the Octopart dialog is opened for a new component, a Save to Library checkbox appears in the action bar.

When checked, clicking Replace first opens a secondary dialog:

1. Select library — choose which library project to save into
2. Use part number as sheet name — checked by default
3. Click Save & Apply — saves the component to the library, then applies it to the current design

INFO

Save to Library is only available for new components, not for wires, bundles, or bundle splices.

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Setup

Octopart uses the Nexar API. Credentials are OAuth2 client ID and secret obtained from nexar.com/api.

Global config (all users)

Add to config.mjs:

octopart: {
  clientId: "YOUR_NEXAR_CLIENT_ID",
  clientSecret: "YOUR_NEXAR_CLIENT_SECRET",
},

Per-user keys

Set octopartID and octopartSecret on the user record. Per-user keys take precedence over the global config — useful for development or when different users have separate Nexar accounts.

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Troubleshooting

"API Error" Message

• Check that clientId and clientSecret in config.mjs are correct Nexar credentials
• Verify internet connection
• Nexar API may be temporarily unavailable — check status.nexar.com

No Results Found

• Try different search terms or switch to MPN search
• Check spelling of part numbers
• Use broader keywords

Missing Data

• Not all parts have complete data across all distributors
• Some fields (pinCount, family, packageType) are not returned by Octopart — use DigiKey for those

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Related Topics

• DigiKey Integration — DigiKey-specific workflow and setup
• Inspector — Fetch button location
• Wires — Wire properties and fetch
• Bundles — Bundle and splice properties and fetch