Eagle devices with pins but no package

Community PCB Design
1

It’s sometimes useful to have a schematic symbol with connection pins that doesn’t actually have a pad on the board.

Ground and power supply symbols are one example, but one-off switch contacts made from polygons on the board are another.

Unfortunately Eagle refuses to allow you to use a device that has any pins other than supply pins unless it has a package with pads. Any suggestions on how to get around this?

At the moment I’ve using a .01x01. SMD pad with no paste to get around this, but it’s a bit of a hack.

Any better suggestions?

2

If the pin doesn’t do anything (i.e. mechanical strength), I usually have that pin connected to GND.

3

Why would you have a connection in the schematic that is not actually connected on the PCB?

For switch contacts, why don’t you make it out of pads rather than drawing polygons?