.pins files to be run by pintosym.pl to make Makefiles work as expected, there needs to be a .sym file for every .pins file .inc files designed to be included from .pins files .pins is the main pins file for that family .inc contains common data for that family the convention I use is: _comm_uart.inc serial ports like rs232 _comm_i2c.inc i2c bus ports _comm_can.inc can bus ports _comm_lin.inc lin bus port _comm_mii.inc ethernet mii interface _comm_rmii.inc ethernet rmii interface In contrast to that I use a subsheet for mcu general power and one for the jtag if since that is expected to stay the same over a few designs. For the power you can use ic_power.sym and for the jtag/debug if. use source.sym.