I am happy that doc is still useful. Best Wishes to All here at geda,
Steve M. On Wed, 2011-08-17 at 08:44 -0500, kqt4a...@comcast.net wrote: > On Tue, 16 Aug 2011, Colin D Bennett wrote: > > > On Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:35:46 -0500 (CDT) > > kqt4a...@comcast.net wrote: > > > >> I am sure this has been done to death but I have to ask > >> I am a beginner and the way I am using gschem and pcb is quite awkward > >> I open my schematic in gschem and open pcb > >> Then when I add a component in gschem I switch to pcb to search for a > >> footprint When I find the proper footprint in pcb I switch back to > >> gschem and manually edit the properties to add the footprint name > >> I MUST be doing something wrong > > > > You're not doing anything “wrong”. There are many “right” ways of > > working with gEDA... it allows you the freedom to choose what works > > best for you. If switching back and forth between pcb and gschem is > > tedious, then consider the following suggestions as just a few of the > > possible optimizations you can make to your process. > > > > I almost never use pcb's footprint browser. Yes, the default pcb > > footprint library has a lot of symbols with obtuse names, so it is > > difficult to find the one you need by name. However, I only use a few > > of the default footprint library's footprints--for instance: JUMPER4, > > RESC1608N, CAPC1608N, ... and most of my footprints are custom ones I > > have created myself. > > > > The footprints in my own library have extremely descriptive names and > > all I need is a file manager window listing the available footprint > > files and I can pick the correct footprint by name. For instance, here > > are some footprint file names from my library: > > > > ... > > > > You should be able to understand the purpose of each footprint by its > > nae and perhaps a quick Google on the package code or part number. > > > > I also occasionally have used footprints from gedasymbols.org. The > > gedasymbols.org web site has a great interface for searching the > > footprint library and previewing the footprints. > > > > Another thing you can do to save time is to defer footprint attribute > > assignment until you have the schematic mostly drawn. Then you can do > > footprint assignment quickly. You can use either gschem or the > > “gattrib” tool to quickly assign footprints to all symbol instances > > in a schematic. > > > > I highly suggest you become proficient at creating your own footprints > > since you will often run into new parts without a pcb footprint, and > > this allows you to keep a consistent footprint style matching your own > > preference (you might have your own preference about silk screen > > outline style, etc.). Creating footprints was tedious for me at first, > > but now after making several dozen, it has become really simple. I just > > grab a calculator (or the qalculator application), a pencil and paper, > > and lay out the footprint per the manufacturer's package drawing and > > recommended land pattern. I usually create the footprint file (*.fp) > > with a text editor since it's easy to get the exact layout that way, > > but on occasion I will use pcb to draw the footprints graphically, or > > make minor edits to hand-made footprint files. > > > > Thanks for all the suggestions > I tend to think ignoring system libraries is the way for me > I am spending too much time searching through thousands of footprints when I > only regularly use a few dozen > I will create a personal library and copy/create footprints there as needed > I have reviewed "Footprint creation for the open-source layout program PCB" > With this in hand I was easily able to modify a footprint for my needs > And yes I agree gedasymbols.org is a great place to shop > > One off topic question > When I open a schematic in gschem and it contains an unknown symbol there is > a placeholder with an error message > But when I import a schematic into pcb it "seems" to throw away anything that > has an unknown footprint > Is this just the way pcb works or am I missing something > > Thanks > Richard > _______________________________________________ geda-user mailing list > geda-user@moria.seul.org > http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user _______________________________________________ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user