Surely annotation makes little sense for 'power ports'. However, looking at
the schematic file, it can seen that a 'power port' does have a hidden ref des
of the form "#PWR?".
Example: (notice the power point object is a $Comp)
$Comp
L +3.3V #PWR04
U 1 1 4A9C9121
P 4925 3750
F 0 "#PWR04" H 4925 3710 30 0001 C CNN
F 1 "+3.3V" H 4925 3860 30 0000 C CNN
1 4925 3750
1 0 0 -1
$EndComp
We don't really care about this ref des, as you say. But, I suspect, KiCAD
uses this hidden ref des so it can treat the 'power port' similarly as it does
components.
As such, if a power port is not annotated (i.e. still has a '?' instead of a
number), some functions don't work. Schematic ERC check was the first one I
encountered.
It might be that I have done some out-of-the-ordinary step that left a power
port un-annotated. If the power port is never un-annotated, we are never aware
of this hidden behavior of a component.
I may be missing something... I create a 'power point', by using the 'New
Component' button in the 'power' library. I don't know of a 'New Power point'
command. (there may indeed be one)
Maybe I went off on a tangent,
...Jim H.
----- Original Message -----
From: Andy Eskelson
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, September 01, 2009 4:35 AM
Subject: Re: [kicad-users] placing Power Ports
Power ports are a "special" type of item. you could prob best think of
them as an invisible track that automatically connects itself together.
so any power ports of the same type will automatically connect together.
They are not real components so they are not annotated.
why are you creating a power port like component?
You either create a component or you create a power port. You can't mix
the two.
Andy
On Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:15:39 -0500
"Jim Hughen" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Everything may be alright here.
>
> I can still build the 'power port' and place in my special library.
> Now place the 'power port' with 'place Component' and select the library as
well as the power point component.
> Now run 'Schematic Annotation' before 'Schematic ERC'.
>
> I thought I had some 'power ports' that would not annotate automatically
(i.e. when the 'Schematic Annotation' button is clicked), but I can not repeat
that.
>
> ...oh well,
> Jim H.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Jim Hughen
> To: KiCadUsersGroup
> Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 10:58 PM
> Subject: [kicad-users] placing Power Ports
>
>
>
> Placing a 'Power Port' is very much like placing a 'Component'.
>
> The 'Power Port' library entry looks like a 'Component', except "show" on
the Reference Des field is not checked.
>
> I can make a 'Power Port'-like component and put it in a library file other
than 'power'. Then place it with add 'Component'. This seems to cause a problem
because the non-showing Ref Des field does not get automatically annotated. On
the schematic err check, this 'power'-like component blocks the check process
because it is not annotated. If 'annotated schematic' is done, the invisible
ref des is still not annotated.
>
> Sometimes this problem occurs when a 'power port' is created via a 'block
copy'.
>
> So you might say, "Don't do that." ...ok
>
> The place 'power port' button seems to automatically select the 'power'
library file. This makes it difficult to make 'private'-like power ports (they
must be placed in the 'power' library).
>
> This whole affair between 'power ports' and 'components' just seems a
little strange. I'm wondering if maybe I am missing something.
>
> thanks,
> ...Jim H.
>
>
