The problem is that you have created a new power port. It's not quite as simple as creating a component. (i've only done this once or twice and I need to refer to the help...There is a chapter in the help files that details how to do this. Select help from the eeschema menu bar.
While you are just starting out with kicad it's a good idea to stick with the provided power port options until you get the hang of it. Andy On Tue, 1 Sep 2009 05:14:39 -0500 "Jim Hughen" <[email protected]> wrote: > 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. > > > > > > >
