Re: [kicad-users] Net names starting with slash?
Some people use the slash (/) for that reason, even though KiCad prefers the tilde (~). I've seen it used on many commercial schematics. It's a naming convention used by the designer, not necessarily something used by KiCAD. Greg From: Karl Schmidt k...@xtronics.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wed, June 30, 2010 1:00:12 PM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Net names starting with slash? Greg Dyess wrote: Usually that is a convention used to indicate a low true signal name. Logic low level = true (or asserted) and logic high = false (or deasserted). Greg That is not the case here - kicad uses ~ to negate the symbol. if i create a netname call active - I see it in the netlist as /active - not all netnames have the / prefix. Wondering what it means.. Karl Schmidt EMail k...@xtronics.com Transtronics, Inc. WEB http://xtronics.com 3209 West 9th Street Ph (785) 841-3089 Lawrence, KS 66049 FAX (785) 841-0434 When angry count four; when very angry, swear. --Mark Twain Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Re: new user, new question! :)
While doing layout work, I have 2 monitors of 28 each that are 1920 x 1280. I just use the zoon feature to make the area as large as I want. Having the 2nd monitor is very nice for having up the schematic, cmponent documentation, catalogs, stock component lists, etc. If you do a lot of this kind of work, I highly recommend the largest monitor you can afford and then use 2 (or more) of them with the appropriate graphics cards. Your eyes will thank you and you will be more productive as well. Monitors these days are cheap. Greg From: dickelbeck d...@softplc.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, June 29, 2010 7:51:25 AM Subject: [kicad-users] Re: new user, new question! :) --- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, virginio.savani virginio.sav...@... wrote: Hello to everybody, i'm Virginio from Italy, and i'm new user of Kicad, i have a simple question. How can i see big icons on kicad? In my lcd screen (22inch 1920 x 1080 pixel), icons appear so tiny.. Tks Virginio 1920x1080 (nice!) -- = pixels / area small screen area You have high resolution on a small screen area. This will make everything look small. Try a larger monitor, or these: http://www.jakesmp.com/CSD_Magnifiers/CSD_Magnifiers_013_M.html Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Net names starting with slash?
Usually that is a convention used to indicate a low true signal name. Logic low level = true (or asserted) and logic high = false (or deasserted). Greg From: Karl Schmidt k...@xtronics.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, June 29, 2010 2:05:11 PM Subject: [kicad-users] Net names starting with slash? What doe the slash mean? Karl Schmidt EMail k...@xtronics.com Transtronics, Inc. WEB http://xtronics.com 3209 West 9th Street Ph (785) 841-3089 Lawrence, KS 66049 FAX (785) 841-0434 One major difference between haves and have nots these days simply lies in how much math they use and understand. -- Don Lancaster Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] New Kicad stable version uploaded.
That would explain why no updates were coming down on SVN for a while. What's the link to the new site for kiCad sources? Thanks, Greg From: jean-pierre.char...@gipsa-lab.inpg.fr jean-pierre.char...@gipsa-lab.inpg.fr To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sat, May 8, 2010 1:23:51 PM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] New Kicad stable version uploaded. Nagy László a écrit : Hi SVN closed? Regards Kicad dev. is now on Launchpad, and uses bazaar. -- Jean-Pierre CHARRAS Maître de conférences Directeur d'études 2ieme année. Génie Electrique et Informatique Industrielle 2 Institut Universitaire de Technologie 1 de Grenoble BP 67, 38402 St Martin d'Heres Cedex Recherche : GIPSA-LAB - INPG Rue de la Houille Blanche 38400 Saint Martin d'Heres Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Basic getting started question
I think that is probably about as close to documenting the magic as anyone can hope for. You just have to experience it for yourself. I think some of the problems were fixed in versions after 20090216, but I don't recall exactly now. Greg From: NeonJohn j...@neon-john.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wed, April 28, 2010 6:35:42 PM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Basic getting started question Thanks for the info. To make sure that I understand. I put down vias between a trace and, for example, my Vcc layer, I then go in as the last step and create a filled zone that covers the entire layer that I've designated Vcc. That connects the vias to the plane. Correct? John Greg Dyess wrote: Planes are the thing I struggled with when starting to use KiCAD It simply doesn't have the concept of a plane What it does is create zones which are connected to a net. It may seem subtle, but it will bite you hard if you just expect it to understand everything on this layer is a plane, just connect to it. Zones have an outline that is drawn/defined and then the zone is assigned to a net and is filled. It has to be refilled everything something changes that pass through the zone. I also found many times that it just simply refused to get connected to vias even though the via was supposed to be on the same net. I think that issue has been fixed though. Greg From: NeonJohn j...@neon-john.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wed, April 28, 2010 12:38:45 AM Subject: [kicad-users] Basic getting started question Still working on getting started with PCBNEW. Coming from an ExpressPCB background. I have my design finished and all the footprints associated with symbols in the net list using Cvpcb. I have imported the netlist into PCBNEW and placed a few of the power components where they need to be. I let the program auto-place everything else which at least scattered things out, though I'll have to re-do almost everything. Here's my problem. this is a 4 layer board with the inner planes being defined as Vcc and Gnd (just like ExpressPCB does). Thing is, I don't know how to get there. Do I have to draw the individual planes on the layers? Can I give the plane a net name like Vcc? Will that cause automatic connectivity to everything on the Vcc net? One other question. I need an interior cut-out on the board for the winding of a transformer to protrude through. How do I draw that? THe same way that I drew the board outline? I've drawn it on the board outline layer but I'm not sure how to tell if it took. Thanks John -- John DeArmond Tellico Plains, Occupied TN http://www.neon-john.com -- email from here http://www.johndearmond.com -- Best damned Blog on the net PGP key: wwwkeys.pgp.net: BCB68D77 Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Basic getting started question
Planes are the thing I struggled with when starting to use KiCAD It simply doesn't have the concept of a plane What it does is create zones which are connected to a net. It may seem subtle, but it will bite you hard if you just expect it to understand everything on this layer is a plane, just connect to it. Zones have an outline that is drawn/defined and then the zone is assigned to a net and is filled. It has to be refilled everything something changes that pass through the zone. I also found many times that it just simply refused to get connected to vias even though the via was supposed to be on the same net. I think that issue has been fixed though. Greg From: NeonJohn j...@neon-john.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wed, April 28, 2010 12:38:45 AM Subject: [kicad-users] Basic getting started question Still working on getting started with PCBNEW. Coming from an ExpressPCB background. I have my design finished and all the footprints associated with symbols in the net list using Cvpcb. I have imported the netlist into PCBNEW and placed a few of the power components where they need to be. I let the program auto-place everything else which at least scattered things out, though I'll have to re-do almost everything. Here's my problem. this is a 4 layer board with the inner planes being defined as Vcc and Gnd (just like ExpressPCB does). Thing is, I don't know how to get there. Do I have to draw the individual planes on the layers? Can I give the plane a net name like Vcc? Will that cause automatic connectivity to everything on the Vcc net? One other question. I need an interior cut-out on the board for the winding of a transformer to protrude through. How do I draw that? THe same way that I drew the board outline? I've drawn it on the board outline layer but I'm not sure how to tell if it took. Thanks John -- John DeArmond Tellico Plains, Occupied TN http://www.neon-john.com -- email from here http://www.johndearmond.com -- Best damned Blog on the net PGP key: wwwkeys.pgp.net: BCB68D77 Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Re: Component management.
Thanks for the link to that site! I will definitely have to remember that one. I have (lightly) used KiCAD for almost a year now. I have only have one board designed with it (a bit more advanced than a typical first project) and I love it. After getting accustomed to how KiCAD thinks about things, it is a breeze to use. The designers and developers have done a most terrific job and I am especially greatful for the more than reasonable price: FREE@ If there is one area of weakness it would have to be in the management of libraries. I've seen a number of postings over the past year inquiring about how do I manage this aspect of components? It usually initiates a flurry of discussions with the usual enhancement suggestions. It is always a very cordial discussion with many great ideas thrown out. Ultimately, it always seems to come back to 3 major sticking points: backward compatibility (VERY important), simplicity (being able to fix things with a text editor) and stand-alone (no internet connection to modify/retrieve components). I must admit, I have tried to think of ways that would solve these issues without much success in overcoming the 3 stumbling blocks. One of the things I thought of doing is to break the libraries apart in constituent modules so I can place them under source countrol (SVN, CVS, etc) and track changes. The problem here is that instead fo a few libraries with tons of related parts, I end up with a huge number of libraries with only a single part. Not good. My latest internal-only thought is a hybrid approach. - Write an application to extract out the libraries and generate XML versions of those files. (Please hold the flames for a few minutes lnoger) - Add whatever extra fields I want, such as manufacturers/part number entries, supplier lists, etc. - Place the XML version into SVN. - Have an application that can regenerate the KiCAD native library formats, without the extra information. Of course, this would necessitate creating a simple application that can manipulate the XML files to perform lookups, manipulate the extra information, import native KiCAD modules and export to native KiCAD formats. If I could ever figure out all of the dependencies, I would write the code directly into my local KiCAD and manipulate it there. Alas, I have never had the time to get it all straight before it was time to reformat and rebuild my Ubuntu or Windows XP machines for some reason or another. Just a few thoughts from my feeble brain Now back to my day job programming Greg From: Frank bennet...@digis.net To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sun, April 4, 2010 10:29:38 PM Subject: [kicad-users] Re: Component management. Looking for parts - Checkout per your mosfet example: http://octopart.com/parts/search?q=2SK1058js=on This type of web site, I've been looking for for some time. These guys have also not said no to the possibility of someday including Kicad (and others) symbols and footprints for each part. -Frank --- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, marcmendezbermond marcmen...@... wrote: Hi all ! Progressing on my project, I have a question about component/library management. The Component list feature of eeschema is quite convenient but is there a way to accelerate data input ? I would like to use custom fields of components to store manufacturer, part number, ordering info and doing it a component at a time is quite annoying ... My idea would be to input this straight in my custom library, then using its symbols would replicate those info to my schematic. In the end, when I inserting a 2SK1058 mosfet that would result in a component with Manufacturer field set to Hitachi, Part No 2SK1058, Ordering No 1234567 in my favorite store, and so on ... Thanks in advance for pointing me out any method, M. Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] zone fill
Did you create zones on both layers? From: bill_s_hung bill_s_h...@yahoo.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, March 30, 2010 4:32:00 PM Subject: [kicad-users] zone fill Is it possible to fill zones in both component and solder side? I have tried, but it only fills solder side even after I selected component side as the working layer. Any suggestion is appreciated. Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Re: pcbnew is amazing slow under windows 7
I want to say a great big THANK YOU to everyone who has volunteered their time and talents contributing to the KiCAD user community. Too often I tend to focus on the rough edges and not enough time being thankful for the silk engine inside. Now if I could only figure out how to get my build configuration working I would try to add a little to the effort. Greg From: Alain Mouette ala...@pobox.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wed, February 17, 2010 7:19:34 PM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Re: pcbnew is amazing slow under windows 7 It is not over the years, it is in the last few months this is what happens when you try a work in progress. Kicad team is working very hard in several new alternatives, at the current moment the main issue there is this speed problem which is windows centered... But there has been a lot of work on that matter *right now*. Old solutions have lots of problems, new solutions have others... It has to work on Linux, Mac, windows, hardware accelerated drivers, and I don't know what more. It is not an easy work, but it will be better when finished. Alain Carl Rash escreveu: I am running windows 7 ultimate 64-bit, I run an old version of Kicad (2007-11-29-RC2) compiled to 64-Bit executables using MS visual studio .net 2003 and the 2003 SDK. My screen refresh is blazing fast. I wonder what has happened to Kicad over the years? Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Re: pcbnew is amazing slow under windows 7
OK, I think your rant against Windows is just a little over the top and adds nothing constructive to the conversation. Some people don't have the choice to run whatever they want and that must be recognized. KiCAD supports Windows and if there is a major performance issue, it should be looked into since the level of graphics processing is pretty minimal for KiCAD compared to real-time games, etc. Having said that, I run KiCad on a machine (quad core, 2.4 GHz, 2 GB RAM) that dual-boots Windows XP Pro and Ubuntu 9.10. I see no discernable difference in performance between the two, so it's highly unlikely that Windows vs Ubuntu can account for the performance issues the user is reporting. I also run KiCad on a 3-year old laptop (dual-core, 32 bit @ 1.7 GHz with 2.5 GB RAM) and have performance complaints there either. You didn't mention what hardware you are running this on, so it's hard to tell whether you are just simply underpowered for Windows 7. Does your system run other applications well? Have you checked the Task Manager and/or Performance Monitor to try to determine what resource is causing the bottleneck (CPU, Memory, Disk, Interrupts, etc)? I would suggest you check the following: 1. Check to make sure all of the third-party libraries are up to date and are compiled with the optimizing/release settings. 2. Make sure you have plenty of RAM (at LEAST 2 GB or more). 3. Make sure you have the latest optimized drivers for your video card. 4. If you have BOINC running, make sure none of your projects are using the CUDA to push processing onto your graphics card. If you do have this, make sure at lease you have it set to only use the GCU whenever it is not busy or your graphics willl be horribly slow on everything. Check to see if you have any viruses or anything else running in the background soaking up CPU/GPU cycles. Greg From: DanielW dan...@wolstenholme.net To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Mon, February 15, 2010 1:53:09 PM Subject: [kicad-users] Re: pcbnew is amazing slow under windows 7 There's another solution you're missing: use a CAD package that's designed to work well under Windows, unlike KiCad. Someone who's willing to shell out hard-earned cash for Windows 7 should be happy to also buy a nice commercial CAD package, such as Orcad. Trying to run Free software on Windows is just silly. If you're going to buy into the whole commercial software thing, then don't do it halfway. Use paid, commercial software for everything you do in Windows, as the whole environment is one where Microsoft and its ISV partners work together to bring you the software experience they think you should have, for a fee, and if you're bought Windows, then that proves that you also buy into Microsoft's vision. Microsoft's vision does NOT include any Free software; they've stated this publicly over and over. Personally, I'm perfectly happy with KiCad running on Kubuntu. Dan --- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, dickelbeck d...@... wrote: --- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, o00batman00o anthony.siegrist@ wrote: Hello Since I upgraded to windows 7, I can't use pcbnew beacause the screen refresh is amazing slow. I can see dot grid showing up from left to right. I notice the same behavior on all PC running Windows Vista or 7. My temporary solution is to run Kicad under Ubuntu via VirtualBox. By this way refreshing rate is in my opinion 10 times faster. Does someone noticed the same issue? No, but I don't use Windows. Is there a solution ? Use Ubuntu? How much pain do you need, before you switch? I hit my threshold 6 years ago. I assume you use Windows for a reason, is that reason so that you can call Microsoft and get help on issues like this? Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
[kicad-users] KiCAD build issues
Ooops, that should have read I have NO performance complaints on Windows 7 on my laptop. Since we're on the topic of running SVN builds of KiCAD, I have always wanted to build KiCAD from the sources just to satisfy my own curiosity as well as try hacking some things just for fun. I've tried a couple of times to get everything together to compile, but kept running into trouble. Since I am not as familiar with Linux as I am with Windows, I am open to it being all my fault and just not understanding some of the requirements. Is there an updated set of instructions for exactly how/where to obtain the 3rd party items and what has to built and how? Thanks, Greg
Re: [kicad-users] Re: pcbnew is amazing slow under windows 7
I wasn't trying to say KiCAD was using that much RAM. That was just the configuration of the machines. Also, I would NEVER try to run anything on Vista, period! If you have Vista, invest in the upgrade and don't attempt anything with less than 2 GB. From: kajdas kaj...@cox.net To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Cc: Greg Dyess gregory.dy...@yahoo.com Sent: Mon, February 15, 2010 6:19:12 PM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Re: pcbnew is amazing slow under windows 7 Having said that, I run KiCad on a machine (quad core, 2.4 GHz, 2 GB RAM) that dual-boots Windows XP Pro and Ubuntu 9.10. I see no discernable difference in performance between the two, so it's highly unlikely that Windows vs Ubuntu can account for the performance issues the user is reporting. I also run KiCad on a 3-year old laptop (dual-core, 32 bit @ 1.7 GHz with 2.5 GB RAM) and have performance complaints there either. Good suggestions, but I am wandering what are you running because I also use Kicad on both and never used more than 0.5 GB of memory (768 MB installed) on single-core CPU and it is running fine, though not the latest SVN version. I would also recommend checking for viruses, because anytime I had a Windows machine slow down it was a zambie sending a lot of garbage to the internet. Unplug Ethernet and see. M. Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Completely depressing !
I too learned that lesson. Fortunately, it was not as far into the design as you were. From then on, I hand-verified almost all of the modules from the libraries before I used them. I would then only use my own libraries with the verified components. When I ran across a foottprint I did not have, I would usually, but not always, start from the SourceForge library and create the new one. I also put my module libraries into a source code management system so I can track my mods and compare easily against the originals. Just a few ideas that have saved me time. Greg From: Stephrac74 stephra...@wanadoo.fr To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sat, February 6, 2010 10:16:39 AM Subject: [kicad-users] Completely depressing ! Hi guys, I would like to share with you my very bad experience in order to help you to avoid becoming completely depressed as I am now… I’ve been working about 50 hours on a PCB using Kicad and the libraries found on the soundforge. I’ve a TFQP microcontroller in my design and used the module found in microchip-2 library called TQFP64 ! I’ve not checked before drawing the PCB that the module was ok…. And what a mistake ! The module is wrong, dimensions are not correct making the component impossible to mount and solder ! I can of course correct this by changing the module, but using Kicad this means erasing all the wires connected there and restart most of my design (very compact). I think about 20h more to spend on this PCB… That is absolutely dramatic for a professional use as spending 70h on a such basic PCB with around 100 components ! So my best advice is to redesign all your modules and not spend one minute using the libs you can find in Kicad or on the web. There are so many errors that you discover all along your design (silkcreens, wrong dimensions, …) making finally a massive waste of time. Of course, If I knew that before I would have redesigned all the components and created my own libs… Hoping it will prevent some other people to face what I’m facing now ! Best Stephane
Re: [kicad-users] Re: KiCAD Parts Repo [was: S-100 and ECB homebrew computer templates for KiCAD/FreeRouting.net]
I forgot CompactPCI and CompactPCI Express and Multibus. From: lynchaj lync...@yahoo.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wed, February 3, 2010 7:40:41 AM Subject: [kicad-users] Re: KiCAD Parts Repo [was: S-100 and ECB homebrew computer templates for KiCAD/FreeRouting.net] Hi! On a similar note lets not forget our European friends ECB. I am not European but I sure like the Kontron ECB bus. IMO, it is almost perfect for home brew computers, embedded controllers, etc. http://www.hardwarebook.info/ECBbus Thanks and have a nice day! Andrew Lynch --- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, Greg Dyess gregory.dy...@... wrote: Don't forget PC-104 and PC-104+ used heavily in embedded applications. Greg From: juliorz juli...@... To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, February 2, 2010 3:04:05 PM Subject: RE: [kicad-users] Re: KiCAD Parts Repo [was: S-100 and ECB homebrew computer templates for KiCAD/FreeRouting.net] Well even if that many users use S100 stuff, I think it is important just to have it in a centralized library. Perhaps it can be organized under categories, like motherboard busses and under that you will find footprints for: 1. ISA 2. EISA 3. VESA 4. IBM MicroChannel 5. PCI 6. PCI Express 7. S-100 Maybe we can even have a “Wizard” that will ask you for the number of pins, the spacing between pads, the size of the pad..etc and the Wizard will automatically generate a footprint file!! From:kicad-users@yahoogroups.com [mailto: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com ] On Behalf Of lynchaj Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 3:30 PM To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Subject: [kicad-users] Re: KiCAD Parts Repo [was: S-100 and ECB homebrew computer templates for KiCAD/FreeRouting.net] Hi! That sounds like a good idea but I am not a KiCAD developer or library maintainer. I'm not suggesting to build up a common parts library infrastructure although that would be very helpful if such a thing existed. www.kicadlib. org is helpful but what you are describing is much more involved. I suspect we've all probably reinvented the wheel along the way at least once or twice. Basically I'm just an enthusiastic amateur homebrew computer builder. My home brew computer information is free and might be useful to others with similar interests. I've made several custom parts for S-100 connectors, board outlines, templates, and a lot of tweaks to Z80, 6809, and related vintage/classic computers. However it is kind of a specialty niche and is clearly not going to appeal to the wider KiCAD audience. S-100 stuff isn't exactly common these days... I am fairly sure none of my stuff would stand up to any sort of audit without major corrections. It's just the starting point not a completed works. For example, I've never made a 3D model since I haven't seen a need for one. The S-100 bus connector footprint works just fine and I know what it is on the PCB enough for it to be useful. The same for Propeller DIP, SY6545, and other custom parts libraries. What I have would be a useful starting point for another interested hobbyist but not sufficient for inclusion in any sort of official KiCAD part distribution, IMO. I guess I had more of a template approach in mind. Start with a sample board, rip out the parts you don't want, put in the stuff you do want, make adjustments, make your own board, build, test, pass it along to the next person kind of a deal. I hope this clarifies my intent. If there are other home brew computer enthusiasts using KiCAD please let me know and I might be able to help out with a somewhat better starting point than completely from scratch. Thanks and have a nice day! Andrew Lynch --- In kicad-users@ yahoogroups. com, Andy Eskelson andyyahoo@ .. wrote: This was discussed some time ago as I remember As a matter of interest, who run kicadlib.org s that would seem to be an obvious starting place. I don;t think an automated system will work 100% but it is the obvious route for most operations. You would probably end up with a two stage system. The normal system where things are uploaded by contrib. when can be anyone, then a second set which has been audited as ok and locked to prevent any changes to the list. (obviously what a user does after download is up to them) What you must not allow is parts to be uploaded under any name or description, that causes chaos, so whatever system you use must allocate the critical names and identifiers. I've seen the results of allowing people to do that, and it's not nice - people would fill in equipment records with things like Cisco Hub, cisco switch, cis. switch and so on. This made finding things very hard. That was soon changes
Re: [kicad-users] Any update on undo function for PCBNEW?
To get around the lack of an undo, I always make checkpoints by saving the board just before I am abuot to do something major (read that as: stupid). If I mess up, I just close without saving and reopen the latest checkpoint. It takes some discipline, but works better than any undo. Greg From: jeffs_cc j...@jdschultz.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Mon, January 11, 2010 4:46:29 PM Subject: [kicad-users] Any update on undo function for PCBNEW? I tried Kicad nearly a year ago. I really liked it and found it to be easy to learn and use. The only thing keeping me from using it and recommending it to others was the lack of undo in PCBNEW. To me, laying out a PCB is a creative process and knowing that any step I try is permanent really stifles the creative process. No way I could use a layout program without it. Does anyone know if an undo function is in the works? Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Pcbnew crash while filling a zone
Does ANYTHING actually run right on Vista? I would try Windows 7 or Linux (Ubuntu is my favorite) before spending time on Windows ME (if there is even a version for that). I run KiCad on XP, Windows 7 and Ubuntu, all with great success. Now one day when I figure out all of the dependencies I will build from scratch. (That's an entirely other story...) Greg From: yukku yukkoo yukku19752...@yahoo.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thu, December 31, 2009 8:28:05 AM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Pcbnew crash while filling a zone Well I am actually using Windows Vista.. maybe thats the problem... does Kicad 16 Feb version work on Vista ? If it does not I also have a Windows ME machine .. let me know if I can install on it. Regards yukku From: Andy Eskelson andyya...@g0poy.co.uk To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thu, December 31, 2009 7:27:57 PM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Pcbnew crash while filling a zone Nothing wrong with it or your method at all, it fills perfectly, merging the ground tracks as you would expect. Must be something odd about your install. I use the linux kicad-2009-02- 16-final- CENTOS_4. 4.tgz archive, running it on a SUSE 11.1 install at the moment. If you are running on windows, check your graphic card drivers and ensure that are up to date. Sometimes they can cause all sorts of odd effects and crashes. (I'm not referring to kicad here, but more generally) As a zone fill is very much an operation that the OS may use the graphic card functions to do, it's worth checking. It might even be worth turning off any high-end graphic card funbction to see if that gives you any clues. Andy On Thu, 31 Dec 2009 02:52:33 -0800 (PST) yukku yukkoo yukku19752000@ yahoo.com wrote: Hi Andy and all, I followed the procedure given in the Pcbnew help .pdf file, and I still get a crash while trying to fill the Ground zone on a 2 layer board. I am attaching the .brd file in this mail. It was saved just before attempting the refill. Can you open it and see what I have not done right ? Sorry if this is some more newbie issues. Thanks for the help yukku
Re: [kicad-users] Sharing my projects with other people
There is an option to archive a project. I think it is under the File menu. You can then take that archive file to another computer and restore it there. I don't recall the exact sequences, but it's fairly obvious once you realize the command is archive. Greg From: phantastro ed_benn...@sbcglobal.net To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thu, November 19, 2009 12:14:23 PM Subject: [kicad-users] Sharing my projects with other people How do I make a project portable, so that I can either give it to someone else, or use the project as the basis for starting a new one with a different name? I've looked inside some of the project files and there are bunches of hard-coded directory paths that look like show stoppers. On my own computer, I've tried using an existing project as the basis for a new one by copying the brd sch cache files into the new folder and saving the pro file with a new name. Also I tried starting a new pro and adding the existing files. I wound up with holes in the schematic from lib issues, and the same hard coded paths problem. I'd like to demo KiCad to other people, but I can't give them a sample project to play with. -Ed Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Massive library error
All file formats are fully documented in the C:\Program Files\KiCad\doc\help\file_formats directory on Windows or the equivalent directory on Linux. Greg From: NeonJohn j...@neon-john.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sat, October 24, 2009 11:43:30 PM Subject: [kicad-users] Massive library error I found a massive error in the footprint libraries that are in all.zip. These look like they were converted from Eagle to Kicad. The problem has to do with any thru-hole part pad. The pad attributes should be copper layer, component layer, Silkscreen Cmp, Solder Mask Cmp, Solder Mask Copper. Instead the Solder Mask Cmp attribute is unchecked and the Solder Paste Cmp attribute is checked. The result of this is that there is no solder mask apertures on the solder side of any component from the library. I found this by designing a small sample board and submitting it to 4pcb.com's DRC web page. It flagged my design with three missing solder mask errors. All three were on a TO-247 shape that I pulled out of Transistor-Power footprint library from all.zip. I've checked a half dozen footprint libraries from the collection and every one has the same error for thru-hole devices. Apparently whomever did the conversion got the pad attributes wrong. Just a warning to anyone who might use any converted footprints and a heads-up to whomever converted the libraries. This does NOT affect the core libraries that come with KiCAD Is there a document that explains the file layout of a .mod file? I'd like to toss together a sed or pearl script to fix this but I'm not sure of some of the aspects of the file, specifically the Po field. John -- John DeArmond Tellico Plains, Occupied TN http://www.neon-john.com -- email from here http://www.johndearmond.com -- Best damned Blog on the net PGP key: wwwkeys.pgp.net: BCB68D77 Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] ERC checks
That's all well and good...if the circuit is simple enough to accomodate such a manual process. When, like in my latest design, I had one component (microcontroller) with 100 pins, an Ethernet PHY chip with 64 pins and 4 ASICs with 44 pins each. That was only the 6 core components. There there were 2 bus connectors of 72 pins each and the associated glue logic. I think you get the idea. To complicate matters even more, several of the pins wuold change their functionality and direvtion depending upon configuration software/strapping. To manually inspect every single connection was just not feasible. Oh, add to it that sometimes things APPEAR to be connected when they are not. Greg From: David da...@djsbriscoe.vispa.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wed, October 21, 2009 4:58:39 PM Subject: [kicad-users] ERC checks Hi, I read a lot of posts in this forum about ERC errors produced by EESchema ERC function. Why do people waste so much time trying to find out why EESchema produces these errors instead of relying on basic electrical first principles? When I'm drawing a schematic I set all pins that cause me problems (in EESchema) to passive. Instead I rely on a thorough study of any device data sheets and Kirchoffs laws/electrical principles. I can understand if someone has not had any electronics training/experience but surely the designer of the circuit, i.e you, have a better understanding of how things should be connected. Sorry for the rant. David. Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] How to move pcb object without breaking previous routes
Use the drag command instead of the move command. Even with that, the traces will be distorted to keep their connection to the object and their other end. Greg From: aero386 aero...@yahoo.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 5:41:04 PM Subject: [kicad-users] How to move pcb object without breaking previous routes When I move a PCB object all the connected routes break at the junction between the highlighted routes and the unhighlighted routes. Is this a flaw in the software or am I doing something wrong? Any help is appreciated. thanks Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] ERC problem
I would start by annotating the schematic before running the ERC. That should clear up the Item not annotated error. Greg From: Chris fj1...@gmail.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, September 26, 2009 9:44:20 PM Subject: [kicad-users] ERC problem Hello All, I am trying to do an ERC check on my schematic, but unfortunately when I run it, I get a dialog box open up with the following message Item not annotated: #PWR I have placed PWR flags on all the power and ground nets. I generated an ERC report, but there was nothing to check, searching for markers doesn't tell me anything and no markers are visible on the schematic. What do I look for? Thanks Chris -- IBA #15631
Re: [kicad-users] A rule check issue that is confusing me. I have GND comming from a header
Attach a Power Pin to the ground and it will solve the problem. From: josh_eeg josh...@gmail.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 6:17:55 AM Subject: [kicad-users] A rule check issue that is confusing me. I have GND comming from a header A rule check issue that is confusing me. I have GND comming from a header. Their is the same GND in other places on the circuit. But I get a error like it should be driven. But that sounds like a short... ERC: Warning Pin Power_In not driven. I have GND hooked to a header... Now that same ground simbol is in the rest of my circuit. Please help. Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Re: Kicad library project
There are a number of open-source public-domain XML parsing libraries that are cross platform. I am most familiar with Xerxes. ACE may even have some XML capabilities in addition to its wonderful networking, multithreading and job pooling. Wow, a multithreaded router perhaps? Greg From: Andy Eskelson andyya...@g0poy.co.uk To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2009 5:01:41 PM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Re: Kicad library project Do bear in mind that KiCad is a multi platform system, so things should work on both Linux and Windows. Andy On Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:45:02 +0100 Philip Pemberton ygro...@philpem.me.uk wrote: waynegramlich wrote: I think your idea is a good one. Not locking it down to a particular electronic CAD package is also a pretty good idea. It's more a convenience thing of anything, that and other people might want to use it with e.g. Altium Designer, Mentor or OrCAD. I'd rather like the answer to Can I use it with X? to be Yes for as many values of X as practically possible. Greg's proposal of using XML is pretty good as well. At least with XML, nobody argues about syntax issues anymore. In addition, this means additional information can be added. For example, some parts can be ordered from multiple vendors with different part numbers. With XML, adding a new tag does not break programs that are reading the file. The only (he says) problem with XML is that as a hierarchical format, it's a bit of a pain to parse. That said, parsing is generally handled with (say) Libxml or ElementTree/Etree, and ends up being more or less recursive -- if you see a Component element, you branch off to HandleComponentElement() for a bit, which goes looking for the various tags it needs to build the component. It is a LOT more verbose than what I proposed. I'd rather have a single-line description to create a component, than 20 or 30 lines of text that all has to be parsed. Though all that verbosity would make it easier to understand the source script, and I guess you could always write a Perl, Bash or Python script to write the component script... :) The concept of having a package is good one. Many parts come in a multitude of packages. Well the concept derives from something along these lines: - Microchip, Fairchild, National and TI (for example) all make chips in DIL packages. - The parameters of a given type of DIL package is standardised among these vendors. - Why create four footprint libraries, when you can do what you need to do with one? Admittedly some manufacturers do tweak footprints a little, but for the most part the IC packages are standard. Actually, I seem to recall there being an IPC standard for SMD footprints... It would be nice to specify the part once and select the package separately. Pin bindings sometimes vary between parts. This is how EAGLE works (more or less) -- you pick a Part in the library browser, expand it, and then you can see what footprints are available (f.ex. the Microchip PIC18F452 is available in a -I/P (DIL) and a -I/SO (SOIC) package). You accept the selection, then it's added to the PCB. The catch is that the schematic symbols and PCB footprints are part of the same library, and you can't link a schematic symbol and pinout set to a footprint in another library (or at least you couldn't the last time I tried). The Part provides the link between a symbol and IIRC, In KiCAD symbols and modules are a separate concept, and there is no linking object (the pin numbers come from the Symbol). When you create, say, a PIC18F452-I/P symbol, you tell KiCAD that MCLR is on pin 1, and so forth. So if you wanted to change the pin numbers to create a PIC18F452-I/SO object, you need to copy the existing symbol. Later on, if a change has to be made to the symbol as a whole, you have to change both of them -- in EAGLE you'd edit the Symbol and both Parts auto-update. I think I've explained that quite confusingly, but it's not an easy concept to explain anyway... even with a whiteboard to hand... :) More control over drill selection is a good idea. Some vendors use metric, others use imperial. Some have a set of free drills and charge extra for other sizes. Just being able to specify the minimum and maximum hole size for for each component lead would be a huge advance. Well the goal is that if your manufacturer won't take the standard libraries, you regenerate them to meet your specific needs. As an example of something that can be done after the basic infrastructure is in place, I've always wanted to do a screen scraper for part pricing when I'm ordering parts. I typically order from DigiKey, Jameco and Mouser, being able to figure out which vendor has the lowest price, can save some serious money. (Note, this would be a separate program
Re: [kicad-users] Re: Kicad library project
I've read something saying they were putting forward a semi-competing XML extension standard of some kind, but that is the extent of my familiarity with the topic. I used XML for the first time when I staerted doing serious Linux development a few years ago (from MS and previously VMS). At first, I was against it due to its verbosity and textual-basis. I've come to appreciate it for those various reasons. I'm not wed to the idea or even an evangelical on the topic. I just threw it out there as an idea worthy of discussion. Greg From: KeepIt SimpleStupid keepitsimplestu...@yahoo.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, September 14, 2009 8:37:54 AM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Re: Kicad library project Is XML a viable avenue to pursue because of all the trouble Microsoft is getting in for using XML as a basis for Word? Example: http://www.pcworld.com/article/170148/microsoft_word_lawsuit_xml_explained.html Terms: Microsoft, XML, Lawsuit --- On Mon, 9/14/09, Greg Dyess gregory.dy...@yahoo.com wrote: From: Greg Dyess gregory.dy...@yahoo.com Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Re: Kicad library project To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Date: Monday, September 14, 2009, 8:37 AM There are a number of open-source public-domain XML parsing libraries that are cross platform. I am most familiar with Xerxes. ACE may even have some XML capabilities in addition to its wonderful networking, multithreading and job pooling. Wow, a multithreaded router perhaps? Greg From: Andy Eskelson andyya...@g0poy. co.uk To: kicad-users@ yahoogroups. com Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2009 5:01:41 PM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Re: Kicad library project Do bear in mind that KiCad is a multi platform system, so things should work on both Linux and Windows. Andy On Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:45:02 +0100 Philip Pemberton ygro...@philpem. me.uk wrote: waynegramlich wrote: I think your idea is a good one. Not locking it down to a particular electronic CAD package is also a pretty good idea. It's more a convenience thing of anything, that and other people might want to use it with e.g. Altium Designer, Mentor or OrCAD. I'd rather like the answer to Can I use it with X? to be Yes for as many values of X as practically possible. Greg's proposal of using XML is pretty good as well. At least with XML, nobody argues about syntax issues anymore. In addition, this means additional information can be added. For example, some parts can be ordered from multiple vendors with different part numbers. With XML, adding a new tag does not break programs that are reading the file. The only (he says) problem with XML is that as a hierarchical format, it's a bit of a pain to parse. That said, parsing is generally handled with (say) Libxml or ElementTree/ Etree, and ends up being more or less recursive -- if you see a Component element, you branch off to HandleComponentElem ent() for a bit, which goes looking for the various tags it needs to build the component. It is a LOT more verbose than what I proposed. I'd rather have a single-line description to create a component, than 20 or 30 lines of text that all has to be parsed. Though all that verbosity would make it easier to understand the source script, and I guess you could always write a Perl, Bash or Python script to write the component script... :) The concept of having a package is good one. Many parts come in a multitude of packages. Well the concept derives from something along these lines: - Microchip, Fairchild, National and TI (for example) all make chips in DIL packages. - The parameters of a given type of DIL package is standardised among these vendors. - Why create four footprint libraries, when you can do what you need to do with one? Admittedly some manufacturers do tweak footprints a little, but for the most part the IC packages are standard. Actually, I seem to recall there being an IPC standard for SMD footprints.. . It would be nice to specify the part once and select the package separately. Pin bindings sometimes vary between parts. This is how EAGLE works (more or less) -- you pick a Part in the library browser, expand it, and then you can see what footprints are available (f.ex. the Microchip PIC18F452 is available in a -I/P (DIL) and a -I/SO (SOIC) package). You accept the selection, then it's added to the PCB. The catch is that the schematic symbols and PCB footprints are part of the same library, and you can't link a schematic symbol and pinout set to a footprint in another library (or at least you couldn't the last time I tried). The Part provides the link between a symbol and IIRC, In KiCAD symbols and modules are a separate concept, and there is no linking object (the pin numbers come from the Symbol). When you create, say, a PIC18F452-I/ P symbol, you tell
Re: AW: Re: Sv: [kicad-users] beginner question: power for 7400 gates?
Usually I just append the voltage to the end of the name: VSS33 for 3.3 V, VSS18 for 1.8V, VCC5 for 5 volt, GNDA for Analog ground, etc. Just make sure your power pins are labelled as such, this mechanism works very well. Greg From: Bernd Wiebus bernd.wie...@gmx.de To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, September 14, 2009 11:40:15 AM Subject: AW: Re: Sv: [kicad-users] beginner question: power for 7400 gates? Hello Anders. tom_iphi i...@arcor.de 2009-09-08 09:41 And, what do I do if I have e.g. several different VCC levels (e.g. for CMOS) with some chips working on 5V and others on 12V? If all supply pins are auto-connected to the net VCC, this will be a problem.??? cmos are usually labelled Vss and Vdd Of course, but i often use several different and clearly isolated Vss and Vdd. At moment my workaround ist to set the pins to passive and do not use any erc testing and automatic hiding and connecting of pins or pads. With best regards: Bernd Wiebus - Anders Gustafsson Engineer, CNE6, ASE Pedago, The Aaland Islands (N60 E20) www.pedago.fi phone +358 18 12060 mobile +358 40506 7099 fax +358 18 14060 tom_iphi i...@arcor.de 2009-09-08 09:41 And, what do I do if I have e.g. several different VCC levels (e.g. for CMOS) with some chips working on 5V and others on 12V? If all supply pins are auto-connected to the net VCC, this will be a problem.??? Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
[kicad-users] Changing trace's net
OK, this may at first sound a little strange. I need to change the net associated with a trace after the trace is drawn. Why would I need to do this you ask? Good question there from the back row. If a trace is created but not connected to anything initially, it can never be connected to something later because it is assigned to net 0. The same thing can happen to a via used to connect a pad to an inner zone (say a VCC layer). I had this happen to me recently when I had to move a footprint that disconnected several traces. When I tried to reconnect the new pad positions to the original traces and/or vias, the DRC checking would not let me do it because the original trace was now in net 0 instead of retaining the original net name. Has anyone else run across this? Any work-arounds other than digging through the .BRD file and hand-correcting it? Thoughts? Suggestions? My thought would be to allow the user to right-click a track and set the net it was associated with. Has this been considered? Am I the only person to make such mistakes? Thanks, Greg
Re: [kicad-users] Changing trace's net
That's eventually what I had to do. DRC then complained profusely about the vias under the pads. I think that is because when I moved the chip back to the original position, I did not get it exact and the vias were no longer directly under the pads. Greg From: Juan Franco jumafr...@yahoo.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, September 4, 2009 2:55:37 PM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Changing trace's net Hello Greg You could try disabling DRC in PCBNEW so that it will let you connect the tracks to the correct net, and then re-enabling DRC to check. I think the tracks will be assigned to the correcponding nets. Regards Juan. --- On Fri, 9/4/09, Greg Dyess gregory.dy...@yahoo.com wrote: From: Greg Dyess gregory.dy...@yahoo.com Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Changing trace's net To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Date: Friday, September 4, 2009, 8:51 AM I seem to especially skillful at finding/creating odd situations. From: Andy Eskelson andyya...@g0poy. co.uk To: kicad-users@ yahoogroups. com Sent: Friday, September 4, 2009 10:30:39 AM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Changing trace's net That's a bit odd, because when I create a small amount of tracking that needs to be duplicated, it can end up with odd nets on the tracks. When I copy the tracks and attach them to the part of the board than needs them they pick up the correct nets. Andy On Fri, 4 Sep 2009 06:09:44 -0700 (PDT) Greg Dyess gregory.dyess@ yahoo.com wrote: OK, this may at first sound a little strange. I need to change the net associated with a trace after the trace is drawn. Why would I need to do this you ask? Good question there from the back row. If a trace is created but not connected to anything initially, it can never be connected to something later because it is assigned to net 0. The same thing can happen to a via used to connect a pad to an inner zone (say a VCC layer). I had this happen to me recently when I had to move a footprint that disconnected several traces. When I tried to reconnect the new pad positions to the original traces and/or vias, the DRC checking would not let me do it because the original trace was now in net 0 instead of retaining the original net name. Has anyone else run across this? Any work-arounds other than digging through the .BRD file and hand-correcting it? Thoughts? Suggestions? My thought would be to allow the user to right-click a track and set the net it was associated with. Has this been considered? Am I the only person to make such mistakes? Thanks, Greg - - -- Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib .org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/kicad- develYahoo! Groups Links mailto:kicad-users- fullfeatured@ yahoogroups. com
Re: [kicad-users] Rubber Band Mode
It's called DRAG in KiCAD. Just select and right click on the component and select drag. It does a move of the component with all nets, but doesn't keep orthogonality. It just relocats the end og the segment attached to the component. It can sometimes take a lot of time to fix up the segments of the nets. Greg From: Lance Earl dallyp...@yahoo.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, August 28, 2009 8:33:29 AM Subject: [kicad-users] Rubber Band Mode I recently switched from GEDA and am trying to get my first board out. Is there a way to move a component in the schematic program and have the attached traces move with it? Lance
Re: Sv: Re: [kicad-users] Re:Grounding strategies, zones, star ground etc
Just a thought here, as I am far from an expert in such areas. Could the high-current sections be physically separated into a completely different PCB and enclosure and then opto-isolated from the more sensitive electronics? I don't recall if the original posting said that the motors were controlled in an analog or digital fashion. Greg From: Anders Gustafsson anders.gustafs...@pedago.fi To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 9:24:15 AM Subject: Sv: Re: [kicad-users] Re:Grounding strategies, zones, star ground etc It's worth saying that if one has a problem as described in the OP, a four layer board would be highly preferable. Absolutely, but I only intend to make three such boards :) The aim is to control a rather ancient Beaver CNC mill that now belongs to a friend of mine. We scrapped the original controller for several reasons, ie it was a punched-tape unit and it had been used as a dwelling by a rather large colony of rats I will make the finished design available on the web, for others to use though as there seems to be a large number of these mills floating around and they are built to last a lifetime or two. The motors are rated at 7Nm, but I found that they pulled well over 9Nm reliably even when driven at just 15A (they are rated at 20A) If you split the ground plane up with a view to helping you achieve this, then you should benefit, but if you just do it blindly thinkin The ground planes on both sides are now split, with a moat that separates the low-signal part from the noisy bits and they are joined at one point, the star ground. - Anders Gustafsson Engineer, CNE6, ASE Pedago, The Aaland Islands (N60 E20) www.pedago.fi phone +358 18 12060 mobile +358 40506 7099 fax +358 18 14060 Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Placing wires
Under Preferences - Options... Wires-Bus orient you can select Horiz/Vert vs Any. It would be nice if there were the in between option of 0, 45, 90 degrees, but that I don't see anywhere. Greg From: Chris fj1...@gmail.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, August 22, 2009 11:27:14 AM Subject: [kicad-users] Placing wires Hello All, Is there a setting anywhere in EEschema to enable wires to be placed at an angle, instead of vertical or horizontal? There are some circumstances, where this would be desirable, such as in a flip-flop made from two gates. Thanks Chris -- IBA #15631
Re: [kicad-users] How to autoroute a multilayer board?
As I've been told, the general consensus is that you should not use the built-in autorouter. I too have just done my first board (4 layers, 8x11), with a lot of help and hand-holding from the wonderful contributors to this list. I basicaly had to just hand-route the entire board. It wasn't that hard once I just convinced myself to just do it. There is the external autorouter that seems to work pretty well. You have to make sure your PCB edges are defined VERY carefully and each segment is drawn in order. Just because it LOOKS right does not mean it will work right. I just created a spreadsheet with the coordinates of all of the vertices on my board and then used that to hand-edit the board edges in the .BRD file. I did notice a few quirks along the way. I tried putting vias under the surface mount pads to save room. This seemed to work well for components on the compoent side, but any time the component was on the coppor side, the via would not connect to the pad. Dunno why this was the case, but I stopped trying to put vias under pads on the copper side and everything went fine. I noticed some problems when I dragged components and traces. If the moved segment overlaps an existing part of the segment, it doesn't always detect that it is still the same segment/net and is actually connected. I had to go and delete several traces and redo them as a contiguous segment before it could pass the DRC checks. Maybe this could be an enhancement request to have an automated cleanup function that could analyze the segments and merge segments together to clean up these kinds of things? Also, make SURE you have the final version from Feb 2009 and not some earlier version. It seems all the earlier ones did not detect connections to zones on inner layers very well. That caused me no end of grief. I know this is not exactly the answer to the question you were looking for, but I hope it helps nudge you in the right direction. Greg From: sieg1974 sieg1...@yahoo.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 12:09:46 AM Subject: [kicad-users] How to autoroute a multilayer board? Hi all, I just started using kicad, and I can't figure out how to use its autoroute tool to route a 4-layer board. When preference-general-layers is 1, it uses the copper layer to route. But when preference-general-layers is 2...16, it just uses the Copper and Component layers to route, and none of the inner layers. Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong, or were I can find more information about it? Thanks in advance, Andre Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Strange problem with Zones and DRC
Thanks for the offer to test the problem. I'll email you the board directly. It's not sensitive, but there are a few things in the electronics that took some doing to make work, so I'd rather not have global distribution. I managed to get the DRC checks passed by creating the manual connections to the pads on the same layer with the zones. It was a royal PITA, but it worked. I know I may have to move those pseudo traces if I need to place vias where the pseudo tracks are, but that is a small price to pay to get this thing out the door quickly. Thanks for everyone's help! This is much better than any paid customer support I've ever had and here I get to talk to the developers directly! Greg From: Brian Sidebotham brian.sidebot...@gmail.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 4:27:32 AM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Strange problem with Zones and DRC 2009/8/12 Greg Dyess gregory.dy...@yahoo.com: I had no luck with the Linux executables so I tried on my Windows machine. The problem with the DRC checks on the zones was not fixed in the latest version (r1914). I did manage to get everything explicitly connected my placing traces in the middle of the zones as was suggested. Perhaps when the DRC checking gets fixed I can go back and take those superfluous traces back out. Hi, Sorry to hear you had no luck with the snapshots. I cannot recreate this issue though, I went back to my old board and checked it and everything seems fine. If it is not a sensitive board, email me all of it's files and I'll see if I can re-create the problem or see what the problem is for you. I did run into another strange issue. I had some tracks with overlapping segments and the DRC did not realize they were connected! I had to spend a couple of hours deleting and recreating those tracks. Is there possibly a cleanup function or program that I can run to detect such conditions and merge overlaying segments into a single segment? It would have saved me a LOT of time. You might try from the main menu Miscellaneous-Track Operations and see if that helps you out for the future. Best Regards, Brian. Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Strange problem with Zones and DRC
Hmmm...Uh... well...uhembarrassed No, I didn't. I'm still a Linux neophyte. I'll give that a try and see. Greg From: Andy Eskelson andyya...@g0poy.co.uk To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 8:28:05 AM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Strange problem with Zones and DRC Did you remember to do the chmod on /usr/local/kicad/bin It's detailed about line 37 in the install txt (2009-02-16-final here) Andy On Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:37:46 -0700 (PDT) Greg Dyess gregory.dy...@yahoo.com wrote: OK, I think I am a leading candidate for the Head Up Butt award. I downloaded the latest couple of Linux snapshots, extracted the executables and overwrote the ones I was using. Now nothing will run at all! The listing said they were Linux executables, but some of the instructions kept referring to Windows executables. I'm hoping the instructions were just copied from the wrong place. Any suggestions? Thanks, Greg From: Brian Sidebotham brian.sidebot...@gmail.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 12:49:15 PM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Strange problem with Zones and DRC 3. Wait for the DRC checks to get fixed so that they detect a connection to zones. This is the preferable option, but I understand it may not be a priority for those who are so graciously donating their time to make KiCAD the tremendously terrific tool it already is. Is there a way to find out if someone is already looking into this issue? Hmmm, maybe option 4 is that I offer my time to fix it? OK, guess I will try to figure out how to build everything and start looking into it. Thoughts, suggestions, comments?? Thanks, Greg This issue was dealt with, but I can't remember when it was dealt with. You can try an SVN snapshot version to see if a more up-to-date one simply eliminates your problems. You can get an SVN snapshot from http://kicad.1301.cz/ Best Regards, Brian. Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Strange problem with Zones and DRC
This is a 4 layer board. I am using version 20090216-final on Ubuntu 9.04 (64-bit) on a quad-core Intel machine. --- On Tue, 8/11/09, Brian Sidebotham brian.sidebot...@gmail.com wrote: From: Brian Sidebotham brian.sidebot...@gmail.com Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Strange problem with Zones and DRC To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 9:01 AM 2009/8/11 Greg Dyess gregory.dy...@yahoo.com: Yeah, that was my posting a month or so back. I tried (or thought I tried) everything that was suggested, but nothing has worked. I have not tried hand-routing all of the VSS-layer vias together and all the VDD-layer vias together. That seems to be a very error-prone proposition. Maybe I just don't understand the intent behind zones? Maybe DRC is just broken when it comes to zones? I hope the problem lies with me and not DRC as I need to get this board finished ASAP. thanks, Greg What version of KiCAD are you using then? I haven't seen you post what version. I have made a board with PCBNEW where I simply connected each GND pad to a via and then let the zone connect them together. This worked fine and DRC didn't give me any unconnected errors. I didn't bother routing tracks, it was only a two layer board though. Best Regards, Brian. Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Strange problem with Zones and DRC
OK, I tried deleting the zones, placing and routing the components and then creating the VDD and VSS zones on the L1 and L2 layers. I did a Fill/Refill Zones. Then I ran the DRC checks. I still get the Unconnected Pads errors even though a visual check of the photoplots shows very clearly the connections are there. I guess I am left with only 3 options at this point: 1. Connect all of the VDD pins together with explicit traces on the L1 layer. This is bad in that it clutters up the board with lots of traces that should be invisible, like the invisible pins in the schematic. 2. Manually check each DRC error to determine if it is a bogus error due to not detecting the connection via the zone or if it is a legitimate missing connection error. This has a lot of issues of missing legitimate problems and having to repeat this lengthy process on every change to the board. 3. Wait for the DRC checks to get fixed so that they detect a connection to zones. This is the preferable option, but I understand it may not be a priority for those who are so graciously donating their time to make KiCAD the tremendously terrific tool it already is. Is there a way to find out if someone is already looking into this issue? Hmmm, maybe option 4 is that I offer my time to fix it? OK, guess I will try to figure out how to build everything and start looking into it. Thoughts, suggestions, comments?? Thanks, Greg --- On Tue, 8/11/09, Brian Sidebotham brian.sidebot...@gmail.com wrote: From: Brian Sidebotham brian.sidebot...@gmail.com Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Strange problem with Zones and DRC To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 9:01 AM 2009/8/11 Greg Dyess gregory.dy...@yahoo.com: Yeah, that was my posting a month or so back. I tried (or thought I tried) everything that was suggested, but nothing has worked. I have not tried hand-routing all of the VSS-layer vias together and all the VDD-layer vias together. That seems to be a very error-prone proposition. Maybe I just don't understand the intent behind zones? Maybe DRC is just broken when it comes to zones? I hope the problem lies with me and not DRC as I need to get this board finished ASAP. thanks, Greg What version of KiCAD are you using then? I haven't seen you post what version. I have made a board with PCBNEW where I simply connected each GND pad to a via and then let the zone connect them together. This worked fine and DRC didn't give me any unconnected errors. I didn't bother routing tracks, it was only a two layer board though. Best Regards, Brian. Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Strange problem with Zones and DRC
OK, I think I am a leading candidate for the Head Up Butt award. I downloaded the latest couple of Linux snapshots, extracted the executables and overwrote the ones I was using. Now nothing will run at all! The listing said they were Linux executables, but some of the instructions kept referring to Windows executables. I'm hoping the instructions were just copied from the wrong place. Any suggestions? Thanks, Greg From: Brian Sidebotham brian.sidebot...@gmail.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 12:49:15 PM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Strange problem with Zones and DRC 3. Wait for the DRC checks to get fixed so that they detect a connection to zones. This is the preferable option, but I understand it may not be a priority for those who are so graciously donating their time to make KiCAD the tremendously terrific tool it already is. Is there a way to find out if someone is already looking into this issue? Hmmm, maybe option 4 is that I offer my time to fix it? OK, guess I will try to figure out how to build everything and start looking into it. Thoughts, suggestions, comments?? Thanks, Greg This issue was dealt with, but I can't remember when it was dealt with. You can try an SVN snapshot version to see if a more up-to-date one simply eliminates your problems. You can get an SVN snapshot from http://kicad.1301.cz/ Best Regards, Brian. Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Strange problem with Zones and DRC
I had no luck with the Linux executables so I tried on my Windows machine. The problem with the DRC checks on the zones was not fixed in the latest version (r1914). I did manage to get everything explicitly connected my placing traces in the middle of the zones as was suggested. Perhaps when the DRC checking gets fixed I can go back and take those superfluous traces back out. I did run into another strange issue. I had some tracks with overlapping segments and the DRC did not realize they were connected! I had to spend a couple of hours deleting and recreating those tracks. Is there possibly a cleanup function or program that I can run to detect such conditions and merge overlaying segments into a single segment? It would have saved me a LOT of time. Thanks again to the entire KiCAD community for such a wonderful product and support! Next time I will pick a much simpler board for my first attempt! Greg From: Brian Sidebotham brian.sidebot...@gmail.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 12:49:15 PM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Strange problem with Zones and DRC 3. Wait for the DRC checks to get fixed so that they detect a connection to zones. This is the preferable option, but I understand it may not be a priority for those who are so graciously donating their time to make KiCAD the tremendously terrific tool it already is. Is there a way to find out if someone is already looking into this issue? Hmmm, maybe option 4 is that I offer my time to fix it? OK, guess I will try to figure out how to build everything and start looking into it. Thoughts, suggestions, comments?? Thanks, Greg This issue was dealt with, but I can't remember when it was dealt with. You can try an SVN snapshot version to see if a more up-to-date one simply eliminates your problems. You can get an SVN snapshot from http://kicad.1301.cz/ Best Regards, Brian. Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
[kicad-users] Strange issue with Zones and DRC [1 Attachment]
I am seeing this very strange issue when using zones (at least it seems strange to me).I have a 4-layer board with almost all surface mount. L1 is almost entirely dedicated as my VDD layer by creating a zone connected to my VDD net on that layer. L2 is the same thing with my VSS (Ground) layer. When I want to connect a pad or trace to VDD or VSS, I simply place a via in the trace. According to the 3D view of the board, the hole plating is connected to the VDD or VSS layer as I would expect.
[kicad-users] Strange problem with Zones and DRC [1 Attachment]
OOOPS, this only partially went out earlier, so please accept my appologies for the resend. This problem is becoming a major stumbling block and is holding up a project I need to get moving. I am seeing this very strange issue when using zones (at least it seems strange to me).I have a 4-layer board with almost all surface mount. L1 is almost entirely dedicated as my VDD layer by creating a zone connected to my VDD net on that layer. L2 is the same thing with my VSS (Ground) layer. When I want to connect a pad or trace to VDD or VSS, I simply place a via in the trace. According to the 3D view of the board, the hole plating is connected to the VDD or VSS layer as I would expect. The photoplots (Gerber) files seem to indicate the connections are there as well. I can export the file and run the online router and it sees the connections. The problem is when I run the DRC, it complains that the pads are not connected and throws several errors. With almost 500 connections to VSS or VDD, hand-routing all of them to the inner layers would be extremely cumbersome and error-prone. Just ignoring all of the errors isn't a good option either as I could easily miss legitimate problems. I have tried doing a refill on all zones (which DRC is supposed to do automatically) and no differences. I have tried starting a trace from the component pad, switching to the L1 or L2 layer and continuing the trace. Nothing seems to work. It's as if DRC doesn't recognize connections to inner layers on anything other than feed-through pads. Does anyone have any ideas as to what I could be doing wrong? Is this a bug in the DRC? (I admit I don't know where or how to check for bugs, so pointers to this information would be greatly appreciated as well.) Any help would be greatly appreciated as this is now the critical point in getting this board completed so I can start working on the firmware. I have attached a simple schematic and board to demonstrate the problem. BTW, I am running what I think is the latest version from February of this year on an Ubuntu 9.04 platform. I will try the project later on my Windows XP system to see if it is any different. Thanks in advance, Greg
Re: [kicad-users] Strange problem with Zones and DRC
Yeah, that was my posting a month or so back. I tried (or thought I tried) everything that was suggested, but nothing has worked. I have not tried hand-routing all of the VSS-layer vias together and all the VDD-layer vias together. That seems to be a very error-prone proposition. Maybe I just don't understand the intent behind zones? Maybe DRC is just broken when it comes to zones? I hope the problem lies with me and not DRC as I need to get this board finished ASAP. thanks, Greg From: Andy Eskelson andyya...@g0poy.co.uk To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 7:11:16 PM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Strange problem with Zones and DRC I think I recall seeing a post on this matter before... If my memory is working correctly: (I've never done this myself) I think the trick is to connect the vias together with tracks, (obviously on your VDD of VSS layer) Then create your zone, that should then merge the lot together and well as giving the DRC something to work on. Looking back through the archive I've found the thread... Apparently with the latest version of the software things should connect up without the need for tracks, the thread started at [kicad-users] PLEASE helpAnyone out there??? from gregory.dyess on 15 jun 2009 Might be worth a read. Andy On Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:19:45 -0700 (PDT) Greg Dyess gregory.dy...@yahoo.com wrote: OOOPS, this only partially went out earlier, so please accept my appologies for the resend. This problem is becoming a major stumbling block and is holding up a project I need to get moving. I am seeing this very strange issue when using zones (at least it seems strange to me).I have a 4-layer board with almost all surface mount. L1 is almost entirely dedicated as my VDD layer by creating a zone connected to my VDD net on that layer. L2 is the same thing with my VSS (Ground) layer. When I want to connect a pad or trace to VDD or VSS, I simply place a via in the trace. According to the 3D view of the board, the hole plating is connected to the VDD or VSS layer as I would expect. The photoplots (Gerber) files seem to indicate the connections are there as well. I can export the file and run the online router and it sees the connections. The problem is when I run the DRC, it complains that the pads are not connected and throws several errors. With almost 500 connections to VSS or VDD, hand-routing all of them to the inner layers would be extremely cumbersome and error-prone. Just ignoring all of the errors isn't a good option either as I could easily miss legitimate problems. I have tried doing a refill on all zones (which DRC is supposed to do automatically) and no differences. I have tried starting a trace from the component pad, switching to the L1 or L2 layer and continuing the trace. Nothing seems to work. It's as if DRC doesn't recognize connections to inner layers on anything other than feed-through pads. Does anyone have any ideas as to what I could be doing wrong? Is this a bug in the DRC? (I admit I don't know where or how to check for bugs, so pointers to this information would be greatly appreciated as well.) Any help would be greatly appreciated as this is now the critical point in getting this board completed so I can start working on the firmware. I have attached a simple schematic and board to demonstrate the problem. BTW, I am running what I think is the latest version from February of this year on an Ubuntu 9.04 platform. I will try the project later on my Windows XP system to see if it is any different. Thanks in advance, Greg Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] My library prefs won't stick
Did you also save the project? That is where the library lists seem to be maintained. From: einazaki668 einazaki...@yahoo.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 3:39:56 PM Subject: [kicad-users] My library prefs won't stick I'm doing a project with eeschema that uses a custom library but eeschema keeps forgetting about that library. I'm hoping someone can clue me in to what the problem is and how to fix it. Some background: In the project folder, I have one project file and three schematics. Each schematic is included in the project. Each schematic uses a custom library, it's the same custom library for all three schematics. For each schematic I include my custom library via Preferences-Library. The schematics are independent of each other (not part of a hierarchy). Kicad version is 20090216-final. The problem: When I close a schematic and then reopen it, the custom symbols are gone. I have to go back to Preferences-Library to reselect the library, then everything's fine until I close the schematic again. For some weird reason, this problem seems to affect only one of the three schematics the other two don't seem to have this problem. I've tried various permutations of saving things (save .sch, save .pro, save cfg, etc.) Does anyone have any ideas as to what's going on? Does Kicad have a problem with multiple, independent schematics in one project? Right now, I have a separate project file for the problem schematic but this is an ugly fix. Regards, eric Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Feature request: Hard metric
Remember the huge debacle a few years back when the Mars lander crashed and was destroyed because one software group used Metric and another software group used traditional units? The number was passed from one subsystem to another and, well, uhOOOPS.Hundreds of millions of US were lost. Oh well. Greg From: Robert birmingham_spi...@gmx.net To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, July 9, 2009 3:50:08 AM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Feature request: Hard metric Beg pardon :). I was basing this on my own personal experience and what an American engineer told me just recently. I should add that I've yet to meet a US engineer that didn't find the continued use of traditional units in their industry annoying or embarrassing, and NASA of course use metric. So scratch US from my list. Regards, Robert. al davis wrote: On Thursday 09 July 2009, Robert wrote: America is the last country in the world where engineers prefer to use them. American engineers don't prefer traditional units. It's the non-engineers. Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo..com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.387 / Virus Database: 270.13.8/2226 - Release Date: 07/08/09 21:51:00 Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question.. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] My pots get wrong footprint in CVpcb
Step 1: Print out the PDF file that has all of the footprints placed on one board with the name beside it. Step 2: Refer to document printed in step 1 every time. Step 3: Find part you are looking for on those sheets and there will be the name in the mod libraries. I found that PDF file extremely useful when starting my first board layout. That printout is quite worn and written all over now, but it is every bit as useful today as it ever was! I hope that helps as I don't know the exact module to use to solve your issue. Greg From: acidb...@ymail.com sunblast...@gmail.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, July 1, 2009 9:44:24 PM Subject: [kicad-users] My pots get wrong footprint in CVpcb My pots get loaded as sm1206 footprint which aren't pots at all. So what should i be looking for on the mod file for potentiometers ? Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Export to Spectra DSN functionality
I found that it just works. It appears to export all the necessary footprints (including custom ones I developed) so nothing else was required. I noticed it appears to be single-threaded as only once CPU core of my quad-core processor was actually being utilized. Are any of the autorouters multi-threaded to take advantage of the modern multi-core CPUs?? While we're on the topic of external, auto-routers, has anyone seen this one: http://www.wand.net.nz/~amb33/toporouter/ It appears to use some new(??) methodology called Rubberband based topological routing instead of the traditional geometric sequential maze routing. Something I noticed was that it created flowing traces as opposed to traces with hard corners. It appears to have been developed to work primarily with PCB. Has anyone used this or knows how well it actually works? Thanks, Greg From: mmabshaffer bob.shaf...@micromod.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 10:05:57 AM Subject: [kicad-users] Export to Spectra DSN functionality Today I am trying to understand the Spectra DSN Export function. 1. Is there a place I should look to read about this? I didn't find much in the Help and FAQ. 2. Why is it in PCBNew instead of EESchema? 3. Are the KiCad footprints exported or must the target router have matching footprints. Thanks, Bob Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Bad Bus Label error message when making netlist
My initial guesses would be: 1. You used a local label instead of a global label or net name. 2. Somehow numbers were not the last characters in the individual nets or the bus was not the prefix of the net names. 3. Buses in KiCAD are not like computer busses. Only nets with the same prefix followed by numbers are allowed in the bus. A0, A1, A2 in bus A[0..2] is a valid bus but WR, RD, CLK in bus Control is not valid. (I did all of the above starting out) It's difficult to analyze without seeing what you have done. If you email me directly with the archived project files I can load it up and see. Greg From: mmabshaffer bob.shaf...@micromod.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 5:02:04 PM Subject: [kicad-users] Bad Bus Label error message when making netlist I just tried using KiCad for capturing a schematic and all went well until I tried to generate the netlist. I get a Bad Bus Label error popup message for each bus. The design is a hierarchical design with busses going between sheets. Can anyone give me a hint as to what I am doing wrong? Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Bad Bus Label error message when making netlist
Try changing the label to A_BUS[0..15] instead of A_BUS[0,15] (Note the .. instead of ,). In addition, I will load up your schematic and try to see what I can see. Greg From: Bob Shaffer bob.shaf...@micromod.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 9:13:47 AM Subject: RE: [kicad-users] Bad Bus Label error message when making netlist [1 Attachment] [Attachment(s) from Bob Shaffer included below] Greg, I appreciate you taking the time to help me! The attached files represent a simple test design that illustrate my problem. When I try to connect the two sheets together by drawing a Bus between A_BUS[0,15] on Sheet A to A_BUS[0,15] on Sheet B I get a popup error message “Bad Bus Label”. If I ignore the message and attempt to generate a netlist, I get the same error message. Bob From:kicad-users@yahoogroups.com [mailto:kicad-us...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Greg Dyess Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 9:23 AM To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [kicad-users] Bad Bus Label error message when making netlist My initial guesses would be: 1. You used a local label instead of a global label or net name. 2. Somehow numbers were not the last characters in the individual nets or the bus was not the prefix of the net names. 3. Buses in KiCAD are not like computer busses. Only nets with the same prefix followed by numbers are allowed in the bus. A0, A1, A2 in bus A[0..2] is a valid bus but WR, RD, CLK in bus Control is not valid. (I did all of the above starting out) It's difficult to analyze without seeing what you have done. If you email me directly with the archived project files I can load it up and see. Greg From:mmabshaffer bob.shaf...@micromod.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 5:02:04 PM Subject: [kicad-users] Bad Bus Label error message when making netlist I just tried using KiCad for capturing a schematic and all went well until I tried to generate the netlist. I get a Bad Bus Label error popup message for each bus. The design is a hierarchical design with busses going between sheets. Can anyone give me a hint as to what I am doing wrong? Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links Attachment(s) from Bob Shaffer 1 of 1 File(s) TestBoard.zip
Re: [kicad-users] Bad Bus Label error message when making netlist
Been there, done that myselftoo many times. Glad I could help someone for once! Greg From: Bob Shaffer bob.shaf...@micromod.comTo: kicad-users@yahoogroups.comSent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 11:41:29 AMSubject: RE: [kicad-users] Bad Bus Label error message when making netlist Greg, Well…. I’m so embarrassed! That was it. Thanks again for your help. Bob From: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com [mailto:kicad-us...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Greg DyessSent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 12:23 PMTo: kicad-us...@yahoogroups..comSubject: Re: [kicad-users] Bad Bus Label error message when making netlist Try changing the label to A_BUS[0..15] instead of A_BUS[0,15] (Note the "..." instead of ","). In addition, I will load up your schematic and try to see what I can see. Greg From: Bob Shaffer bob.shaf...@micromod.comTo: kicad-users@yahoogroups.comSent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 9:13:47 AMSubject: RE: [kicad-users] Bad Bus Label error message when making netlist [1 Attachment][Attachment(s) from Bob Shaffer included below] Greg, I appreciate you taking the time to help me! The attached files represent a simple test design that illustrate my problem. When I try to connect the two sheets together by drawing a Bus between A_BUS[0,15] on Sheet A to A_BUS[0,15] on Sheet B I get a popup error message “Bad Bus Label”. If I ignore the message and attempt to generate a netlist, I get the same error message. Bob From: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com [mailto:kicad-us...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Greg DyessSent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 9:23 AMTo: kicad-users@yahoogroups.comSubject: Re: [kicad-users] Bad Bus Label error message when making netlist My initial guesses would be: 1. You used a local label instead of a global label or net name. 2. Somehow numbers were not the last characters in the individual nets or the bus was not the prefix of the net names. 3. Buses in KiCAD are not like computer busses. Only nets with the same prefix followed by numbers are allowed in the bus. A0, A1, A2 in bus A[0..2] is a valid bus but WR, RD, CLK in bus Control is not valid. (I did all of the above starting out) It's difficult to analyze without seeing what you have done. If you email me directly with the archived project files I can load it up and see. Greg From: mmabshaffer bob.shaf...@micromod.comTo: kicad-users@yahoogroups.comSent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 5:02:04 PMSubject: [kicad-users] Bad Bus Label error message when making netlistI just tried using KiCad for capturing a schematic and all went well until I tried to generate the netlist. I get a "Bad Bus Label" error popup message for each bus. The design is a hierarchical design with busses going between sheets. Can anyone give me a hint as to what I am doing wrong?Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question.Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad.Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library.For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links* To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-users/* Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional* To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-users/join (Yahoo! ID required)* To change settings via email: mailto:kicad-users-dig...@yahoogroups.com mailto:kicad-users-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com* To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: kicad-users-unsubscr...@yahoogroups..com* Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Attachment(s) from Bob Shaffer 1 of 1 File(s) TestBoard.zip
Re: [kicad-users] Re: PLEASE help....Anyone out there???
Thanks for the offer. I went through all of the $DRAWSEGMENT entries in the .brd file for layer 28 (PCB_EDGES) and found that there was one extra segment and the segments were not contiguous. I painstakingly went through and created coordinates for each board, filled in a spreadsheet and then had Excell export the spreadsheet so that I could put the segments back into the .brd file. Everything worked perfectly from then on. In the future, I will probably use this approach to start the .brd file with precisely-defined edges. It's a lot easier than trying to draw them out in the board editor. Thanks to everyone for all of the suggestions! Greg From: Dick H. d...@softplc.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 3:19:09 PM Subject: [kicad-users] Re: PLEASE helpAnyone out there??? --- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, Greg Dyess gregory.dy...@... wrote: A, now I see what you mean. I will double-check this as I know we had to go back and touch up some of the board edges after the entire board was drawn. This will probably require hand-editing of the .brd file. Greg, If this does not lead to anything, then email me your board file please. dick at softplc.com I will step through the code with it and see why it it not converting properly to DSN. Dick Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Re: PLEASE help....Anyone out there???
I did just that. I even opened up the board's .brd file and checked all of the numbers in there to make sure. Any other suggestions as to where to look? From: Dick H. d...@softplc.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 3:39:48 PM Subject: [kicad-users] Re: PLEASE helpAnyone out there??? The freerouter also has trouble paying attention to the actual edges of the PCB and has a distorted shape. No this is not freerouter's fault. It is mostly likely that your board perimeter is not proper in Kicad. You have to zoom in and make dead sure that all your edges_pcb type lines are contiguous, EXACTLY. That is the ending point of one line or arc must be EXACTLY the same point as the next line or arc's starting point. If you click on a line, the status bar should tell you the exact endpoints of the line in coordinate space. Walk around your board and tie them together please. Dick Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Re: PLEASE help....Anyone out there???
A, now I see what you mean. I will double-check this as I know we had to go back and touch up some of the board edges after the entire board was drawn. This will probably require hand-editing of the .brd file. Am I the only one that actually hand-edits the disk files to correct errors? I also find it very helpful when I have to mass edit a schematic, for example to assign values to all the bypass caps adjacent to the ICs. Thanks again, Greg From: Frank Bennett bennet...@lpbroadband.net To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 5:04:55 PM Subject: [kicad-users] Re: PLEASE helpAnyone out there??? --- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, Greg Dyess gregory.dy...@... wrote: I did just that. I even opened up the board's .brd file and checked all of the numbers in there to make sure. Any other suggestions as to where to look? From: Dick H. d...@... To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 3:39:48 PM Subject: [kicad-users] Re: PLEASE helpAnyone out there??? The freerouter also has trouble paying attention to the actual edges of the PCB and has a distorted shape. No this is not freerouter's fault.. It is mostly likely that your board perimeter is not proper in Kicad. You have to zoom in and make dead sure that all your edges_pcb type lines are contiguous, EXACTLY. That is the ending point of one line or arc must be EXACTLY the same point as the next line or arc's starting point. If you click on a line, the status bar should tell you the exact endpoints of the line in coordinate space. Walk around your board and tie them together please. Dick They also need to be a contiguous closed set of segments. Can't put a few segments on one side and jump to others on a different side. A ---B---C | | DE needs to be AB,BC,CE,ED close not AB,CE,BC,DE close or other combo the code will swap AB, with BA on a vertex pair basis only but (will not yet) sort a non-contiguous set of segments. Best to make one continuous [counter or]clock wise construction. Oh, what is the difference between a segment or polygon bound zone? Frank Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Re: PLEASE help....Anyone out there???
Thanks for the advice. I've been trying both the built-in autorouer and the freerouter. Both seem to just ignore my zone for some reason, except with DIPs. The freerouter also has trouble paying attention to the actual edges of the PCB and has a distorted shape. It looks as though hand-routing is the suggested method here. That's just a lot of routes to do with a 100-pin processor, 4 ASICs at 44 pins, and a few other components at over 40 pins each. Oh well, it will save me from having to figure out how to fully specify all my keepouts, which the internal autorouter seems to not understand anyways. Thanks for everyone's help. Greg From: Dick H. d...@softplc.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 9:25:28 AM Subject: [kicad-users] Re: PLEASE helpAnyone out there??? --- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, Greg Dyess gregory.dy...@... wrote: I will try autorouting and tell it the layer pair is my component layer and the VSS layer and do an autoroute. You are wasting your time with the autorouter. The term the autorouter, is ambiguous since Kicad can work either with its internal autorouter or with freerouting.net's autorouter. My statement assumes the former. I think the internal autorouter has fallen into largely disuse, and there is no way it will ever catch up with the power and capability of the freerouter found at freerouting.net. But a simple search of this list would have told you that. Use the search feature of this mailing list please. Use freerouter, and do not autoroute, but manual route with it: 1) Place your components while in pcbnew. 2) In pcbnew, put in the zone perimeters and make sure their netcodes are correct, i.e. that they are tied to the correct net. You do not have to fill yet. 3) Export to DSN, and load the *.DSN file into freerouter. Learn it, it may take you a day. Feel free to search this list about it, and get support from their forum. 4) Manually route your board in freerouter. This is the only way you will have net specific control over the width of traces. 5) In freerouter, save a session file, as *.ses. Back import the session file into PCBNEW. Repeat steps 2 through 5 until you are happy. 6) Export to DSN one last time. Load design into freerouter. 7) check clearance violations and fix them. The clearance tolerances that freerouter uses come from your *.brd file and are established in pcbnew under the Dimensions menu choice. 8) back import one last time into PCBNEW. 6) Fill or re-fill your zones in pcbnew. 7) Run DRC check in pcbnew. 8) Export to gerber. Always do the fill in pcbnew near the end. You can view the DSN file and understand the nets, and copper areas. It can be a way to trouble shoot the kicad *.brd file in essence, in a more human readable form, one that is well documented. HTH, Dick Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] Re: dismembering relays in eeschema
I had somethign very similar to that happen on an IC I created. What I finally had to do was to hand-edit the text file to remove the duplicated parts. After that, I could edit the part to complete the fine touches. On a side note, are these formats documented anywhere? I figured out enough to hand edit it to get the duplicated parts. Greg From: einazaki668 einazaki...@yahoo.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 11:25:33 AM Subject: [kicad-users] Re: dismembering relays in eeschema Pedro (or anyone else), Here's what I did: In eeschema, start up the library editor and select New Component. Select the appropriate number of Parts per Component (three in this case because I was doing a DPDT relay). Draw part A (the coil). A rectangular box w/ two leads. The Common to Units box is unchecked for all objects. Draw part B (contact block). Now here, for some reason, the two leads from part A have migrated to part B. (Just the leads, not the rectangle, so I have two pins on an otherwise blank sheet.) If I try to clear these leads on part B they are also cleared on part A. When I put the three leads on part B they migrate to part A. (Note the Common to Units box is still unchecked.) Is this a bug or am I doing something wrong? Am I taking the wrong approach? BTW I'm using ver. 20090216-final on XP. Thanks, eric --- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, Pedro Martin pki...@... wrote: Hi, Let's say your ralay has 5 pins, and 1 and 2 are the coil. Make pins 1 and 2 to be part A. make pins 3,4,5 to be part B. When using, the component, you can place part A and part B wherever you need in your design: I have place part A in a sub-sheet and part B in a different sub-sheet. You only need to tell eeschema that both parts belong to the same component by given them the same number. regards, Pedro. Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
Re: [kicad-users] PLEASE help....Anyone out there???
OK, I am confused a little. I understand your point that the VSS layer is not in the routing pair and perhaps that is the real problem. It would be nice if the autorouter understood connecting to underlying zones. I will try autorouting and tell it the layer pair is my component layer and the VSS layer and do an autoroute. Then try the same with the component to VDD/VCC3/... layer. On a related note, I found what I think is a bug. i will try to check the bug list to see if I can find it. My edge connector has several GND pins that are used to supply power to my board. I defined the pin name as GND, no draw, Power OUT. EESchema refuses to automatically connect it to the GND net. I change the pin to Power IN and EESchema immediately says it is connected. The manual says Power IN or Power OUT are supposed to both work to automaticall connect. Greg From: Andy Eskelson andyya...@g0poy.co.uk To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2009 7:54:16 PM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] PLEASE helpAnyone out there??? A wild guess here, as I've never done anything like that :-) How does the system know that you can get to the VSS layer from the component layer? If things work with a DIP, would placing a via do the same job? It would seem logical to me that if you want to route to an inner layer then you need to place a via between it and the component layer. I'm not sure if this can be done automatically (there is a way to pair layers for via use section 5.4 of the help) Andy On Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:28:32 - gregory.dyess gregory.dy...@yahoo.com wrote: OK, this thing is about to make me pull my hair out! I am trying my best to lay out a surface mount board and running into all kinds of problems. 1. It doesn't seem to want to route a VSS pad on an SMD to the underlying VSS plane on the layer next to it! 2. It doesn't even seem to recognize there even IS a relationship! 3. It routes traces right through the middle of an edge card connector. I thought maybe I set up the VSS layer (ZONE) incorrectly, so I placed a DIP right next to an SMD component and sure enough, it immediately placed a connection to the VSS layer right under the pad and then proceeded to route a line on the component layer to the VSS pin of the SMD chip next to it! What could I be doing wrong here? Thanks, Greg Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-develYahoo! Groups Links
[kicad-users] How to import IBS and/or BSDL files
OK, this has to be in a FAQ or documentation somewhere and I must have missed it. Does anyone know how to import IBS and/or BSDL files? I have parts with documentation/model in those formats and no way to directly import them into KICAD. A pointer to the entry in the FAQ and/or documentation would be appreciated. If it's not there, does anyonw know how to do this? Thanks, Greg
Re: [kicad-users] KiCad regrettably still is history free and not parametric!
I think we need to understand the difference between feature creep (aka scope creep, never-ending feature requests, etc) and asking for the interface to follow certain industry-accepted standards for the way certain things work. I don't think anyone is asking for an endless list of features. I do hear everyone, including myself, asking that the interface follow the conventions that are accepted in both the Linux and Windows worlds. When both of these groups agree on something, maybe that is the path we should follow. It would definitely make things much easier and more intuitive. From: Wm.Andrew Ehlers ryv...@gmail.com To: kicad-users@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 10:23:13 AM Subject: Re: [kicad-users] KiCad regrettably still is history free and not parametric! Leave Kicad the ^%$% alone. Just fix the bugs. This is what gets projects in trouble. When you go to work how many projects have you been on that either fail outright or are overrun both financially and in terms of schedule by feature creep. It never ceases to amaze me how many times we engineers bitch about our projects but once a new one comes we do the same thing. Remember the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results. Take a look at the software that some of us have on are computers is the mess that windows is becoming not caused by the same thing that is being discussed in this thread. AndyE Greg Dyess wrote: I am very greatful for KiCAD and the hard work everyone has put into producing it and then giving it away for free. Having worked on large systems that have evolved over time, I have the utmost empathy and respect for those that maintain it as well. Thank you all! I hope no one has taken any of my comments (or those of anyone else) as disparaging. I was pointing out areas where improvement can be made to ease the learning curve for newbies. Unfortunately my Pascal skills are too rusty to make anything of a contribution at this time to offer much in the way of development help. Now if it were in C/C++.. OK, that's another topic;) Greg *From:* Robert birmingham_spi...@gmx.net *To:* kicad-users@yahoogroups.com *Sent:* Tuesday, May 5, 2009 4:58:46 AM *Subject:* Re: [kicad-users] KiCad regrettably still is history free and not parametric! I don't think you can be that dismissive. The point about kicad and other cad packages is that editing often requires nested actions.. Autocad (if I remember correctly) allowed you to prepend a command with ' to indicate command nesting. The modern way to do that is with the context menu, and that is exactly what kicad does. So no, I don't believe that the GUI needs a fundamental rethink. Indeed, I think the context menu method of driving kicad is one of its strengths. Keyboard shortcuts should be available, but firstly that requires learning them and secondly not everyone likes to use them, so you still need a graphical means of doing everything. What could do with some attention is the context menu generation and display, which I suspect is suffering from code evolution. Sometimes it doesn't display what you need, and just occasionally it suffers a blow-out and an error gets displayed instead. Then there's the bolt-on selection clarification menu; really that should be integral to the context menu proper (I was told that there's a coding problem to be overcome here). However, we have to remember that kicad is produced by people working in their spare time, and obviously they will want to concentrate on that which is critical. Regards, Robert. Tobias Gogolin wrote: Well lets agree on the fact that KiCad would benefit from a GUI makeover! And lets not forget that Autocad is a fossil from DOS ages, it is not representative of 2009! On Tue, May 5, 2009 at 1:50 AM, Anders Gustafsson anders.gustafs...@pedago.fi mailto:anders.gustafs...@pedago.fi wrote: In working with KiCad, I have become frustrated with the user interface as well. Perhaps the way KiCad works is the norm for such packages, maybe not. If KiCad had an interface that more closely mimicked the generally-accepted norms for mouse gestures it would be less frustrating to learn. Well. It resembles ordinary CAD-packages, like AutoCAD where you tend to use the keyboard more. - Anders Gustafsson Engineer, CNE6, ASE Pedago, The Aaland Islands (N60 E20) www.pedago.fi phone +358 18 12060 mobile +358 40506 7099 fax +358 18 14060 Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. Please post your bug reports here.. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit http://www.kicadlib.org http://www.kicadlib.org
