[kicad-users] Default Libraries
Hi, I'm new to KiCAD. I've been using CAD programs for quite a while, though. Like other programs, KiCAD largely requires that I create my own components -- both in eeschema and PCBnew. Unfortunately, KiCAD (like others) stores its libraries on my C: drive within Program Files. This is a problem! Because: (1) I work at two different networked computers and need to access a common network drive so I can use the same libraries and (2) I don't back up my C: drive since I never store any important data there, so if a computer crashes, I'd lose any data stored only on C:. I've figured out how to force KiCAD to pull libraries from my network drive, but it seems that I have to define the search path for each and every new project. That's a lot of error-prone work. Am I missing some obscure KiCAD screen that lets me change the component search path at startup? Is there maybe an even more obscure hack to change KiCAD's default startup settings to include my library and module paths? Thanks, Jim
[kicad-users] 3 PCBs, 1 design
Hi, Still new to KiCAD. I hope there's a simple solution to my rather simple problem, since it must be very common. I haven't been able to find one in the docs or by poking at KiCAD. Can someone help? I have a design that will have three PCBs within a lot of other hand wiring, such as switches, panel connectors, a power module, and so on. I've created a hierarchical schematic that leads to each eventual PCB as a separate schematic sheet. I want to convert each of these three schematics to PCBs, one-by-one. KiCAD, however, seems to think that I want a PCB of the entire mess, not just the single sheet schematic. It compains that component numbers haven't been assigned to the higher items in the hierarchy (they haven't). So far, all I've figured out is to copy the schematic to another file and make a PCB from it. While this works, it's sloppy and automatic back-annotation seems impossble. Is there any way to force KiCAD to make a PCB of a single schematic sheet, even when buried within a larger hierarchical design? Thanks, Jim
