[kicad-users] Re: Sharing my projects with other people - works?
Thanks for your help and attention! My objective was to pass a finished project to someone else (or me) to use as the basis for their own (or my) new project with a different name. I'm on ubuntu. I made a new user and his new kicad work folder with a very different path name. I _think_ this is what I did to make it work: logged in as the original user, made the zipfile of the original user's project (KiCad archive function) logged out as the original user and logged in as the new user. Everything from here on is done by the new user in his home login. Unzipped the archive of project_orig in the new user's work folder Made an empty folder in the new user's work folder for project_new. It's called project_new/ Launched KiCad and made an empty project project_new/project_new.pro Closed KiCad Opened KiCad project project_orig Opened the project_orig.sch schematic from its normal work file and saved it as project_new/project_new.sch (the new folder -- not part of the original project) This fixes the paths, but the schematic is missing parts. Same process with the board file to create /project_new/project_new.brd Curiosly, the board opens intact, but it is not linked to the "new" schematic. Closed KiCad Copied and renamed the project_orig/project_orig.??? .cache.lib, .net, .cmp files to project_new/project_new.cache.lib, etc. Everything _seems_ fine. Next step is cross-platform. There should be an "import/export project" function in KiCad. Thanks -Ed Bennett
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 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] Sharing my projects with other people
Hi, I have all my projects in my home and office computers. The only thing I do is to copy the whole project folder from a computer to another. All components are in the cache file. Anyway, it is not mandatory but it helps to have the same path for the libraries in both computers. Pedro. > 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 > >
[kicad-users] Re: Commas in Gerber files
I think this is what I did so their was not errors in GERBv I used something like smaller headers option when I plotted or made the drill files. This made it match up with spark funs batch pcb. Definilty gerbv all layers including drill. --- In kicad-users@yahoogroups.com, "bobcousins34" wrote: > > Hi everyone, > > A colleague based in Portugal is having trouble with gerber files generated > by pcbnew. He finds that there are commas in the gerber files, I believe this > is incorrect. Has anyone else seen similar problems? Is there an option > somewhere to control this? > > I note there are some bugs on the tracker related to localisation issues in > pcbnew, perhaps it's part of the same problem. > > Regards >
[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
Re: [kicad-users] Kicad wishlist
> > > yes, I mean push-and-shove, you mean that with pcbnew I can't make a > > > push-and-shove? I think you mean 'click-and-drag'. It works on Kicad, and the way I do it is to right-click on a trace, select trace if there are multiple items, select what kind of drag you want and start dragging. You can do the same for trace corners. In case when the dragged trace overlays another trace, it will not let you place it until you turn off DRC. Martin
Sv: Re: [kicad-users] Kicad wishlist
I really must look into freerouter then. FWIW, the router in KiCad is decent, so I generally use it, after having laid down the critical tracks manually. It gives a decent suggestion that I can build on. - 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 >>> Robert 2009-11-19 16:43 >>> >> KiCAD allows you to assign any net to a zone using the zone property >> dialog (that appears when you create or edit a zone). works very well, and using it is mostly child's play. Hmmm. Actually, using an Etchasketch was far more difficult... Regards, Robert.
Re: [kicad-users] Kicad wishlist
Thanks a lot for your answers Robert, I'm testing FreeRouter Best Regards Carlos On Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 9:43 AM, Robert wrote: > > > >> KiCAD allows you to assign any net to a zone using the zone property > >> dialog (that appears when you create or edit a zone). > >> > >> > > Yes, you're right, but when I assign a net to a zone (GND for example ) > the > > tool show the pads connected to this zone, but don't remove the > > "unconnected" line. > > I know there has been some discussion on this. When I started using > KiCAD I hit this same issue and just knuckled down to adding a narrow > dummy track to interconnect the relevant pads so that they would no > longer appear disconnected. This turned out to be not such a bad thing > on a one or two layer board as it reduces the chances of creating an > island. On multilayer boards it is nothing but a chore. Since all my > boards are two layer I haven't followed the discussion closely, so I'm > not sure what is the current status. I guess you could always let > FreeRouter do the dummy power tracks for you on a multi-layer board :). > > > >> Not sure what you mean, as you can move tracks around very easily. Do > >> you mean push-and-shove? If so, FreeRouter does this splendidly IMHO. > >> > >> > > yes, I mean push-and-shove, you mean that with pcbnew I can't make a > > push-and-shove? Is necessary use FreeRouter? > > That's correct. Transfer of data between the two is largely painless > though, and I really can't recommend FreeRouter highly enough. It > works very well, and using it is mostly child's play. Hmmm. > Actually, using an Etchasketch was far more difficult... > > Regards, > > Robert. > > > > > > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 9.0.707 / Virus Database: 270.14.73/2513 - Release Date: 11/19/09 > 07:51:00 > > -- Carlos Iván Camargo Bareño Profesor Asistente Departamento de Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica Universidad Nacional de Colombia cicamarg...@unal.edu.co
Re: [kicad-users] Kicad wishlist
>> KiCAD allows you to assign any net to a zone using the zone property >> dialog (that appears when you create or edit a zone). >> >> > Yes, you're right, but when I assign a net to a zone (GND for example ) the > tool show the pads connected to this zone, but don't remove the > "unconnected" line. I know there has been some discussion on this. When I started using KiCAD I hit this same issue and just knuckled down to adding a narrow dummy track to interconnect the relevant pads so that they would no longer appear disconnected. This turned out to be not such a bad thing on a one or two layer board as it reduces the chances of creating an island. On multilayer boards it is nothing but a chore. Since all my boards are two layer I haven't followed the discussion closely, so I'm not sure what is the current status. I guess you could always let FreeRouter do the dummy power tracks for you on a multi-layer board :). >> Not sure what you mean, as you can move tracks around very easily. Do >> you mean push-and-shove? If so, FreeRouter does this splendidly IMHO. >> >> > yes, I mean push-and-shove, you mean that with pcbnew I can't make a > push-and-shove? Is necessary use FreeRouter? That's correct. Transfer of data between the two is largely painless though, and I really can't recommend FreeRouter highly enough. It works very well, and using it is mostly child's play. Hmmm. Actually, using an Etchasketch was far more difficult... Regards, Robert. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.707 / Virus Database: 270.14.73/2513 - Release Date: 11/19/09 07:51:00
Re: [kicad-users] Kicad wishlist
Hi Robert Thanks for your answer. > > 1. Using zones for connectivity > > KiCAD allows you to assign any net to a zone using the zone property > dialog (that appears when you create or edit a zone). > > Yes, you're right, but when I assign a net to a zone (GND for example ) the tool show the pads connected to this zone, but don't remove the "unconnected" line. > > 2. Auto-route > > Personally I've never achieved anything useful with the automatic tools > in Kicad. For auto-routing I would recommend exporting a Spectra DSN > file and reading it into FreeRouter (http://www.freerouting.net/). Hit > Autoroute, go down the beach and enjoy yourself, and when you come back > it'll be nicely done. > Thanks for the advice > > 3. Pads with "special" shape (Annular ring, interdigital, custom image, > etc) > > You can create a complex pad shapes by combining the various > "primitives" into the shape required and then giving each component of > the pad the same pad number. The only (tiny) snag with this is you > have to remember to hook together the component pads with tracks in the > main editor. > Ok, I'll be try > > 4. Auto-Moving wires (Right now, I'm erasing an existente wire and then I > > redraw it) > > Not sure what you mean, as you can move tracks around very easily. Do > you mean push-and-shove? If so, FreeRouter does this splendidly IMHO. > > yes, I mean push-and-shove, you mean that with pcbnew I can't make a push-and-shove? Is necessary use FreeRouter? > May I suggest you read through the documentation supplied with KiCAD? > I've already read the documentation, but I can't make some actions :( Regards Carlos > > Regards, > > Robert. > > > > > > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 9.0.707 / Virus Database: 270.14.73/2513 - Release Date: 11/19/09 > 07:51:00 > > -- Carlos Iván Camargo Bareño Profesor Asistente Departamento de Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica Universidad Nacional de Colombia cicamarg...@unal.edu.co
Re: [kicad-users] Kicad wishlist
> 1. Using zones for connectivity KiCAD allows you to assign any net to a zone using the zone property dialog (that appears when you create or edit a zone). > 2. Auto-route Personally I've never achieved anything useful with the automatic tools in Kicad. For auto-routing I would recommend exporting a Spectra DSN file and reading it into FreeRouter (http://www.freerouting.net/). Hit Autoroute, go down the beach and enjoy yourself, and when you come back it'll be nicely done. > 3. Pads with "special" shape (Annular ring, interdigital, custom image, etc) You can create a complex pad shapes by combining the various "primitives" into the shape required and then giving each component of the pad the same pad number. The only (tiny) snag with this is you have to remember to hook together the component pads with tracks in the main editor. > 4. Auto-Moving wires (Right now, I'm erasing an existente wire and then I > redraw it) Not sure what you mean, as you can move tracks around very easily. Do you mean push-and-shove? If so, FreeRouter does this splendidly IMHO. > 5. Auto moving wires associated to one via. Could you explain what you mean, please? > 6. Blind vias. Vias can be between any two layers. May I suggest you read through the documentation supplied with KiCAD? Regards, Robert. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.707 / Virus Database: 270.14.73/2513 - Release Date: 11/19/09 07:51:00
[kicad-users] Kicad wishlist
Hi I'm new with Kicad, I want to know if right now is possible make the following actions: 1. Using zones for connectivity 2. Auto-route 3. Pads with "special" shape (Annular ring, interdigital, custom image, etc) 4. Auto-Moving wires (Right now, I'm erasing an existente wire and then I redraw it) 5. Auto moving wires associated to one via. 6. Blind vias. There is any person or group working on the above features? How can we add to add them to Kicad project? Best Regards -- Carlos Iván Camargo Bareño Profesor Asistente Departamento de Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica Universidad Nacional de Colombia cicamarg...@unal.edu.co
