There’s that international “no” sign in the link/path
Likewise if “select the path” to go the Capacitor_SMD.3dshapes folder and try to select it, all the options are listed but grayed out
This is my first KiCAD design, (I done layout for 30 years, but never had the 3D capability before with my old programs.) All else about the design is going fine on this large project (Loving heirarchical labels). And my 3rd party 3D footprints work well and I was sure the first first components I put down had factory 3D model. I have upgraded from 9.0.1 to 9.0.3 since then though. Did some link get broken? Are only the name there and the files broken? How do I fix this. Otherwise I’ll just download all 3rd party STEP files so I can make it work. (I have a guy who uses Fusion who wants to make my front panel soon.) Hoping I can just get him the 3D model.
Yes I know this. This forum didn’t allow me to put up the second image. You didn’t address why when you go to those paths, the selections are gray and un-selectable.
Impressions memo:
Since the question does not provide any steps to reproduce the problem, it is not possible to determine where in the KiCAD source code the is implemented, but generally speaking, I think the file selection dialog is simply an implementation in which KiCAD calls standard OS functions, so I think the graying out is probably due to the behavior of the OS and the user’s specific environment.
Actually I seem to have some factory 3D models that worked. But I put those parts down on the board before I updated to 9.0.3. Now I only have my third party 3D parts after updating to 9.0.3.
It is MacOS. I go to the configure paths selections and click on the folder it reveals several folders. Then when I double click on the name of that folder I get many options, but all grayed out.
I’m thinking somehow KiCAD has a memory of files that should be there? OR it is unable to associate a 3D model with this part because there parts are imported from Eagle? Or perhaps when I updated KiCAD I didn’t download new libraries and the old models got overwritten anyway? I’m thinking the data simply isn’t there in the “3dmodels”. For now I’m downloading 3rd party models for all my LEDs and switches and pots and connectors in order to solve my problem. Someday it’d be nice to know if I have native KiCAD 3D I can call on. Maybe I’ll update again ot 9.0.4 and see if I can make sure I get that content back this time?
BTW. Is there a way to quickly associate the 3D model with like parts on the board if I change the properties for one part, or would I have to go back to update the original footprint in the footprint edit or and “update” them all. I think I may be answering my own question.
Thanks for the post.
The path seems correct and the 3D models are in their folders in the 3D folder. You should get exactly the same result if you highlight the Footprint path and then click on the folder.
The red " - " shows you are not able to change the Variable, Path , Folder or 3D image. This is because Kicad Libraries are Read Only.
Have you tried to see if you get a 3D image by using the Properties of a footprint?
Below is what I get. Note, yours will vary as I run Linux Mint, not Mac, but you should still get the Path and the Library link as well as the image.
I didn’t know that. In Windows, can’t write to the Program folder unless have administrator privileges, but the reason it’s not the same may be because the KiCAD UI is not consistent.
What? no,. You didn’t know that because that’s not at all true. The red “-” just means that it can’t find the model is that model is not found. In fact if I click on that folder I do get other options that exist in that folder that are selectable and show up. They just are different models that don’t work. That particular folder is OK, but doesn’t include the model it was supposed to. And I can change the path. jmk is just speculating as far as I can tell.
Your 3D models directory entry is pointing to KiCad’s application bundle. I use an older version of KiCad, so I don’t know if this is common practice with newer versions, but it seems like an odd place to store one’s models.
I’ve recently experienced this when changing from 6 to 9. Thing is, when updating the references from one version to another, sometimes the models don’t exist in the new version. Also if you are erasing the previous version after installing the new, the paths will obviously be invalid. Just change the old path to the new. Search it by clicking the little folder that appears at the right of the textbox and find the model. After selecting it, the path will be updated and the red circle will go away.
I think this happened a while back when the library team tightened up their standards. I know I had to import the old banana jack models back into my current project and then fiddle with scale and placement a bit.
This is how it downloads. Those are the models that are part of the KiCAD 9 package. But the fact that a model has a path in the factory libraries that doesn’t exist doesn’t bother me as much as not knowing why some were grayed out. Either way, I’m beyond this problem having made my important 3D models in my 3rd party folder. My problem now is that routing is terrible because inserting vias very often doesn’t change sides. Completely nerve wracking. I’ll have to start another thread.
