Annoying broken footprint

Layout Footprints
1

I have a broken footprint. Not sure how it got that way.

BrokenFootprint
BrokenFootprint753Ă—481 12.6 KB

How can I fix this, or perhaps just throw it away? If I just try to delete it in the footprint editor, KiCad gets an unhandled exception. :footprints:

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2

Not sure it is related, but the leading period in the filename looks weird…

1 Like
3

another strange thing is the missing time stamp and the fact that the file name does not match the file name.

I woud suggest you create a new empty footprint in kicad and save that. then copy the polygons one by one into that footprint using a text editor.

4

Yea. It’s kindof curious. The period is not in the actual file name:

filename
filename781Ă—163 7.67 KB

5

Except it won’t let me save anything to my library because of the broken footprint. Always gets the error but does not write the file.

6

Is there a second file that has that name?
Windows generally has the bad habit of hiding file name info so i suggest you check with a commandline tool that this really is the file name. (Never trust the GUI)

7

Then move the file out temporarily using the file browser. After all you intent to use a text editor to fix it up anyways.

8

I’d be quite content just to eliminate it, but the error comes even with the file gone. Maybe I should delete and readd the whole library.

No, that didn’t work. Deleted the file. Deleted the library. Added the library. Opened the library and no error. Edited a footprint. Tried to save library. ERROR.

9

Ha! We have met the enemy, and he is us!

I made a new .pretty folder and copied all the files.

Then in the libraries manager, I deleted the OLD folder and added the NEW.

Now, things seem to be working. I also learned a bit about how footprints connect to .step files.

Yes, I read Hackaday.com :footprints:

bananaforscale
bananaforscale649Ă—811 109 KB

10

In most OS the “.” in front means hidden file, so likely to be not displayed by default

11

Also, the name with and the name without the leading dot are 2 different file names.

12

Whats the speed of that banana chip? :slight_smile:

1 Like
13

Not in windows. But the file could have been set to invisible by other means.

14

I did say most, but as you say hiding might have been the intent using an attribute

15

I specifically mentioned windows here as @Torby is clearly on that operating system (from the file paths)

16

Um. Yes. Windoze. I guess I never specified that.

Now, isn’t that cute. I’ve used these little ALPS SLLB120300 switches for years. Now I have a .step file for them. I call them “5-way” switches.

ALPS%205%20way
ALPS%205%20way629Ă—564 34.6 KB

Say, can I put “C:/Users/USTHRUB/Documents/KiCad/” down in the “Path Substitutions” in case I want to share schematics, layouts or footprints with somebody whose employer hasn’t named them “USTHRUB?” Or maybe these all belong somewhere besides my documents folder?

17

I would advise using the path substitution variables for all your personal libraries and 3D object location. But, not for sharing reasons. This is so when you eventually change machines or reorganize your current machine all you have to do is setup the correct paths in the Configure Paths dialog for new paths. Otherwise you would have to update all your projects and libraries.

For sharing with others, they may not necessarily use the same variable names as you do for their own libraries and 3D object paths. What I would us is @MitjaN’s archive project plugin which will copy symbols, footprints, and 3D objects to the project folder and update the schematic and pcb to find all the resources in the project file. Then zip the entire project folder and you have a nice, compact, and portable project.

1 Like
18

This is the Relative Path vs Absolute Path problem
Relative allows me to move projects between my Windows and Ubuntu Linux PCs

19

I forgot to mention that others may not have the extra symbols or 3D objects that you have either made or downloaded. Archiving the symbols and 3D objects will make sure the recipient has the symbols and 3D objects that your project uses but aren’t in the standard libraries. (Footprints aren’t as important because they are fully encapsulated in the PCB file.)

1 Like
20

Just a slight correction, footprint don’t need to be archived as they are already contained within .kicad_pcb (and you clarify that in your next post). But if you need to archive them, my plugin currently does not support this. You can archive them using pcbnew integrated save footprintss functionality.

1 Like