I made a ground symbol (as a new footprint) on the top silkscreen layer and placed a few of them on the pcb. Well… when I “updated pcb from schematic” these vanished. Note that some silk screen graphic text (name and date etc. on silkscreen was not disturbed.) This seems to be a horrible problem which will cause the world to explode… OK; I guess that a silk screen “component” needs to be included in the schematic as well? Really I am considering graphic items (such as a ground symbol) which I would like to have in my library somehow as I expect to reuse it often…not a “one off”.
So…does this pcb silkscreen artwork item need a corresponding schematic symbol which is not connected to anything? Or what is the best way to apply a frequently used piece of silkscreen line art such as a ground symbol?
If they don’t have a schematic symbol associated with them, then you will want to lock them on the board before updating. That should keep them in place.
Thanks, Paulvdh. I think it goes against my religion to use anything which someone else either (created or can understand.) Seriously that is good to know about but unlike “do not touch”, the ground symbol is very easy to create, in different sizes no less. Big ground symbol for Russia and small ground symbol for Kauai. I assume that locking this sort of “symbol footprint” onto the board is the way to do any of this?
I think that as far as you do not check the “[ ] delete unused footprints” during import you’re probably ok. (Edit: But locking it gives more confidence of course).
Part of my reply was for the 100+ people who are going to stumbe into this thread somewhere between now and the heat death of the Universe.
Ahhhhhhhhh another great tip. (I am not kidding.) I had not noticed that checkbox. But I am thinking that if I really want to keep something it is better to lock it rather than risk forgetting to make sure that box is unchecked. Anyway I guess there are two options.
Locking is generally the better option in this case. You might make a new version of the board where some components are deleted in which case you will want the ability to delete not used footprints.
It would however be nice to have a softer lock here that only protects from deletion but not the positioning. Created a request for that: https://bugs.launchpad.net/kicad/+bug/1827002
OK; I guess that a silk screen “component” needs to be included in the schematic as well? Really I am considering graphic items (such as a ground symbol) which I would like to have in my library somehow as I expect to reuse it often…not a “one off”.
