Board set up, project is missing or read only. some settings will not be

[Expiring1272]

KiCAD 6.0.9
Linux (NixOS)

I’m having the exact same problem as this user had

Board set up, project is missing or read only. some settings cannot be edited

[image] but if I add something into the pcb then save, close and open again, I see that they are being saved? if I try to import settings, then it will edit the board set up, and save it, but I still can’t manually edit them

However I do have the access permissions and the file is in the project dir. I even tried the following:

1. deleting my_project.kicad_pcb
2. open the PCB editor
3. Agree to create the pcb file
4. Open the Board Setup menu
5. same warning message

This really feels like a bug to me, was it resolved in 7.x ?

Perhaps it is related to this bug, given that NixOS sym/hardlinks a bunch of stuff, including the program binaries and config folders.

"Project is missing or read-only" sometimes happens incorrectly (#9347) ·...

[mf_ibfeew]

I suspect you are working in pcbnew-standalone mode.
As most of board- and schematic settings are stored as project-settings you should always work with the main kicad manager, opening (or creating) a project and open the schematic/board from the kicad manager.

[Expiring1272]

That is (unfortunately) not the case, I am opening pcbnew from the “main menu”

[retiredfeline]

At least update to 6.0.11 the last version in the 6.0 series to check if it’s been addressed by a fix.

[JanaMarie]

Hey, I have the same issue and couldn’t find a “fix” yet. I suspect it to be a permission issue, it works when I create a project in Ubuntu and copy it to my NixOS. Since I recently switched to NixOS I currently copy & paste an old project delete its content. Not too elegant sadly…

[retiredfeline]

@JanaMarie

it works when I create a project in Ubuntu and copy it to my NixOS

Hmm that’s truly strange. It suggests that NixOS imposes some extra permission system on top of the usual Linux ones. Unfortunately it requires someone willing to sleuth through the NixOS filesystem and documentation. Maybe ask around on NixOS forums?