[BUG] Symbol editor error copying components

[kid]

Hello

I think I found an error in the software or something I’m not doing correctly. When copying components from the library, to a new project library for modifications, the program copies several components and then the software has an erratic operation.

Whether using the copy and then paste option in the library (it has worked for me in previous versions) or using the “save a copy as” option, it generates the same error for me.

Attached screenshots.

Empty librarian

"Save a Copy As" menu

Select empty library

Copied component (many more appear)

When you select any of them for editing, you remain selected and do not let these components be deleted. Looks like an erratic malfunction.

My version of KiCAD

Application: KiCad
Version: (5.1.8)-1, release build
Libraries:
wxWidgets 3.0.5
libcurl/7.71.0 OpenSSL/1.1.1g (Schannel) zlib/1.2.11 brotli/1.0.7 libidn2/2.3.0 libpsl/0.21.0 (+libidn2/2.3.0) libssh2/1.9.0 nghttp2/1.41.0
Platform: Windows 8 (build 9200), 64-bit edition, 64 bit, Little endian, wxMSW
Build Info:
wxWidgets: 3.0.5 (wchar_t,wx containers,compatible with 2.8)
Boost: 1.73.0
OpenCASCADE Community Edition: 6.9.1
Curl: 7.71.0
Compiler: GCC 10.2.0 with C++ ABI 1014

Build settings:
USE_WX_GRAPHICS_CONTEXT=OFF
USE_WX_OVERLAY=OFF
KICAD_SCRIPTING=ON
KICAD_SCRIPTING_MODULES=ON
KICAD_SCRIPTING_PYTHON3=OFF
KICAD_SCRIPTING_WXPYTHON=ON
KICAD_SCRIPTING_WXPYTHON_PHOENIX=OFF
KICAD_SCRIPTING_ACTION_MENU=ON
BUILD_GITHUB_PLUGIN=ON
KICAD_USE_OCE=ON
KICAD_USE_OCC=OFF
KICAD_SPICE=ON

Is it a possible bug or is there any error in my way of executing the action? Thanks!

[paulvdh]

What exactly are you doing when you select “save copy as”.
It can easily save a copy of a whole library.

After a bit of experimentation:
If I select a single schematic symbol in the “Symbol Editor” and right click on it I get “Save a Copy As…”

When I select a library, the popup menu says: “Save as …”

KiCad V5.1.8 does not let me select multiple schematic symbols in the symbol editor at once. Not even while holding the Control key.

[fred4u]

@kid this particular symbol copied had multiple aliases in the library. Aliases uses same base symbol with different description/parameters etc.

[kid]

Hello

I also thought it might be some functionality of aliases or virtual components that depend on others, although it was not known about the existence of this in KiCAD and I had never seen it before. Forgive me for my mistake, although the fact that when you click on the components these are selected and cannot be deselected, as well as being able to delete them (I have to close the window without saving the changes), I thought it was a program error.

Solve my design by creating zero components and not starting from another.

Thanks a lot.

[fred4u]

Just copy the “root” component in the library (the one other aliases are using as a base) - the one that’s not displayed in italic.
Then enter its properties, “Aliases” tab and delete all aliases if you don’t want them.