I downloaded a .pro file from GitHub and somehow a bunch of files from my PC show up when I open the project. I don’t know what the heck happened. I deleted the downloaded files, redownloaded the pro file and got the same thing. Frankly I’m new to GitHub and wonder if I accidentially added all these files to the project !
The good news is all the project files; .sch, .pcb etc are in there. I’ve tried to locate the physical location on my hard drive where the actual files exist to get rid of the non belonging ones but can’'t find it. It seems there’s nothing I can do about them from within the KiCad 7 program. Am I a daft bugger of has this sort of thing happened to anyone else?
In the project manager (the “main” window of KiCad) you can right-click on the project name in the Project Files tree view. “Open Directory with File Explorer”. The path is also seen in the bottom status line, although the window must be wide enough for it to be seen in full length.
KiCad doesn’t care where you put your project, but it handles the folder/directory where the .pro (older version of the current .kicad_pro) file exists as a KiCad project folder. If you download the pro file so that it’s among other files, you mix KiCad files with a bunch of unrelated files. You should download the project to a dedicated folder.
Gosh, that works too.
I’ve been using that “other icon” for quite some time now.
And that kicad_ prefix for the filename extension has been added several KiCad versions ago. Once you save your project in KiCad V7 you will also have these new extensions. KiCad does not delete these files after the conversion, but (most likely) just ignores them. You can delete them later at will. If you’re unsure, then make a backup before you start deleting files.
I usually do a “git clone” from github / gitlab / etc. But that’s Linux. I may have installed git manually a long time ago, but I also would not be surprised if it’s installed by default. And a clone does clone the whole repository. Sometimes it’s madness. Cloning a 4GB repository, then looking at it for 5 minutes and throwing it away again. When I was young you could only fit 720kB on a floppy.
(It’s also too easy to forget whether such things as git are installed by default, as it’s only a single line: “apt install git” away if it’s not installed.)
This is in Kicad 5 I believe. I can’t seem to locate the folder that contains all the visible files. I have done this many times with my own Kicad 6 & 7 designs with no problems.
Does the .pro or _proj file have all the design file locations in it? Can I attach the file here?
Just an URL with the name / location of the github repository is probably enough.
Adding a screenshot of the filenames you are having a problem with also helps.
As far as I know KiCad V6 already had the kicad_ prefix in the filename extensions.
No, not a separate function. Upgrade is triggered by just opening the project in a newer KiCad version. Upgrades from KiCad V5 and earlier projects are not “easy” though. Old KiCad versions depend on external libraries, and the ease with which you can convert them to a V6 or later project depends on the state that the project is in.
I don’t know either. We don’t even know anything about your files. the link to the repository on gitlab you gave us does not work, and you did not respond to the request for a screenshot.
It’s also very strange / puzzling that you apparently can’t figure out where those files are on you PCB. You downloaded them yourself, and apparently started (or attempted to start?) KiCad.
No need to get irritated with me. I don’t know why the link doesn’t work for you, I will check with the owner about permissions. I didn’t have anything to do with creating the design, I’m just trying to help a friend who no longer has her layout person. Kind of trying to make sense of the files.
I’m not irritated (maybe a tiny little bit), but it’s a simple fact that we are only guessing with the very little information you give us. Also quoted that "tapdawg25 has no public repositories. Maybe you need to login, or be part of some select group to see these files.
Addition:
Yes, something like that. But if so, then he probably had his reasons for that. Zipping it up and posting it without consent would be disrespectful at least.
If there is some personal connection with that person he / she may be able to help you further. How familiar are you with git (&github)?
Notice also that you pointed us to the.pro file, not to the repository. Did you actually download and extract the whole repository? The project file alone is useless. And remember that you shouldn’t use “extract all files here” or something like that directly in the Downloads folder.
