Component Library files list showing path rather than file name

Paulojas · March 14, 2016, 2:45am

Version: KICAD 4.0.2 64 bits
OS: Windows 7 professional 64 bits.

Adding libraries files in component libraries in Eeschema, the libraries list shows path rather than the library file name.

In KICAD 4.0.2 32 bits version, on Windows vista 32 bits, that issue do not occurs.

Joan_Sparky · March 14, 2016, 3:07am

Did you edit the kicad.pro file in the template folder manually?

Can you post your kicad.pro file from the template folder and the xyz.pro file from the project folder please?

Template folder:

C:\Program Files\KiCad\share\kicad\template

Paulojas · March 14, 2016, 4:13am

kicad.pro contents (Because i am a new user, can not upload this files. )

update=22/05/2015 07:44:53
version=1
last_client=kicad
[general]
version=1
RootSch=
BoardNm=
[pcbnew]
version=1
LastNetListRead=
UseCmpFile=1
PadDrill=0.600000000000
PadDrillOvalY=0.600000000000
PadSizeH=1.500000000000
PadSizeV=1.500000000000
PcbTextSizeV=1.500000000000
PcbTextSizeH=1.500000000000
PcbTextThickness=0.300000000000
ModuleTextSizeV=1.000000000000
ModuleTextSizeH=1.000000000000
ModuleTextSizeThickness=0.150000000000
SolderMaskClearance=0.000000000000
SolderMaskMinWidth=0.000000000000
DrawSegmentWidth=0.200000000000
BoardOutlineThickness=0.100000000000
ModuleOutlineThickness=0.150000000000
[cvpcb]
version=1
NetIExt=net
[eeschema]
version=1
LibDir=
[eeschema/libraries]
LibName1=power
LibName2=device
LibName3=transistors
LibName4=conn
LibName5=linear
LibName6=regul
LibName7=74xx
LibName8=cmos4000
LibName9=adc-dac
LibName10=memory
LibName11=xilinx
LibName12=microcontrollers
LibName13=dsp
LibName14=microchip
LibName15=analog_switches
LibName16=motorola
LibName17=texas
LibName18=intel
LibName19=audio
LibName20=interface
LibName21=digital-audio
LibName22=philips
LibName23=display
LibName24=cypress
LibName25=siliconi
LibName26=opto
LibName27=atmel
LibName28=contrib
LibName29=valves
LibName30=analog_devices
LibName31=diode
LibName32=maxim
LibName33=microchip_pic16mcu
LibName34=relays
LibName35=w_relay
LibName36=LM2577

my project xyz.pro file contents

update=14/03/2016 01:04:15
version=1
last_client=kicad
[cvpcb]
version=1
NetIExt=net
[cvpcb/libraries]
EquName1=devcms
[pcbnew]
version=1
LastNetListRead=
UseCmpFile=1
PadDrill=0.600000000000
PadDrillOvalY=0.600000000000
PadSizeH=1.500000000000
PadSizeV=1.500000000000
PcbTextSizeV=1.500000000000
PcbTextSizeH=1.500000000000
PcbTextThickness=0.300000000000
ModuleTextSizeV=1.000000000000
ModuleTextSizeH=1.000000000000
ModuleTextSizeThickness=0.150000000000
SolderMaskClearance=0.000000000000
SolderMaskMinWidth=0.000000000000
DrawSegmentWidth=0.200000000000
BoardOutlineThickness=0.100000000000
ModuleOutlineThickness=0.150000000000
[pcbnew/libraries]
LibDir=
LibName1=sockets
LibName2=connect
LibName3=discret
LibName4=pin_array
LibName5=divers
LibName6=smd_capacitors
LibName7=smd_resistors
LibName8=smd_crystal&oscillator
LibName9=smd_dil
LibName10=smd_transistors
LibName11=libcms
LibName12=display
LibName13=led
LibName14=dip_sockets
LibName15=pga_sockets
LibName16=valves
LibName17=C:/Users/Public/Downloads/ECAD/KICAD/Libraries,Modules and 3D/Modules/TO220HOR
[general]
version=1
[eeschema]
version=1
LibDir=
[eeschema/libraries]
LibName1=Pulp_Touch-rescue
LibName2=power
LibName3=device
LibName4=transistors
LibName5=conn
LibName6=linear
LibName7=regul
LibName8=74xx
LibName9=cmos4000
LibName10=adc-dac
LibName11=memory
LibName12=xilinx
LibName13=microcontrollers
LibName14=dsp
LibName15=microchip
LibName16=analog_switches
LibName17=motorola
LibName18=texas
LibName19=intel
LibName20=audio
LibName21=interface
LibName22=digital-audio
LibName23=philips
LibName24=display
LibName25=cypress
LibName26=siliconi
LibName27=opto
LibName28=atmel
LibName29=contrib
LibName30=valves
LibName31=analog_devices
LibName32=diode
LibName33=maxim
LibName34=microchip_pic16mcu
LibName35=relays
LibName36=w_relay
LibName37=LM2577
LibName38=74xgxx
LibName39=opendous
LibName40=transf
LibName41=lm2575
LibName42=w_analog
LibName43=relay_dpco
LibName44=relays (2)
LibName45=C:/Program Files/KiCad402/share/kicad/library/power_modif
LibName46=C:/Program Files/KiCad402/share/kicad/library/Power_Management

Paulojas · March 14, 2016, 4:24am

My project xyz.pro file have in its end a blank line. kicad.pro do not have a blank line. I used the windows wordpad.

Joan_Sparky · March 14, 2016, 4:43am

Ah, I think I know what you did - blame the bad UI design.
It will be a non-issue once the Devs get to refurbish EEschema, which is next on their agenda… PCBnew got the treatment already. But we’re probably months away from changes.

You added a new library by using the upper [Add] button, but didn’t get the path known to EEschema in the user-path-interface below that one (where there is another [Add] button).

This is the proper way:

Remove the ‘WRONG’ labeled entry in your dialog (naturally a different lib/path than what you see in the pic)
click on the [Add] button that is circled in red
navigate to the path where your lib resides and chose either relative or absolute (I use absolute as relative had problems a while ago)
click on the [Add] button at the top that is circled in blue
navigate to the library file in question and add it

You could also edit the files manually, which would mean to remove C:/Program Files/KiCad402/share/kicad/library/ from LibName45 and LibName46 entries and placing it behind LibDir like so:

LibDir=C:/Program Files/KiCad402/share/kicad/library

The projects .pro file would then look like this for the symbol lib entries:

…
LibName43=relay_dpco
LibName44=relays (2)
LibName45=power_modif
LibName46=Power_Management

Same goes for the pcbnew section. Remove the path part from the lib entry and put it behind the LibDir above the footprint libs.

PS: if you want those custom symbol libs loaded/be set up when you create a new project you just have to do the same modifications to the kicad.pro file in the template folder (the one you posted first).
For pcbnew the ‘global’ library settings file that is used for project creation is located in a file called fp-lib-table instead of kicad.pro (KiCAD is in the middle of changes, so just accept this how it is at the moment).
Location:

C:\Users\JonDoe\AppData\Roaming\kicad

PPS: Next non-obvious obstacle to eeschema libs:
the order of libs in the upper window is important if you got symbols with the same name in libraries… KiCAD will ALWAYS chose the symbol from the lib that’s highest in that list, no matter what you chose during placement.
So if you got a GND symbol in power_modif lib and there is a GND symbol in power lib and you are going to place the GND symbol from power_modif in EEschema… the one from power will be used instead of power_modif, as power is #2 and power_modif is #45.

That’s why there are [Up] and [Down] buttons there… tip: click it once (get it focused) and then press down [ENTER], makes moving entries up/down faster than clicking with the Mouse

PPPS: same stuff happens when you load a project with different symbols from the ones you have currently set up… EEschema will offer to rescue them… remember it when you encounter it, don’t stress about it for now (just don’t save the schematic when something happens you don’t like).

Paulojas · March 14, 2016, 3:27pm

The path C:/Program Files/KiCad402/share/kicad/library already are in Current Search path list.

This issue is very stranger. Each symbol has an unique ID (timestamp). I think this ID should “identify” symbol/library.

Joan_Sparky · March 14, 2016, 3:53pm

The problem is the bold part:

LibName45=C:/Program Files/KiCad402/share/kicad/library/power_modif
LibName46=**C:/Program Files/KiCad402/share/kicad/library/**Power_Management

Get rid of it either manually or via the approach I gave you up there with the dialog.
You’re right though, if those reside with the other libs you don’t need a search path added for them… but I dislike to have to modify custom libs in places where Windows normally doesn’t allow it (access rights and stuff).