I am migrating from Altium’s SVNDBLib component database and trying to connect KiCad to the same component database. I have a .kicad_dbl file that successfully defines a connection to a PostgreSQL database that contains my components. However, the Symbol and Footprint are not properly resolved.
- The database has columns “Library Ref” and “Footprint Ref” which contain the filenames of a .SchLib and .PcbLib file, respectively. (e.g. “MK64FN1M0VMD12” and “144-MAPBGA”, respectively).
- I’ve added the path to the folders containing these files as “Environment Variables” in the Configure Paths Window.
- I’ve added the Symbol Library to the List of Symbol Libraries in “Manage Symbol Libraries.” I first add it with the Library Format = Altium, and then choose Migrate Libraries, which I can see converts the file to the .kicad_sym file format.
- I’ve added the Footprint Library to the List of Footprint Libraries in “Manage Footprint Libraries.” As above, I add the .PcbLib using the Altium Library Format, and then click Migrate Libraries, converting it to a .pretty file format.
The converted (migrated) files can be opened successfully in the Symbol Editor and Footprint Editor respectively. However, the database item that points to those files fails to resolve the library files. The symbol is not included, and the Footprint preview shows “Invalid footprint specified” (even though the dropdown list shows “[Default] 144-MAPBGA”.
- Do I have something configured incorrectly?
- Is the Migrate Libraries step necessary? It seems that, unless I want to be able to edit the files, this shouldn’t be necessary and KiCad can make direct use of the SchLib and PcbLib files. (This would be convenient, as then I wouldn’t have drift between the Altium and KiCad libraries).
{
"meta": {
"version": 1.0
},
"name": "CCD (Company Component Database)",
"description": "A KiCad database library connected to CCD Server",
"source": {
"type": "odbc",
"dsn": "",
"username": "",
"password": "",
"timeout_seconds": 2,
"connection_string": "DRIVER={PostgreSQL ANSI(x64)};Server=<server_name>;PORT=5432;DATABASE=ccd;UserName=ccd;Password=<password>"
},
"libraries": [
{
"name": "Resistors",
"table": "Resistors",
"key": "Part Number",
"symbols": "Library Ref",
"footprints": "Footprint Ref",
"fields": [
{
"column": "Manf P/N",
"name": "MPN",
"visible_on_add": false,
"visible_in_chooser": true,
"show_name": true
},
{
"column": "Value",
"name": "Value",
"visible_on_add": true,
"visible_in_chooser": true
},
{
"column": "Tolerance",
"name": "Tolerance",
"visible_on_add": false,
"visible_in_chooser": false
},
{
"column": "Wattage",
"name": "Power Rating",
"visible_on_add": true,
"visible_in_chooser": true,
"show_name": true
},
{
"column": "ComponentLink1URL",
"name": "Datasheet",
"visible_on_add": false,
"visible_in_chooser": false
},
{
"column": "ComponentLink2URL",
"name": "Shiny Part",
"visible_on_add": false,
"visible_in_chooser": false
}
],
"properties": {
"description": "Description"
}
},
{
"name": "Capacitors",
"table": "Capacitors",
"key": "Part Number",
"symbols": "Library Ref",
"footprints": "Footprint Ref",
"fields": [
{
"column": "Manf P/N",
"name": "MPN",
"visible_on_add": false,
"visible_in_chooser": true
},
{
"column": "Value",
"name": "Value",
"visible_on_add": true,
"visible_in_chooser": true
},
{
"column": "Voltage",
"name": "Voltage Rating",
"visible_on_add": true,
"visible_in_chooser": true
},
{
"column": "ComponentLink1URL",
"name": "Datasheet",
"visible_on_add": false,
"visible_in_chooser": false
},
{
"column": "ComponentLink2URL",
"name": "Shiny Part",
"visible_on_add": false,
"visible_in_chooser": false
}
],
"properties": {
"description": "Description"
}
},
{
"name": "ICs",
"table": "ICs",
"key": "Part Number",
"symbols": "Library Ref",
"footprints": "Footprint Ref",
"fields": [
{
"column": "Manf P/N",
"name": "MPN",
"visible_on_add": false,
"visible_in_chooser": true,
"show_name": true
},
{
"column": "Value",
"name": "Value",
"visible_on_add": true,
"visible_in_chooser": true
},
{
"column": "Tolerance",
"name": "Tolerance",
"visible_on_add": false,
"visible_in_chooser": false
},
{
"column": "Wattage",
"name": "Power Rating",
"visible_on_add": true,
"visible_in_chooser": true,
"show_name": true
},
{
"column": "ComponentLink1URL",
"name": "Datasheet",
"visible_on_add": false,
"visible_in_chooser": false
},
{
"column": "ComponentLink2URL",
"name": "Shiny Part",
"visible_on_add": false,
"visible_in_chooser": false
}
],
"properties": {
"description": "Description"
}
}
]
}