Disappearing footprints when dimming layers

[khillig]

Here’s an odd one:

I’m working on a simple 2-layer PCB with through-hole parts. I’ve created my own footprint library for most components to make it easier to find the things I most commonly use (and to tweak some text locations and visibility). On this particular board I have resistors and diodes.

For easy visual inspection I like to select a layer and dim the other layers.

When I do this for the front or back copper layers, the resistor F.Silkscreen outline is still visible but the diodes disappear; when I do this for the F.Silkscreen layer, the diodes’ pads disappear:

I’ve examined all of the footprints and don’t see any obvious differences in the way they are defined.

What am I missing?

[khillig]

Sorry, should have mentioned: KiCad 9.0.2, Apple Silicon, MacOS 14.7.1

[jmk]

Odd? Yes.

Perhaps to confirm whether it is a Kicad problem or a user problem, place a Kicad library diode into your personal library then substitute that for your own footprint.

Eg. Take D_A-405_P10.16mm and “Save as” into your personal Diode library and substitute.

[khillig]

Well, this actually gets weirder!

I was actually using my custom footprint for these - a copy of D_DO-34_SOD68_P7.62mm_Horizontal with some changes to the text - so per your suggestion I’ve changed half of the diodes to use the D_DO-34_SOD68_P7.62mm_Horizontal footprint while the other half use my modified footprint.

The result is that diodes with the standard footprint only partially dim or hide:

So I’m quite confused as to how KiCad determines what to dim/hide and to what extent; I suspect it’s time to submit a bug report.

[gkeeth]

In your latest set of screenshots, the one that isn’t dimming appears to be selected. Selected footprints aren’t dimmed even if they are on a dimmed layer.

Edit: hmm, on second thought, I think I’m not right.

Can you attach your project?

[khillig]

I thought so too, so I double-checked to make sure it wasn’t selected…

The project files and my custom footprints for the diode and resistors are attached, along with my custom symbol library if you need it. (My footprints and symbols mostly violate the “Pin 1 at the origin” rule, mainly because it makes rotating a part 180º much easier - pin 1 on the schematic somehow always ends up on the wrong end.)

R_Axial_0.125W.kicad_mod (4.1 KB)
KWH_Custom.kicad_sym (629.1 KB)
Diode_Signal_DO34.kicad_mod (4.8 KB)
Octaver_Mini.kicad_pcb (707.2 KB)
Octaver_Mini.kicad_prl (2.4 KB)
Octaver_Mini.kicad_pro (20.3 KB)
Octaver_Mini.kicad_sch (214.9 KB)

[halachal]

I tried your .kicad_pcb on 9.0.2 on mac, and I don’t see this behavior.

Edit: I am running OSX 14.5 tho

[gkeeth]

I also do not see this behavior using your project (9.0.2-166-g2a1b02c154, a testing build a bit newer than yours).

Does it still happen if you restart kicad?

[khillig]

This did persist between several restarts of KiCad - but…

I took a look at the contents of the two .kicad_mod files (it’s nice that they’re plain text files!), and the only significant difference I saw was that my custom one had two extra sections - for “Datasheet” and “Description” - both of which were null. I deleted these from my footprint and then updated the PCB, and now they behave as expected; likewise, the stock footprint also behaves correctly now.

Did my edit have anything to do with this? I have no idea! But at least it’s working properly again (for now)