DO I Need to Reassign Symbols After Importing KiCad Project?

Schematic
1

Hi everyone,

I recently imported a KiCad project from one device to another. While the schematic symbols loaded without any problems, the footprints were missing. I believe this is due to the change in the footprint location. I’ve decided to reassign the footprints.

My question is: Do I need to reassign the symbols as well, even though they appear to be fine?

Thanks in advance for your help

2

You do not have to re-assign the symbols.
You also did not have to re-assign footprints. From KiCad V6 and newer, all information (Except 3D models) is embedded in the KiCad project itself. With KiCad V5 and older there is important information in the [Project]-cache.lib and [Project]-rescue.lib files, but in newer KiCad versions these files are not used anymore.

I wonder what the exact error messages are that you were getting. I guess it was that the footprints did not match the library, or that the libraries could not be found. And there are various ways to fix this:

  1. You can ignore it. The footprints themselves are still embedded in the project.
  2. Ignore & supress the warnings.
  3. Export the footprints (and / or symbols) to a new library, and then update the links so Kicad links the footprints (and/or symbols) to the newly created library.
  4. Figure out what the old library names were and fix them. (This is probably the most laborious).
  5. Associate the footprints (symbols) with (presumably) newer versions from the (probably) default libraries, and then update the project. I guess this is what you did.
3

image

To solve this issue, export the footprints to a new library and then update the links. This resolved the problem for me. My question is, is it necessary to also add the symbols?
since

Screenshot 2025-02-14 153533
Screenshot 2025-02-14 153533941×201 2.68 KB

When I review the property information, the symbol is not present

4

I am not entirely sure what you are trying to do. The normal workflow is to first put symbols on the schematic. And then, if they do not have footprints assigned, assign the footprints, and then put those on the PCB with Update Schematic from PCB [F8].

But apparently this is an existing project, made with some older KiCad version (maybe an import from another PCB program? I can add a symbol for an: stm32mp157fac symbol, but My KiCad version takes it from the MCU_ST_STM32MP1 library, and that is a slightly different name then what you are showing.

How familiar are you with KiCad and with PCB design in general? This is a quite complex part. An BGA with over 300 balls, and the schematic symbol alone is twice as big as an A4 paper format.

5

  • The schematic was originally created on another device using KiCad 8.

  • I imported it into my current device for PCB design.

  • While editing the schematic, I added the footprint.

  • After importing the project and loading it into the PCB editor, an error dialog box (shown above) appeared.

  • I fixed the issue by adding the footprint library and linking it properly.

  • However, when I check the symbol’s property information, it is missing

  • The schematic was originally created on another device using KiCad 8.

  • I imported it into my current device for PCB design.

  • While editing the schematic, I added the footprint.

  • After importing the project and loading it into the PCB editor, an error dialog box (shown above) appeared.

  • I fixed the issue by adding the footprint library and linking it properly.

  • However, when I check the symbol’s property information, it is missing

6

This is my first time designing with BGA, and I have one year of experience with ESP32 and STM32 MCUs. The schematic symbol is divided into smaller units to simplify the schematic design

7

That makes a lot of sense. The Library symbol of this MP1 looks like it’s generated from a script. Pin names / numbers are probably correct (but should still be verified). It’s a good start, but using this symbol without splitting it into multiple units would be quite awkward.

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