Using KiCAD 5.1.10. When dragging a via, and trying to keep things tight, I frequently push other tracks. If I move my via backwards the track stays where it was pushed to. This is different than when dragging tracks. If dragging a track pushes other tracks, and then you back off the pushed tracks return to their original state. This makes via dragging a bit of a drag. Often times I would like to get as close as possible without going over (like the Price-Is-Right). If this is technically difficult to make it work like the tracks, one simpler solution (at least in my mind) would be to add a halo around the via that matches the clearance setting. That way I can at least see how close I am to bumping an adjacent track.
Maybe this has already been addressed in the up coming KiCAD 6 release? I didn’t quickly find anything in a search for this issue.
The best answer to your question is that you should stop caring about those details. They are simply not important enough to spend time on. The Interactive router in KiCad is a wonderful thing, but it needs some room to do it’s thing. Even if you manage to get your tracks and via’s exactly where you have planned them, there is a very real change that a bit later you move some things, or have to squeeze another track in between and the layout is changed anyway. Why would you care if a via or track is in some random location, or two millimeters further?
There also is no good reason for:
Just draw it in the easiest (and quickest) way possible to make the connections and shove it a bit together afterwards if you like.
So instead of trying to work against the Interactive router, embrace it and make use of it’s strong points. This will be a significant improvement for your productivity. I usually draw tracks in a sloppy, but quick way with lots of room in between, and further in the design they get tighter as more tracks and via’s are squeezed in between and the existing tracks are pushed aside a little bit each time. And then, near the end, you can grab one of the outermost tracks and squeeze them all together a bit. (This also increases capacitive coupling between the tracks, and this is a bad thing!)
You can set the interactive router to “walk around” mode, and that is a good option to have, but it disables a lot of functionality of the interactive router and I would only recommend it for fixing some small but important details.
You can make the clearance around via’s visible with Pcbnew / Preferences / Preferences / Pcbnew / Display Options / Clearance Outlines These radio buttons work both for tracks and via’s, and below that a checkbox for showing them on pads too. I also like to see the clearances, even though they are not terribly important. Setting up net classes and using them properly is much more important. This sets the rules that the Interactive Router will obey, and you can stop caring about half a millimeter to the left or right.
Adjusting habits is hard and it took me some time to do it myself, but it really helps in designing PCB’s quicker. (Which leaves more time for “cleanup” of details at the end).
Sorry, but I often don’t like how it pushes tracks. When I have 10 tracks stacked up and it starts significantly changing routes that I have already put down. I usually have reasons for why I put it down the way that I did. It is hard for AI to fully understand why I am doing what I have done. I stay in “walk around” mode most of the time.
I appreciate your time and suggestions, but KiCAD is great because it is flexible for different peoples needs and desires for how they layout a board. One size doesn’t always fit all.
KiCad is indeed quite flexible and supports different workflows, and maybe you do indeed have good reasons to do it your way, and you’re free to do so and do not have to apologize for it. (It’s become so common that saying sorry has lost all meaning, at least in the country I live in).
Maybe it helps if you post some screenshots.
When you use the Interactive Router in “walk around” mode you miss out of a lot of what it can do for you. Maybe it is a good idea to lock some tracks, so the interactive router won’t move them, and then use the Push and Shove mode more.
I am about done with the board I am on (it was actually an edit of an existing board), but I will keep that in mind and do some experimenting on my next board. I sincerely appreciate your time in sharing and wanting to help me use the tools that are available to their maximum potential.
Perhaps related,. I found that after right click selecting a track or VIA, it moves via and tracks around I don’t want to be affected. When I zoom in, less tracks get affected and can position the via better… maybe this helps.