Duplicate Footprint DRC Error (SOLVED)

Layout
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I created two footprints (2-way & 3-way 5mm Screw Connectors) for a design as I couldn’t find anything in the libraries. I have completed the schematic and PCB layout and am getting the following error when running DRC. I am a long-term (35 years+) user of EasyPC and this is my first design using KiCad.

Please could someone tell me what I have done wrong.

DrcErrors
DrcErrors668×529 41.9 KB

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have you performed annotation on the schematic?
image

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Yes, the schematic was annotated. I laid out the PCB, renumbered it and then back annotated the schematic from the PCB. That all worked OK but the errors came from running DRC on the PCB. As far as I can see there are no duplicate footprints but there are two copies of the 2-pin connector I created so I think that is where the errors are.

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I’ve found that after back annotating to the schematic from the PCB that I then need to follow up with ‘Update PCB with changes made to schematic (F8)’ prior to running DRC on the PCB.

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Please could someone tell me what I have done wrong.

warning "Duplicate footprints:
"You have footprints with unnamed (unvalid) references (the “REF**”-footprints) these usually happens if you add footprints directly into the pcb from (from footprint-browser).

warning "extra footprints:
Additionally you have footprints (also named “REF**”) which you have in the board, but not in the schematic.

In summary I believe your schematic+board are not consistent.

advice for your first steps with kicad:

  • please invest the time to follow the “getting started” tutorial. With your long experience you will need not that much time - but after that you will know the basic kicad-workflow
  • standard workflow for the first steps with kicad:
    • draw schematic
    • annotate all schematic symbols
    • assign footprints to all symbols in the schematic
    • run erc in schematic (and ignore all warnings regarding input/output-mismatch)
    • in board “update board from schematic”
  • avoid adding footprint directly to the board
  • avoid backannotating from board–>schematic
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Thanks both for the ideas, it’s fixed now. I had added three mounting holes to the PCB without adding them to the schematic. I now have a clean DRC on the PCB & ERC on the schematic. The DRC doesn’t report the location of the errors/warnings so I had to figure it out myself. The board has gone for manufacture.

1 Like
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There is another option and that is to tick the Not in schematic attribute on the footprint. But I prefer not to do this but have everything in the schematic.

But recently I couldn’t find a generic logo symbol to go with the KiCad logo footprint. It existed in the past. So I resorted to this option. I know, I could have just made up a KiCad logo symbol. I just took the path of least logo, er, resistance.

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The DRC doesn’t report the location of the errors/warnings so I had to figure it out myself

  • First zoom in to the board so you could see the footprints with good detail.
  • Than resize the DRC-dialog-window so that it only covers 1/2 of your screen.
  • If you now LMB-click the “warning: extra footprint”-line: the displayed view is panned to the error-marker showing the offending footprint (the zoom-factor is not changed, only panning happens)
  • If you now LMB-click the line below (“footprint REF**”): the displayed view is panned to the offending footprint and this footprint is highlighted

So you can work trough the DRC-error-list and get every error-position shown.

edit: prerequisite: the DRC-error/warning markers must be enabled in the appearance panel

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Thanks. That will be a great help for my next design.

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@retiredfeline

When using Easy PC I created a TrueType font with my personal logo in it and could add it to the board easily. I would usually put it in the front solder mask over a copper pour area so that it showed as tinned. Is there a way to use TrueType fonts in KiCad? I’m using version 6.

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Is there a way to use TrueType fonts in KiCad? I’m using version 6.

v6: not directly (only as imported bitmap/SVG)
v7: supports all installed system-fonts

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