Edit all custom template Fields at on place?

Schematic
1

Hey!

I’m new to KiCad - I build a schematic with around 200 components. I’m using the “template field names” on the Schematic Editor for BOM with fields like Manufacturer and Tolerance.
Is there a way to fill out all these Informations at one Place? Like generating a XLS BOM, fill in the informaton and than back-filling the Infos to Kicad?

There must be an easier way to do it than modifing the component in the lib? : (
Maybe something like KiCad Librarian but with custom fields?

looking forward for your help!
thanks
marvin

3

But than I have to create a new Symbol for every resistor value and tolerance… And I would have to change the whole symbol for a small value-change… Sounds too complicated o_O

I would still prefere changing it in a list or somewhat… :frowning:

4

Hi,

A few months ago I needed similar functionality.

I decided to write a python script, which reads reads KICAD’s schematic files (.SCH), extracts the components and some of their property fields.

This information can then be exported to a .csv file in which you can edit these parameters. Once you are done editing, you can reload the .csv file and merge the changes with the .sch files.

I made it so that I can add order codes in a spreadsheet editor, which then can be resynced with the .sch files, and will give the schematic symbols the properties: FarnellLink, MouserLink, and DigikeyLink.

You can find the code at https://github.com/BPJWES/KiCAD_Partslist_editor

This was created for python 3+

If you use it, please make sure to backup your files because, I cannot fully guarantee the script won’t corrupt files.

Best of luck,

Regards, Wefas

PS. I think it would be super handy if similar functionality (list type parameter editing) would be included into CVPCB.

2 Likes
5

awesome! Thank you so much Wefas! I’ll try it - I should be able to figure out how to use it : D

6

This is great! I’m going to try integrating some of your stuff with my KiCost utility so the info it scrapes from those sites can be back-annotated to the schematic.

7

I’ve opened a wishlist bug asking for CSV export/import for schematic symbol fields:

In my view this would make editing fields in schematic very generic (i.e. everyone would be able to use tools they prefer) and very convenient

8

Is there an easy way to use your program with fields other than FarnellLink, MouserLink, and DigikeyLink?

9

Depending on what you want to do this could be rather easy, or quite involved.
The easy way would be to either accept a different field name at first, insert all the parameters in the fields you want to use, and then open the EESchema source files with a text editor and to replace all instances of the field-name you want to change.
This however only works once, if you want to run the script after you have changed the field names, you should first rename the field-names to the original names.

The more difficult approach would of course be to add support for a new field-name. If it is just one or two reasonable new fields, I might even take the time to add it myself.