I have downloaded ADS1299-4PAG symbol from SnapEDA but it come in a long rectangular format. When I try to modify it into a square symbol, I find it really frustrating. Is there a shortcut to do so?
The problems that I am facing -
I can’t set the square size manually, and I can only drag the corners to change the size. There is no way to know what should be ideal square size.
I am trying to set 16 Pin each side in the order distributing anti-clockwise but there is no way to equally space those pins. You have to do it manually.
Whenever I try to select the entire symbol to move, my cursor randomly choose a location on the symbol and jump there. It never move the symbol from the location where I have clicked. Basically anchor point is not the point where I have clicked, it is something else.
I have spent like 1-2hr doing this only and when I saved the symbol and go back to my main schematic, I couldn’t connect pins. The wire connection will not align with the pins, hence wont make any connection. I went back to symbol editor and try to change the orgin of the symbol but it is so frustrating I can’t enter any coordintates to set the location manually. I will have to drag the symbol which again causes the the problem mentioned in the point #3
Set your grid to Mils.
Go to View > Grid Properties and make your grid 50 mils.
Place your Anchor on Pin 1.
Then each movement of your cross hairs will be 50 mil which will align with the schematic wires.
Move your mouse around the pins to check that all pins are exactly 50 mil apart.
Please do this and then reply.
Ideal size is one that will allow all the pins to be 50 mil from each other.
I figured that anchor point already but it is still resulting me a problem that I have shown in the GIF in my original post. As you can see, as soon as I click to move my cursor jumps to the top left corner, instead of staying at my clicked position. I have never seen such behavior in any drawing app. This is so unintuitive.
Also, by default all the gird settings came as 50mils for alt1 and alt2
I think I am misunderstanding the use of Anchor that you are talking about. First I used the anchor exact in the center to align the center of the square and origin (0,0) of the grid but that had no effect when I try to move the square.
After that I took your suggestion and put the anchor on top left, now top left of the square and origin (0,0) of the gird is aligned but what’s the use if it doesn’t change the behavior.
Also, it seems like I can only move the square from top left but not from the center. Please tell me if I am wrong.
Also, as you see in the bottom image, my wires are not making any connection with component pins. Can you tell me what would be the problem ?
All the pins are off grid.
In the symbol editor, select the whole symbol then select the anchor and place your cursor, with the anchor attached, onto pin no. 1 and left click.
You will know if you have done this properly because the crosshairs of the symbol editor will now be on pin no.1
Your original problem seems to be that the imported symbol arrived in Kicad off grid.
It is worth taking the few seconds to set the anchor every time you import a symbol (or footprint) because often, even if the symbol is on grid, the anchor may not be where you wish.
With the rectangle, if you cannot resize it for whatever reason, delete that rectangle but not the pins, and just use the graphic “draw a rectangle” or “draw a line” to form the box. To fill with color, click anywhere on the edge, open Polygon Properties and select “fill with body background color”.
This polygon will be adjustable.
