Force grabbing a footprint from it anchor point

Layout
1

I’m using the latest Kicad version:

Application: KiCad PCB Editor x86_64 on x86_64
Version: 9.0.0-9.0.0-2~ubuntu24.10.1, release build
Libraries:
    wxWidgets 3.2.5
    FreeType 2.13.3
    HarfBuzz 9.0.0
    FontConfig 2.15.0
    libcurl/8.9.1 OpenSSL/3.3.1 zlib/1.3.1 brotli/1.1.0 zstd/1.5.6 libidn2/2.3.7 libpsl/0.21.2 libssh2/1.11.0 nghttp2/1.62.1 librtmp/2.3 OpenLDAP/2.6.8
Platform: Ubuntu 24.10, 64 bit, Little endian, wxGTK, X11, ubuntu, x11
OpenGL: NVIDIA Corporation, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080/PCIe/SSE2, 4.6.0 NVIDIA 560.35.03
Build Info:
    Date: Feb 20 2025 21:17:37
    wxWidgets: 3.2.5 (wchar_t,wx containers) GTK+ 3.24
    Boost: 1.83.0
    OCC: 7.8.1
    Curl: 8.9.1
    ngspice: 43
    Compiler: GCC 14.2.0 with C++ ABI 1019
    KICAD_IPC_API=ON
Locale: 
    Lang: en_GB
    Enc: UTF-8
    Num: 1,234.5
    Encoded кΩ丈: D0BACEA9E4B888 (sys), D0BACEA9E4B888 (utf8)

I read several threads about moving footprints in PCB Editor (like this or this) but the behavior I notice is the following:

  • if I select a pad and press M it grabs the pad itself (as expected)
  • if I select the whole component and press M it grabs the pad closer to a grid intersection
  • the same applies if I just over the mouse and press M
  • using G it correcly grabs from the anchor point but I cannot reposition the footprint (when clicking it goes back to the initial position)
  • the same applies using D (btw, I didn’t expect it would grab the footprint!)

Yes, I’m aware this happens with a coarse grid, but it is what I actually need.
Currently I’m trying to place 64 LEDs on a 6x6 mm grid.

Is there a way to force the Move action to grab from the anchor point no matter the position of the grid and the mouse?

I enabled the following settings:

  • warp mouse to anchor of moved object
  • magnetic points set to “always”, but it seems they have no effect on the above behavior (IIRC they set the ending points, not the starting ones)
2

Disabling Pads in the selection filter will prevent kicad from using pads as movement grabbing points. It still is possible kicad decides to use the geometric centre instead of the anchor point for movement, but for a LED there is a chance that the footprint is symmetrical so anchor point == geometric centre.

Other approach: use the fast grid settings with 1x set to your desired 6mm, the alternative fast grid to 0,1mm and switch (with hotkey) between fine grid at grabbing time and coarse grid during placement of the moved LED.

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3

Have you tried the Array tool?
Right Mouse Button for the Select menu then “Create from Selection”

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4

Next time I’ll try! As far as I understand with the array tool you create new (instead of arranging existing) components and you need to import them in schematic later.