Hello Sirs,
I have a problem with this function “Global Spread and Place”, does not appear in Pcbnew.
Is it a bug?
Thanks for understanding,
Dragos.
You don’t say which version of Kicad are you using.
I assume you are following some tutorial - which version of the software is being used in the tutorial?
The current version of KiCad (5.1.5) will automatically spread and place the components whereas previous versions required some intervention. KiCad has changed significantly in many ways over the last few years but there are a lot of old tutorials around referencing older methods. The first thing to check is that the version you are using corresponds to the version in the tutorial.
It often seems to confuse people that 5.0 and 5.1 are very different and that tutorials for one will not work in the other - they seem to assume that 'cos its version 5 it must be the same.
I use 5.1.5. What are ways that help to spread and place objects?
In previous versions of the software, all the components were dumped on the board overlapping and users had to move them around to undo the mess before they could start positioning them properly. There was an option (mentioned in several older tutorials) of how you could automatically spread the footprints out to make this easier. In more recent versions (can’t recall when it changed), the process has been automated and now all the footprints will be placed without overlapping ready to be easily moved in to their final position.You don’t mention which tutorial you are following.
From your follow up, I get the feeling that you are expecting the software to do more than simply dump the footprints on the board. In all EDA software, once the footprints are on the board you have to move them around manually to achieve the layout you need. Most people would say that they spend longer positioning the components optimally than doing the routing.
Okay.In this videotutorial indicate posibility to use the function “Global Spread and Place”.I have not option in version 5.1.5.Can you explain me please,which are the posibility to find her or is a bug?
How many times you need to be told that current KiCad version automatically spreads elements when the netlist is loaded?
So there are no the function to spread elements and it is not a bug.
But there is a function to place elements autoamtically. See menu Place - Place Footprints Automatically. But I will not tell you anything about it as I have never tried it.
I open the PCB at left half of screen, and schematic at right half. Then when I take any element at PCB it is marked at schematic so I know when I wont it to be placed.
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