This is to Fred and Rene, since below you have some back and forth on this.
This is the normal mac install procedure, but I believe that the “*.dmg” installer automatically creates the library folder – most installers do.
let’s begin with basics. “dmg” is simple a disk image. Anything can go on/in that image. By convention, Mac applications are “packages” (*.pkg") sets of code that only appear to be one program, and icon). They can be files on the hard disk or delivered on an image. or by carrier pigeons (see RFC 2549). You drag it to the applications folder and it does the rest. Everything works this way including Microsoft office and every two-bit app not sold through the app store.
There is no limitation to what the logic in these installers might perform. The can place the libraries in other locations. Office does. In fact almost all do, at minimum they place preferences in the preferences folder. So does KiCAD for the record.
hen i installed on my MacBook air (the machine in question) I am almost certain i was not asked to place the libraries anywhere. That said, I might have been asked to place the (schematic & layout) library update i mentioned in the UNIX/Mac “library” folder. But, as i recall, i only went for an update because the libraries were broken (we now can guess they did not match their path in the table). If so, in that case i could have been the culprit. As i began, a zillion posts back, the norm on mac is that application support files go in the /Users/me/Library/Application Support folder – unless they are intended to be system wide and multi-user. However, the KiCAD library table (which i now know more about than i ever wished to or ought to) points eeschema and layout to the root library folder: “/Library/Application Support” folder. Subtly different and rarely used, and ONLY used for programs that will be shared by multiple users on one laptop - a rare occurrence.
Its fine, but this point needs to be made clear or this will be a common error beyond a very few sophisticated users. You may think I am UN-knowledgeable, but in reality i just want to treat this as a toaster - an appliance that i never look inside. I’ve got a desk full of thank-you trinkets from Apple when i solved the problems they could not. And yet I made the mistake (maybe).
I really think that users need to be told:
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“libraries are put here, don’t touch them unless they don’t work”.
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You also ought to tell people hat this location is specified in the libraries table and how to edit it if they need to (i have asked four times and still don’t know BTW).
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Finally tell them that they can add 3rd party or personal libraries anywhere they wish, and must point to them (“add” is a technically incorrect word - you are not adding, you are creating a pointer to their pre-existing path in the directory tree). This is accomplished with the “manage symbol/footprint libraries” dialog under Preferences. “hover over” dialogs ought to be on the icons since they are otherwise mysterious.
Remember you have “expert’s disease” — you are too close and know too much to see these things as users do. I tell this to my staff all the time - “don’t let me write the copy!” especially users who just want a tool for some part-time projects that just might go somewhere, so i’ll invest in learning a tool that might have legs.
In reality I have had to answer all my own questions, do I don’t need he original help any longer. I would appreciate and simple pointers as to how to best accomplish what i have described, but I think i also know that answer.
Please take to heart that this program is not easy to use and the documentation is sometimes tough to follow. Maybe worst, there are no “contextual pointers” associated with menu items, dialogs, buttons etc. that point confused users to a KB entry specific to that function. I only figured KiCAD out with the help of 3rd party stuff on Youtube and other sites.
on the other hand its a program with a growing user base, support, and some powerful (if maddeningly documented) features. So there’s much value to making it easier to adopt.
I hope this is all helpful.
G
