1 Is it possible to set the cursor by entering coordinates?
2 Is it possible to assign hotkeys?
Prferences - Hotkeys.
If double click any hotkey in the list you got the small window with information and with text: “Press a new hotkey, or press Esc to cancel…”
I have never needed it but I have just checked - it works (the hotkey at list is changed - I didn’t checked it more).
Not sure its possible to position the cursor . . . . but you can move items an exact offset from where they are . . .
or simply change their position to an exact position . . .
Yes.
(Version 7.0.5 shown)
No, but as @RaptorUK shows, you can set items with respect to other items various ways.
There is also, at the very bottom, middle of your screen, X/Y & dx/dy positioning.
X & Y show the cursor position with respect to an Origin. See @RRPollack post for explanation.
dx/dy shows one position of the cursor with respect to another position. Place cursor somewhere, press space bar and dx/dy will zero. Move cursor and watch values and distance change. Units depend on Board setting. Works for both Polar and Cartesian.
This is incorrect.
In the PCB editor options you can select one of three origins: Page, Drill/Place file, or Grid. All three default to the upper left corner of the worksheet. Changing the direction of the axes does not affect this (and I’m not aware of any plans to change this).
The Drill/Place file origin can be repositioned anywhere using the tool on the right-hand toolbar or the “Place” menu. Using this option allows the user to see the same coordinates that will appear in the drill and place files sent to the fabricator.
The Grid origin is convenient for referencing relative to the layout grid.
Personally, I suggest selecting the Drill/Place file origin, and changing the Y-axis display to increase up. Then position the Drill/Place file origin at the lower left corner of the board.
I had no time yet to investigate V7 possibilities. I didn’t know about possibility to have Origin = Drill/Place file origin. Reading what you write I was thinking if it will be good for me, but I think not.
For symmetrical boards (most of my boards have some kind of symmetry) I prefer to have origin in their center (helps to position holes, draw PCB border, position terminal blocks (DIN rail cases)). But Drill/Place file origin I prefer to be at lower left corner of the board (so all coordinates in output files are positive - I don’t have other arguments for it as only tradition).
I sometimes need offsetting grid origin so Origin=Grid origin I also don’t assume being the best solution. Question comes to mind - what happens if you enter offset in user grid setting while at the same time you have Origin = Grid Origin? May be grid origin is not calculated regarding Origin but regarding top left sheet corner always.
It looks that until I will be able to position Origin whenever I like I will continue to position my boards with top left sheet corner in their center.
This feature became available in the initial v6 release. No need to update to v7 if you haven’t already.
When I started prototyping this feature, I assumed Grid origin would be a good choice. However, if I moved the grid origin during layout I had trouble putting it back where it started. Using Drill/Place origin solved that issue. I thought about removing the Grid origin option before the code changes were merged, but decided someone might like it.
Remember, both the Drill/Place origin and the Grid origin can be positioned anywhere using the tools. I start my layouts by setting both at the lower left corner of my board. If I move the grid for any reason, it’s easy to put it back by putting it on top of the Drill/Place marker.
I updated to V6 shortly before V7 release (V6 needed Win10 while I had Win7) and then updated to V7. So I do not distinguish between the news of V6 and V7.
Thanks to your post I found that behind positioning the Drill origin there is also tool to position grid origin I didn’t know it is there
I’m not checking it now (busy with other things). Can’t you put it back at Drill origin?
I am thinking now of placing Origin and Grid origin together, and marking my PCB center with small graphic cross. When moved Grid origin (together with Origin) than may be I will be able to put it back on my cross (do grid origin while moved snap to crossing graphic lines).
When I will be back at PCB design I have to experiment a little and may be change some basic assumptions of my workflow.
Having the chance of setting the Drill/Place origin (let’s say 0,0 point) anywhere is a great improvement.
An independent grid origin is also useful. I usually place footprints on a 0.25mm grid. For some reason I have a connector with 5.08mm pitch and I want to pass the tracks exactly in the middle between pins. Then I set the grid origin onto one of the connector’s pads, I select the 0.254 or 0.127mm grid and the tracks can go at 2.54 mm from each pad. The grid origin can be reset to the drill/place origin if wanted. Surely the same result can be reached with a 0.01 grid or even 0.001 grid without moving the grid origin at all.
Improvement over what do you write?
I am 99% sure that setting Drill/Place origin anywhere was possible in KiCad V4. I don’t know what was before.
While the Drill/Place origin existed prior to v6, its use was limited to generating the drill and place fabrication files. The ability to display coordinates relative to the Drill/Place or Grid origin in the PCB editor was new in v6.
Exactly, from v6 the (0,0) origin can be set anywhere not only to generate fabrication files but for the general coordinates origin too.
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