How do I associate a part with a footprint permanently?

[questuk]

Hi
In the ‘Schematic editor’ I have added my own DC barrel connector and added a footprint.
I then do ‘Update PCB from schematic’. This passes with no errors.

If I then add another DC barrel connector, via the ‘Schematic editor’ and do the above again, it does not have the footprint anymore ? Why ?

How do I permanently associate these files ?

Thanks

Gaz

[paulvdh]

Every schematic symbol in the schematic is independent.
If you are using a lot of resistors, then most may be small SMT types, and some may be bigger SMT’s or even THT power shunts.

Therefore KiCad has a lot of flexibility in assigning footprints to schematic symbols and can do this in at least 5 different ways.

The simplest method is to select the first barrel jack in your schematic and then make a copy of it. This also copies the footprint link.

If you want a “permanent link” then:

1. Create a personal library for schematic symbols.
2. Copy a schematic for a barrel jack into it.
3. Assign a footprint to that barrel jack.
4. Save the library.

Then, every time you use that barrel jack connector from that library it already has a footprint link.

It is not really “permanent” though. Footprint links in schematic symbols can always be changed later.

[questuk]

If you want a “permanent link” then:

1. Create a personal library for schematic symbols.
2. Copy a schematic for a barrel jack into it.
3. Assign a footprint to that barrel jack.
4. Save the library.

Then, every time you use that barrel jack connector from that library it already has a footprint link.

Hi Paul,
Thanks that it worked, took me a while to understand how to do it.
Now I know how to open my library to edit it whenever i like.
I can then delete a symbol if required.
Or import a new symbol and then add a footprint and save that directory.
The footprint is then ‘permanently’ associated.

Thanks

Gaz

[paulvdh]

Creating new schematic symbols and footprints and managing them in libraries is a valuable skill in any EDA program suite. It does take some time (One to a few hours) to learn how to do it in KiCad, but with a bit of practice you can create any schematic symbol or footprint you need. Simple parts can be made in a few minutes. More complicated parts take longer, depending on the complexity of the part of course.