How do I delete component labels from the silkscreen layer?

[hph]

Pressing the delete key does not do anything.

Thanks!

[gkeeth]

Double clicking the label will bring up the properties for the label (alternatively, use Properties in the right click menu, or select the label and press E). In Properties, you can uncheck “Visible”.

You can also change text visibility in the properties window for the full footprint (follow the above instructions, but with the footprint selected rather than the label).

Edit: as an aside, upcoming version 7 has the “press delete to hide silkscreen text” functionality that you tried first (Hide text items which are required on a single-item delete. (f8d6bf4c) · Commits · KiCad / KiCad Source Code / kicad · GitLab)

[hph]

Thank you! And what would be the best way to add labels to vias? I want to label where wires are going to be soldered to the board.

[hph]

Also when I copy and paste vias it automatically puts the ghost trace lines (IDK the actual name) between them. Is there a way to disable this linking when it is pasted?

[gkeeth]

I probably wouldn’t use vias. Instead, I would use explicit components that are included in the schematic and assigned a footprint. You could try the footprints in the Connector_Wire library, but anything with a through hole that’s the right size would work.

I would then add text to the footprint (click the + button in my second screenshot), make sure it’s visible, and put it on the silkscreen layer. Then it will stay associated with your hole.

[gkeeth]

You probably are referring to ratsnest lines, which indicate that there’s a connection that needs to be routed.

You can hide the ratsnest lines with a toggle button on the left side toolbar, but they are telling you that there’s a connection you need to route. If the ratsnest connection is to the wrong net, you can change what net is assigned to the via in the via properties (same as every other properties dialog: double click the via, right click → Properties, or select and press E).

But this scenario won’t happen if you follow my advice about using a footprint instead of a via, because you’ll set up the net properly by including a connector symbol in the schematic

[hph]

Thanks! This is how it’s turning out so far. This is offtopic but do you happen to know, I’ll need to solder (15) 28AWG wires to the board. Is 0.5mm too small of a hole? Should I go with 0.7?

[hph]

Thanks, yeah, I will go back and change the holes.

BTW the wires will be permanently installed. I’m remanufacturing a certain 1960’s PEC/couplate. Picture:

And before you ask: the reason I’m using lots of 1.6M resistors (all unlabeled ones are 1.6M) instead of 3.3M and 4.7M as in the schematic below is to not exceed the dielectric voltage in any one resistor (this goes on a 330V circuit). On that note, do you think the spacing I have is OK? This chart says that 0.8mm should be fine up to 500V.

[hph]

Original schematic:

[hph]

Good advice, I won’t be testing it that high or working with it live, but unfortunately that’s just how God made neon, needs 330V or so and that’s what these old organs run at.

[hph]

I have another question, how do I turn off viewing all of these circles around the thru holes? And what are they?

[hph]

I ran DRC and it didn’t give me any errors, so I guess the circles are the minimum distance between other stuff, not the minimum distance between themselves.

Thanks so much for the help guys! I’ve used other PCB software in the past but I think I’ll be sticking with this now. Just needed some help adjusting

[paulvdh]

PCB Editor / Preferences / Preferences / PCB Editor / Display Options / Clerance Outlines, and it’s got 5 radio buttons for the tracks, and a checkbox for the pads.