How to cross probe in KiCad 7.0

Layout
1

I am not able to cross probe between schematic and layout. I have attached the settings.

If I select schematic symbol, it does not select/highlight/zoom the corresponding component in the layout. The same is true the other way. If I select a component in the layout, it does not select/highlight/zoom in the schematic.

I am wondering how to enable cross probing ?

I also tried, select a schematic symbol, right click “select on PCB” but nothing happened on PCB view. It should select/highlight/zoom to that component in the layout but it does not.

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2
3

For me cross-probing always worked. But you do need to start the schematic and PCB editors from the project manager, so there is an active project. There is no cross-probing in standalone mode, as at that time there is no connection between the schematic and PCB at all.

4

I always open PCB Editor from Schematic. The issue is the same.

5

Which KiCad 7 version are you using? Did you try switching to version 9 to make sure the problem wasn’t fixed in the last two years?

6

Cross probing was probably introduced in KiCad V6. But whatever, if your version has it, it should work. If you do stay with KiCad v7 (or any old KiCad version) then do make sure you updated to the latest bug fix release (The third digit of KiCad’s version number) of that mayor version.

But do you open the project manager first? That is what keeps a project together, but without the open project, opening the PCB editor from the schematic editor probably also does not work. The simplest test is with [F8] which is the function to update the PCB from the schematic. If that works, you can be pretty sure the connection between schematic and PCB has been established.

7

Open both from the project manager.

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8

Opening the PCB Editor from the Schematic Editor does the same thing as opening it from the Project Editor.

9

Hi, eelik. I never tried that before. But just now from schematic editor I tried tools>switch to pcb editor. Cross probing appears to be a “no-worky.” (I did not open project manager.) It did work OK when I opened both from project manager.

Sounds like the OP had similar experience.

10

I think the point is:- open the Project, open the Schematic from the Project . . . open the PCB editor from the Schematic and cross probing works.

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11

The OP’s problem may be:

Open the Schematic, highlight, THEN open the PCB to see highlight and vice a versa.
Both must be open for cross probing to work.

12

The more I think about it, the more options there are. The variables are sequence and what is opened from what. For example, one could open the PCB editor first, then the schematic editor (can you open it from the PCB editor?) and then the project manager. But what is the advantage; why would one want to do that? But even if one would not, maybe 17 would. :crazy_face:

Of course my earlier response (and what I tried yesterday) did not involve opening the project manager at all.

13

Cross probing works both ways . . . so I think first open the Project, then either the Schematic Editor or PCB Editor and call the other from there or from the Project Manager.

The important bit is open the Project first, its the glue that makes cross probing work.

14

Yes, it works this way. Thanks.

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