How to Handle Component References for SMD boards

[Piotr]

@pmi

but the references have to be on the board.

I don’t remember ever (since 90s) having references on the board.
Using Protel 3 for long time we used its silkscreen layer (have the advantage of following footprint when flipped top/bottom) for our documentation so we didn’t had it on PCB. When we needed to use silkscreen layer it was only for text for user like terminal block pin description (texts of kind: “GND” “+12V”, “IN1”, “IN2” and so on). In such case I placed those texts on one graphic layer and sending PCB to manufacture informed them to use this layer as silkscreen.
When moved to KiCad in 2017 I found the other layer pair swapping layer with footprints (courtyard) and used it for documentation so now our PCB have silkscreen but containing only rectangles around footprints. I have references and values at courtyard layers to have them in our documentation.
How I place references you can see here:

Creating my first footprint: questions as a beginner

I’m trying to stick to that but as Kicad is not allowing me to have 1 symbol mapped to 2 footprints, You don’t understand. If your element has two connectors but not at cables but at its PCB then they both are ‘one insertion’ so one footprint. I started to assemble SMD myself around 1992 and till now I don’t have microscope. When I started to have to use glasses for reading I have bought a workshop lamp with magnifying glass. I have no space at desk for station so I use: Not needed. I…