Hello,
In both, schematic and physical editors, there are several grid settings to choose from.
But in my use case I only want to select/cycle only a few.
Where can I remove the unused from this list?
Thanks and regards
The GUI currently has no option to change these settings.
Best option currently is to use the two customizable âFast gridâ values in the grid menu and rely mostly on these two grid-values.
Maybe someone knows a additional way to modify internal kicad settings/project files.
I canât find how you obtained this view?
Except Alt+1 and Alt+2 grids you can also have user grid set to third value and it is rather easy to switch to as it is the last on the list of selectable grids.
AFAIK the grid settings are in %appdata%\kicad\7.99\kicad.json.
The path is for windows and version 7.99 (to be substituted by 7.0 for stables).
But anyways it is nothing the user is supposed to tinker withâŚ
[EDIT] And I assume it is overwritten by each new version.
Itâs not overwritten, but tinkering comes with no warranty. It will work for the PCB editor, but we do not allow customization of grids for the schematic editor.
Why not? (it is designed to be like this, I get that). Perhaps something that can change in the future?
I never stood still about this relative long list of grid sizes. I am simply not familiar with anything else⌠But reading the OPâs question, I do understand his point of view.
When I think about it, there are only 2 grid settings that I use for 98% of the time. I use 0.5mm when I am making the board outlines and place drillholes. And while placing components and routing I set the grid to 0.0050" /0.127mm.
So yeah I use the hotkeys for this, but for me to have a shorter grid size list wouldnât hurt either 
By exception I may use something smaller like 0.25mm. Mousebites, special board outlines, specific drill hole properties⌠to name an exception or two
How many gridsizes do you use?
EDIT:
Did not have an apparant effect for me?
Regards,
Bas
What I find interesting is the difference between Schema/Symbol and PCB/Footprint Editors.
The Schema/Symbol Editors only show about half of the Grids available to the PCB/Footprint Editors. The group shown for Schema/Sym is dependent on whether a Metric or Imperial grid is used, whereas for the PCB/Footprint all available are always shown.
If I could choose, Iâd like to see the list stay, but extend the âFast Switchingâ list to 5.
What I find interesting is that it is at all possible to even select different gridsizes in the schematics.
I personally do find it convenient when I make those sketchy graphical connection schemes with images and all for my website. But when doing some standard schematic work, I have not came across moments in where I wanted to change it. I cannot think of a reason, but that may be inexperience on my part.
I once experienced the misfortune of making this gridsize smaller on a computer. I believe I accidently did it with the hotkey N. (reminder to myself, remove N from hotkeys this instance) And I did some projects with it. Later It was TARFU. Especially when you switch between PCs. With smaller gridsizes, placing wires is harder to do. You are often off by 1x gridsize. And when you switch between computers 
deathtrap.
I reminded a YT video of John from âJohnâs basementâ in which he specifically said not ever to screw the the gridsize in the schematics. You will regret!. He is right.
Even today when I open some half old schematic I occassionally run into this issue that half the components and wires arenât on the ânormalâ grid.
If I could choose, Iâd like to see the list stay, but extend the âFast Switchingâ list to 5.
+1 
Perfectly viable feature imo. Only have to relocate âopen 3d vierâ to alt + 6 
I think I can live with that.
Regards, 
Bas
When placing text fields, pin labels etc. in the schematic editor or symbol editor one might find smaller grid sizes beneficial, but for connecting wires they probably are more of a nuisance.
2 Likes
That is me.
I find it annoying to hold the Ctrl key down when repositioning text. I find it much easier to 90% finish the schematic then drop the grid down to 1 mil. and reposition all the text.
Symbol editor is completely different. Place the pins on 50 mil. and then anything goes for the graphics.
Footprint editor starts with pad to pad centres and moves to rows of pad centres and then who knows what for graphics.
PCB starts with grids to make placement of pads for components with physical restraints easy, and after that could be anything.
1 Like
I move texts (using Ctrl) after each symbol placed at schematic. That helps to know how close to previous symbols I can place the next one.
1 Like
I also try to do it once per component. I start with one and copy paste that component for as much as possible
I place the symbols (or footprints) first then find somewhere to place the text later. This also helps to keep my OCD happy 
I must admit though, my way is only really possible because of the text to axis guide wire that shows when moving text. Without that, Iâd be in deep trouble. 
That line exist for a reason. I have it with footprint placing. Sometimes I just want to rotate something because⌠reasons, but that also moves the silk text along with it. Often putting it underneath a different footprint. I would not mind if we get a CTRL + R hotkey so we can rotate symbols/footprints without moving the texts. Or alteast something to prevent a text from intersecting with anything else
How often do you need to use these texts? For me they seems being not needed for anything.
For many years at our PCBs we didnât used silk layer at all. Since I moved to KiCad I use silk layer but I have there only rectangles around footprints. The only texts I place at PCB are company name and PCB name and version.
Depends what I make really, for a DIY THT design I like to to have atleast the resistor and capacitor values on it. And the chip types are also nice to have. âattinyâ, âmax485â,â24LC256â, â74HC595â, âULN2003â⌠Perhaps it is unconventional but idc. It makes soldering so much easier if you donât have to look on your monitor to see what is what all the time. I only hope that on one day we get coloured silk texts so I can put the resistor bands on it .
I also have no problems with having the designators for the BOM. It is almost the same amount of work to put them on a nice place than to uncheck the visable box. Except when you start moving things againâŚ
I do agree that for SMD designs which are machine assembled silk texts are a bit pointless. Nevertheless I add them anyways. It is usually not that much labour. And as I sometimes still hand solder SMD, I consider it as an OK practice.
I have a coworker which designed a PCB and I could solder it. Mr old school didnt use silktexts either. It was not a fun thing to solder. Thankfully we donât do much PCB makingâŚ
The only texts I place at PCB are company name and PCB name and version.
Donât you make stuff with connectors and screwterminals and all that?? Iâd like to know where to plug which wire in
Bas
I simplified what I said with not going into details.
PCBs that are then in DIN-rail cases have terminal block pins described at the case so no need texts at PCB hidden in the case (there is even not enough room there).
RFID readers have pads to connect power and RS485 wires and I identify them at PCB since always (so even when we were not ordering silk at PCB) by placing single letters (V,G,A,B) at top and bottom copper. Now, as we started to use silk at top I place that letters at silk at top and at copper at bottom.
This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.