Hi,
I am new to KiCad.
When I try to convert my Altium library to KiCad using the following steps, the KiCad V8.0.4 footprints end up missing strings on the Silkscreen layer:
In Altium, create a PCB and add the component footprint.
Import the PCB into KiCad.
In KiCad, export using “File → Export → Footprints to Library…”.
Open the footprint in the KiCad Footprint Editor, and find that the Silkscreen String is missing, with only a “.” (dot) visible on the F.Cu layer.
Issues encountered during conversion from Altium to KiCad:
Strings on mechanical layers are missing, and KiCad moves them to the F.Cu layer, represented as a “.” (dot).
The KiCad Footprint Editor can only import one footprint at a time.
The KiCad Symbol Editor can only import one symbol at a time. I had to delete symbols one by one in Altium and then import them individually into KiCad, which was time-consuming.
I hope KiCad will eventually support batch conversion of Altium libraries.
The issues with importing that you have found are best reported on Gitlab.
To create an issue; open Kicad, go to Help > Report Bug. This takes you Gitlab. If you have not registered on Gitlab, the few simple steps to register will show, otherwise, just follow the instructions presented.
All other issues can be found in the left hand column titled “issues”.
Finally, this link to a FAQ (top of this page) explains much about how this forum operates.
I have not tested it myself, but you probably don’t have to convert the libraries at all. In: Preferences / Manage Footprint Libraries you can set the library type to a bunch of other supported formats, including altium.
paul@cezanne:~$ kicad-cli fp
Usage: fp [--help] {export,upgrade}
Footprint and Footprint Libraries
Optional arguments:
-h, --help Shows help message and exits
Subcommands:
export Export utilities (svg)
upgrade Upgrades the footprint library to the current kicad version format
At the moment it can only export or upgrade footprint libraries. Converting libraries to KiCad would be a logical feature request, and thus I made it:
You can add Altium libraries (including Integrated Libraries in newer versions) in Manage Footprint/Symbol Libraries dialogs, select them and press “Migrate Libraries” button to convert them to KiCad format.
