Increase value through shortcut (as in browser devtools)

Software
1

For example, instead of deleting and increasing the tilt angle by 1, you could simply select the desired property and use the Ctrl + up arrow keys to increase or Ctrl + down arrow keys to decrease? This method is similar to what is done in the browser’s CSS using DevTools, where you can increase by ±0.1, ±1 or ±10 by pressing Ctrl, Alt or Shift along with the corresponding arrow key.

Is this feature currently available in KiCad 8 or has it never been implemented?

2

FreeCAD has an Increment / Decrement function under the mouse scrollwheel which I find quite handy. Every now and then I still find myself attempting to use it in KiCad.

But alas, a function like this is not (yet) implemented in KiCad.

3

Unfortunately. In the meantime, I have created an AutoHotKey macro that increases by 0.1, 1, and 10, it is approximate but effective for now.

#NoEnv
#SingleInstance, force
SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir%
#IfWinActive ahk_exe KiCad.exe

    ^Up::
        ModifyNumber(1)
    return

    +Up::
        ModifyNumber(10)
    return

    !Up::
        ModifyNumber(0.1)
    return

    ^Down::
        ModifyNumber(-1)
    return

    +Down::
        ModifyNumber(-10)
    return

    !Down::
        ModifyNumber(-0.1)
    return

    ModifyNumber(increment) {
        Send, ^a
        Send, ^c
        ClipWait 2
        if ErrorLevel
            return

        if (SubStr(Clipboard, 1, 1) = "(") {
            Send, {Esc}
            return
        }

        Clipboard := StrReplace(Clipboard, ",", ".")
        if RegExMatch(Clipboard, "(-?\d+[\.,]?\d*)", number) {
            newNumber := number1 + increment
            Clipboard := RegExReplace(Clipboard, "(-?\d+[\.,]?\d*)", newNumber)
        }

        Clipboard := StrReplace(Clipboard, ".", ",")
        Send, ^v
        Send,{Enter}
        Click, Left, 1
    }
#IfWinActive

It has limitations: the mouse must stay over the box to be incremented, but if you use the keyboard you don’t need to move it; it is not visually beauty, but it can be improved.

1 Like
4

Added more controls, works only if the mouse is over the properties panel:

; V1.2
#NoEnv
#NoTrayIcon
#SingleInstance force
SetBatchLines, -1

#IfWinActive ahk_exe KiCad.exe

    ~^Up::
        if GetMPos()
            ModifyNumber(1)
    return

    ~+Up::
        if GetMPos()
            ModifyNumber(10)
    return

    ~!Up::
        if GetMPos()
            ModifyNumber(0.1)
    return

    ~^Down::
        if GetMPos()
            ModifyNumber(-1)
    return

    ~+Down::
        if GetMPos()
            ModifyNumber(-10)
    return

    ~!Down::
        if GetMPos()
            ModifyNumber(-0.1)
    return

    GetMPos(){
        MouseGetPos, mouseX, mouseY
        if (mouseX >= 194 && mouseX <= 351 && mouseY >= 206 && mouseY <= 946)
            return true
        else
            return false
    }

    ModifyNumber(increment) {
        Send, ^a
        Send, ^c
        ClipWait 2
        if ErrorLevel
            return

        if (SubStr(Clipboard, 1, 1) = "(" || InStr(Clipboard, "x") || InStr(Clipboard, "_")) {
            Send, {Esc}
            Click, Left, 1
            return
        }

        Clipboard := StrReplace(Clipboard, ",", ".")
        if RegExMatch(Clipboard, "(-?\d+[\.,]?\d*)", number) {
            newNumber := number1 + increment
            newNumber := Round(newNumber, 2)
            newNumber := RegExReplace(newNumber, "\.0+$", "")
            Clipboard := RegExReplace(Clipboard, "(-?\d+[\.,]?\d*)", newNumber)
        }

        Clipboard := StrReplace(Clipboard, ".", ",")
        Send, ^v
        Send,{Enter}
        Click, Left, 1
    }
#IfWinActive
5

Amusing myself…

Perhaps you know that you can set the Rotation in Pref’s and use the input-field and set Hot-Keys…

I set the Rotation Angle to 0.5deg for this video demo (perhaps mostly for users not wanting to mess with a Macro or Plugin…)

When inputing a value (such as 30deg) in demo then, holding down the R key, the Footprint rotates 30 plus the pref’s setting value and goes from there…

FYI - On my System (mac), holding down the Shift+Ctrl+R continuously rotates in Neg direction…

6

It is a very basic function, it only works for rotation and not for the other properties, as well as having a single resolution that can only be changed by opening the options