Increase value through shortcut (as in browser devtools)

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?

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.

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

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

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…

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

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