KiCad 6 install on LinuxMint symbols fail (SOLVED)!

[Gtrax]

My attempt to upgrade to KiCad 6.0.1 on LinuxMint (Ubuntu engine) ended in a dysfunctional wreck!

The KiCAD interface and tools all seems to be OK, but all the symbol library files installed have extension .kicad.sym , but the KiCAD program is looking for files with extension .lib instead.

Of course, any attempt to place a symbol brings the “cannot be found” message.
I did try a purge and clean install all over again, but the same thing happened.
Is this a known thing? Did I mess up somehow?

[paulvdh]

I did a clean install on Linux mint, as I bought a new PC around christmas.

If I look at: Project Manager / Preferences / Configure Paths, then I see (among other things) an KICAD6_SYMBOL_DIR which is set to /usr/share/kicad/symbols/

Note that you do not have the 6 in your path variable, there obviously is some mixup between KiCad V5 and V6 on your system.

Just for completeness, Project Manager / Preferences / Manage Symbol Libraries also has the 6 on my system, and it wants *.kicad_sym files.

And the libraries themselves are also installed on my system:

paul@cezanne:/usr/share/kicad/symbols$ ls -hl
total 102M
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  369K Dec 23 15:25 4xxx_IEEE.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  297K Dec 23 15:25 4xxx.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  277K Dec 23 15:25 74xGxx.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  677K Dec 23 15:25 74xx_IEEE.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  941K Dec 23 15:25 74xx.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  338K Dec 23 15:25 Amplifier_Audio.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   19K Dec 23 15:25 Amplifier_Buffer.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  131K Dec 23 15:25 Amplifier_Current.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   44K Dec 23 15:25 Amplifier_Difference.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   62K Dec 23 15:25 Amplifier_Instrumentation.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  550K Dec 23 15:25 Amplifier_Operational.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  9,6K Dec 23 15:25 Amplifier_Video.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  512K Dec 23 15:25 Analog_ADC.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  345K Dec 23 15:25 Analog_DAC.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   81K Dec 23 15:25 Analog.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  902K Dec 23 15:25 Analog_Switch.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  404K Dec 23 15:25 Audio.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  358K Dec 23 15:25 Battery_Management.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  4,3K Dec 23 15:25 Buffer.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  146K Dec 23 15:25 Comparator.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  3,7M Dec 23 15:25 Connector_Generic.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  3,8M Dec 23 15:25 Connector_Generic_MountingPin.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  3,8M Dec 23 15:25 Connector_Generic_Shielded.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  3,1M Dec 23 15:25 Connector.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  197K Dec 23 15:25 Converter_ACDC.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  658K Dec 23 15:25 Converter_DCDC.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  616K Dec 23 15:25 CPLD_Altera.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   16K Dec 23 15:25 CPLD_Microchip.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  221K Dec 23 15:25 CPLD_Xilinx.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  247K Dec 23 15:25 CPU.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   60K Dec 23 15:25 CPU_NXP_68000.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   40K Dec 23 15:25 CPU_NXP_6800.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  261K Dec 23 15:25 CPU_NXP_IMX.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  193K Dec 23 15:25 CPU_PowerPC.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  2,2M Dec 23 15:25 Device.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  200K Dec 23 15:25 Diode_Bridge.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  620K Dec 23 15:25 Diode.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   18K Dec 23 15:25 Diode_Laser.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  605K Dec 23 15:25 Display_Character.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  144K Dec 23 15:25 Display_Graphic.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   46K Dec 23 15:25 Driver_Display.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  469K Dec 23 15:25 Driver_FET.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  7,2K Dec 23 15:25 Driver_Haptic.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  351K Dec 23 15:25 Driver_LED.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  291K Dec 23 15:25 Driver_Motor.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   23K Dec 23 15:25 Driver_Relay.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  7,3K Dec 23 15:25 Driver_TEC.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   28K Dec 23 15:25 DSP_AnalogDevices.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   41K Dec 23 15:25 DSP_Freescale.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  160K Dec 23 15:25 DSP_Microchip_DSPIC33.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   38K Dec 23 15:25 DSP_Motorola.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   20K Dec 23 15:25 DSP_Texas.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  7,2K Dec 23 15:25 Fiber_Optic.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   77K Dec 23 15:25 Filter.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  560K Dec 23 15:25 FPGA_Lattice.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  474K Dec 23 15:25 FPGA_Microsemi.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  2,1M Dec 23 15:25 FPGA_Xilinx_Artix7.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  948K Dec 23 15:25 FPGA_Xilinx.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  2,7M Dec 23 15:25 FPGA_Xilinx_Kintex7.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  3,7M Dec 23 15:25 FPGA_Xilinx_Spartan6.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  8,0M Dec 23 15:25 FPGA_Xilinx_Virtex5.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  6,7M Dec 23 15:25 FPGA_Xilinx_Virtex6.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  9,1M Dec 23 15:25 FPGA_Xilinx_Virtex7.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   11K Dec 23 15:25 GPU.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   79K Dec 23 15:25 Graphic.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  229K Dec 23 15:25 Interface_CAN_LIN.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  6,8K Dec 23 15:25 Interface_CurrentLoop.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  226K Dec 23 15:25 Interface_Ethernet.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  274K Dec 23 15:25 Interface_Expansion.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   21K Dec 23 15:25 Interface_HDMI.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   23K Dec 23 15:25 Interface_HID.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  566K Dec 23 15:25 Interface.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   55K Dec 23 15:25 Interface_LineDriver.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  108K Dec 23 15:25 Interface_Optical.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   16K Dec 23 15:25 Interface_Telecom.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  475K Dec 23 15:25 Interface_UART.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  450K Dec 23 15:25 Interface_USB.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   30K Dec 23 15:25 Isolator_Analog.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  1,3M Dec 23 15:25 Isolator.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   23K Dec 23 15:25 Jumper.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  256K Dec 23 15:25 LED.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  177K Dec 23 15:25 Logic_LevelTranslator.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   30K Dec 23 15:25 Logic_Programmable.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   11K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_AnalogDevices.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  115K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Cypress.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   18K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Dialog.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  7,2K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Espressif.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  167K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Intel.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   20K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Microchip_8051.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  1,5M Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Microchip_ATmega.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  439K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Microchip_ATtiny.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   89K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Microchip_AVR.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   39K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Microchip_PIC10.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  160K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Microchip_PIC12.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  923K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Microchip_PIC16.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  524K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Microchip_PIC18.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   53K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Microchip_PIC24.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  106K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Microchip_PIC32.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   39K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Microchip_SAMA.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  216K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Microchip_SAMD.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  115K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Microchip_SAME.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   73K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Microchip_SAML.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   30K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Microchip_SAMV.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  532K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Module.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   68K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Nordic.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  163K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_NXP_ColdFire.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   68K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_NXP_HC11.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   37K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_NXP_HC12.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   22K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_NXP_HCS12.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  890K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_NXP_Kinetis.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  226K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_NXP_LPC.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   56K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_NXP_MAC7100.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   19K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_NXP_MCore.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  5,7K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_NXP_NTAG.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  527K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_NXP_S08.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   28K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Parallax.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   11K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Renesas_Synergy_S1.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  103K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_SiFive.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  113K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_SiliconLabs.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  9,5K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_STC.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  960K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_ST_STM32F0.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  954K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_ST_STM32F1.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  410K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_ST_STM32F2.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  751K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_ST_STM32F3.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  2,9M Dec 23 15:25 MCU_ST_STM32F4.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  2,4M Dec 23 15:25 MCU_ST_STM32F7.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   15K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_ST_STM32G0.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  410K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_ST_STM32H7.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1020K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_ST_STM32L0.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  1,5M Dec 23 15:25 MCU_ST_STM32L1.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  1,4M Dec 23 15:25 MCU_ST_STM32L4.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  718K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_ST_STM32L4+.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  180K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_ST_STM8.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  132K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Texas.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  1,2M Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Texas_MSP430.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   11K Dec 23 15:25 MCU_Texas_SimpleLink.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   25K Dec 23 15:25 Mechanical.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  139K Dec 23 15:25 Memory_EEPROM.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   60K Dec 23 15:25 Memory_EPROM.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  134K Dec 23 15:25 Memory_Flash.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   35K Dec 23 15:25 Memory_NVRAM.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  304K Dec 23 15:25 Memory_RAM.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   12K Dec 23 15:25 Memory_ROM.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  4,1K Dec 23 15:25 Memory_UniqueID.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   56K Dec 23 15:25 Motor.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  196K Dec 23 15:25 Oscillator.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  177K Dec 23 15:25 Potentiometer_Digital.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  145K Dec 23 15:25 power.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  518K Dec 23 15:25 Power_Management.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  343K Dec 23 15:25 Power_Protection.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  125K Dec 23 15:25 Power_Supervisor.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   33K Dec 23 15:25 pspice.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   44K Dec 23 15:25 Reference_Current.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  334K Dec 23 15:25 Reference_Voltage.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  329K Dec 23 15:25 Regulator_Controller.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  2,7K Dec 23 15:25 Regulator_Current.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  1,7M Dec 23 15:25 Regulator_Linear.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   43K Dec 23 15:25 Regulator_SwitchedCapacitor.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  1,7M Dec 23 15:25 Regulator_Switching.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  624K Dec 23 15:25 Relay.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  231K Dec 23 15:25 Relay_SolidState.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   63K Dec 23 15:25 RF_AM_FM.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   90K Dec 23 15:25 RF_Amplifier.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   80K Dec 23 15:25 RF_Bluetooth.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  236K Dec 23 15:25 RF_Filter.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   83K Dec 23 15:25 RF_GPS.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   91K Dec 23 15:25 RF_GSM.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  163K Dec 23 15:25 RF.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   30K Dec 23 15:25 RF_Mixer.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  252K Dec 23 15:25 RF_Module.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  8,6K Dec 23 15:25 RF_NFC.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   11K Dec 23 15:25 RF_RFID.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  162K Dec 23 15:25 RF_Switch.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   15K Dec 23 15:25 RF_WiFi.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   36K Dec 23 15:25 RF_ZigBee.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  6,8K Dec 23 15:25 Security.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  8,5K Dec 23 15:25 Sensor_Audio.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  364K Dec 23 15:25 Sensor_Current.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  3,3K Dec 23 15:25 Sensor_Distance.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   13K Dec 23 15:25 Sensor_Gas.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   22K Dec 23 15:25 Sensor_Humidity.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   48K Dec 23 15:25 Sensor.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   97K Dec 23 15:25 Sensor_Magnetic.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   97K Dec 23 15:25 Sensor_Motion.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  172K Dec 23 15:25 Sensor_Optical.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   30K Dec 23 15:25 Sensor_Pressure.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  129K Dec 23 15:25 Sensor_Proximity.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  254K Dec 23 15:25 Sensor_Temperature.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   89K Dec 23 15:25 Sensor_Touch.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  4,6K Dec 23 15:25 Sensor_Voltage.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   53K Dec 23 15:25 Simulation_SPICE.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  229K Dec 23 15:25 Switch.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  130K Dec 23 15:25 Timer.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   75K Dec 23 15:25 Timer_PLL.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   91K Dec 23 15:25 Timer_RTC.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  419K Dec 23 15:25 Transformer.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   59K Dec 23 15:25 Transistor_Array.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  756K Dec 23 15:25 Transistor_BJT.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  817K Dec 23 15:25 Transistor_FET.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  8,5K Dec 23 15:25 Transistor_IGBT.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   52K Dec 23 15:25 Triac_Thyristor.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  117K Dec 23 15:25 Valve.kicad_sym
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  186K Dec 23 15:25 Video.kicad_sym

Do you have these KiCad V6 libraries installed?

An un-install of KiCad does not remove configuration files.
KiCad also does not search for libraries, it only shows libraries listed in the sym-lib-table.
To make KiCad think it started from a clean install, you can simply obfuscate it’s configuration directory by moving (a.k.a renaming) it.

Pasting the next line and executing it in a terminal should do the trick:

mv ~/.local/share/kicad ~/.local/share/2022-01-6_kicad
(Exit KiCad before you execute it, then afterwards start KiCad again).

It also looks very similar to this other post from today:

I can not get symbols out of library to put on my Schematic

Just upgraded to 6.0 It looks like there are 203 libraries for me to choose from in the Global Libraries in /usr/share/kicad/symbols When I go to Choose Symbol I see all of the libraries, but they all appear empty. No symbols. So I try the filter type “Res” I narrow down to MCU_Cypress, MCU_Espressif, and Sensor_Pressure libraries but they all say no Symbol Selected. I tried Left clicking on them. Right Clicking on them, Shift Right, Shift left, Ctrl Right, Ctrl Left, Alt Right, and Alt L…

(Indluding the *.lib files instead of the kicad_sym files)

[Gtrax]

Thanks for the reply Paul
The KiCad version 5 was installed before I attempted the change to version 6.0.1

The uninstall
I did, quite comprehensively, quite brutally, purge KiCad, including making sure /usr/share/kicad was completely gone, and then I started over. The final result was as before, it does not work!

Checking through … my Preferences → Configure Paths, it looks exactly like yours, except with my name instead of yours in all the expected places.
BUT…
when I look at Manage Symbol Libraries, I still see all of the symbols have .lib extension, exactly as the first image image I posted. It should look like yours, with all the extensions being .kicad_sym

When I check what was actually installed in /usr/share/kicad, they do all appear to be correct.
It seems to be exactly the same problem as the other user had.

The only other place KiCad information is, and possibly where environment variables might be set, is in /home/user_name/.config/kicad/6.0 that you mentioned. There are a whole lot of setup files in there. I guess one just has to trawl through them

I think you may be absolutely right about it. You chose to obfuscate it. I had thought to brutally trash it! Then do a clean install

In UK, it’s very late now. I will do more bad stuff tomorrow, and then get back to this thread.

[paulvdh]

I think KiCad leaves ~/.config/kicad (and ~/.local/share/kicad) on your system even after a purge.
The names of the libraries are in the sym-lib-table (for schematic symbol libraries) and fp-lib-table (for PCB footprint libraries) If you simply delete those files from ~/.config/kicad, then KiCad generates new ones. Simply deleting or renaming the whole config directory for KiCad is a brute-force method to do this, but you also loose other preferences, but KiCad itself can recover from this.

See also:

Library management in KiCad version 5

Disclaimer: screenshots taken in nightly from between version 5.0 and 5.1. Version 5.0.x looks slightly different. Version 5.1.x will look like the screenshots show. This is a detailed lecture. If you want to know how to simply add some assets you downloaded to KiCad then you can read the shorter tutorial How to get a downloaded symbol, footprint or full library into KiCad version 5? Summary KiCad does not automatically detect libraries! There is no special library location (you might still ca…

[Gtrax]

OK - I think I have this solved!
This situation only affects folk who have had a previous version of KiCad installed, and they try to upgrade. It is easy for the “first use” of a library to get messed up, because the installer does not delete anything in your home folder. That is sensible! It would be very naughty to just throw out footprints or symbols you have made for yourself. The installer gives opportunity to “import” your stuff, at the same stage where it would have created it for the first time.

The folder ~/.local/share/kicad/ is all about your private library. It is not where things go wrong.

It seems the other hidden folder, in ~/.config/kicad/6.0/ is the one which is crucially important to this. I dare say it can be overwritten, or modified by the “first use” after a new install, provided there are no stumbles or omissions by the user, but it is all too easy for this to not happen, or go wrong, or fail to complete. Within a text file in there, called sym-lib-table, where the name and type of all the symbols are listed, it includes the proper path, all with the correct ${KICAD6_SYMBOL_DIR} environment variable references.
A SOLUTION
Not having to preserve, and “import” any previous creations of my own, I took the brutal route. I removed all of that configuration folder, and private library folder, and I purged KiCad. Then, the fresh install worked. When I came to use a library part for the first time, the dialogue appeared, and the correct folders got created.

[retiredfeline]

Just so you know, Debian and other distros that use the same deb package format (Ubuntu, Mint, etc) does not remove configuration files in user directories on a purge, only system ones that have been registered as configuration files in the package. Linux is a multi-user system, and the deb system is not so intrusive as to go and hunt down user-owned files.

A consequence of this is a problem like this will manifest itself on existing accounts, but not on newly created accounts. So if you had created a new account to login as, KiCad 6 would have worked for that “user”. TL;DR: The previous version’s config files in your account threw KiCad 6 off.

[Gtrax]

Thanks for the clarity about Debian.
The great folks who produced KiCad 6.0.1 did address the need for a new install to correctly fix legacy libraries. It’s just that the process is easy to fumble.

When folk who are completely familiar with the interface they have created, and what the next step will be, the route may seem obvious. In my case, my “previous” install using Synaptic was only some hours old before I discovered the latest version 6.0 could be had by using the ppa. When it is a major version change, of course one wants to have it from the start.

The → Preferences → Manage Symbol Libraries tool has a “Migrate Libraries” button on the right hand side, about three quarters the way down. On the left there are some navigation buttons, and a library trash can. Most folk can figure out how to use it in the end, and it is nice, but it is also something that can get you in a tangle if you have never seen it before, and never used KiCad.

Probably one does not have to do a total clean reinstall, if what to do is clearly indicated. Pop-ups with help do happen, but maybe some effective timely warning and explanation would help. Its a bit like knowing beforehand the turns one has to do while driving, as opposed to being informed of them as the corner is passed.

[jmk]

Hmmm,
Another Mint here…
I’ve gone from 5.1.10 to 11 to 12 to 6.0.0 and now 6.0.1 all by just clicking on the “Update Manager” and installing updates.
The only extra work was migrating personal libraries after installing 6.0.0
Kicad was all upgraded while using Mint Cinnamon 20.2 Uma, except 6.0.1 which was upgraded after moving to Mint Cinnamon 20.3 Una.

I don’t understand what the problems are for so many because for me it all “just worked”.

[retiredfeline]

I’m guessing because the migration of the library list files is one shot and not foolproof, e.g. if you click on the wrong choice it’s not obvious how to fix it post-hoc. It’s a pity the library list files are not versioned, otherwise KiCad could say, your list file is still at v5, do you want to migrate it now?

[jmk]

The only library choices, through the update manager, were for the 3d packages or library modules for the “nightlies” and all were Ubuntu 20.04.1

[paulvdh]

@retiredfeline

I’m guessing because the migration of the library list files is one shot and not foolproof,

Aye, indeed.

Especially beginners are confused by a question about those library tables that they do not know the right answer to. Best option is probably a button in KiCad itself to “fix” (repair, migrate / upgrade) these library table issues.

[jmk]

@paulvdh

Especially beginners are confused by a question about those library tables that they do not know the right answer to. Best option is probably a button in KiCad itself to “fix” (repair, migrate / upgrade) these library table issues.

Or just remove the question?
How many have never installed and used any Kicad symbol or footprint library?
Maybe just leave the 3d library as optional?

[paulvdh]

Old projects will be damaged if the libraries they depend on are suddenly invisible because they are not listed anymore in the sym-lib-table file.

KiCad V5 projects have a huge dependency on the availability and visibility of the KiCad libraries. (or at least the [project]-cache.lib file).
That is very likely the most important (maybe only) reason it’s not done automatically.

============
Ideally, there would be an option to easily switch between library versions on a project basis.
Currently having KiCad V5 and KiCad V6 installed at the same time on Linux is somewhat problematic.
It does not matter much for me, as I can just open an old project in KiCad V6, but it makes it difficult to repair a KiCad V5 project if the [project]-cache.lib file is missing, and people are likely to encounter such projects in the foreseeable future, for example open source projects shared via internet, or old projects that get revived.

But there are too many paths to improvement, and too few KiCad developers, and we’re not living in an ideal world. Therefore a reasonable compromise to me is:
1). Upgrade is not automatic (because of side effects).
2). A button in KiCad’s GUI to “fix” these library issues, as I do not see manually deleting files as a “good solution” to this problem.

[OscarTheGrouch]

Hi Paul,
I tired to install V6.0
Having issues with libraries also.
Used this to install …
sudo apt remove kicad
sudo apt autoremove
sudo rm -rf /usr/share/kicad
rm -rf ~/.config/kicad

removed v5.x from ppa sources
sudo add-apt-repository --yes ppa:kicad/kicad-6.0-releases
sudo apt update
sudo apt install --install-recomends kicad

My file system only has …
usr/share/plugins
usr/share//resources
usr/share/schemas
usr/share/scripting
usr/share/template

no /footprints or /symbols
What do I do?
Thanks in advance …
OtG

edit … added screen shots of what files I have after install …

new edit … Update Manager showed updates available … symbols and footprints being among them … so I updated. Kicad showed footprints but no symbols. Had to add them manually. Had to then copy on User symbols to /home/donald/.local/share/kicad/6.0/3rdparty. Did “Migrate” and opened v5.x project, all seemed good.
OtG