I can send an old project if you can send me an email address.
This forum has an option to send personal messages, they will be automatically forwarded to my email address.
KiCad V6.0.0 does not use cache files. And it certainly is also not 10 years old. Only KiCad V5 used [Project]-cache.lib files. KiCad does not delete these files after a conversion though, but it just ignores them. Apart from that, I think it’s just a normal library, and you can use it to extract symbols from.
What does “early version of KiCad V6” mean. Is it from a stable version (KiCad V6.0.0 or newer) then conversion should be easy and smooth. If it is from a nightly version (KiCad V5.99) then anything can happen.
I guess it’s OK if I post a few (mall) screenshots of problems I encounter, but just tell me if you don’t like that and I won’t.
If the symbols are no longer used from cache.lib then does that mean I need to find all the Kicad 6.0 libraries that the symbols were pulled from?
If it is a proper KiCad V6.0.0 or newer project, then external libraries are not needed.
If it is a KiCad-nightly V5.99, then the old -cache file can be useful as an extra backup. If the old V5 project files are also still present, they can be a source to convert or rescue the project too.
Do not delete any files if you’re unsure.
It says new users can’t send attachments so not sure how to send files.
Some moderators can upgrade new users to “basic” level, but I do not have that super power.
the *cache.lib files are the only .lib files in the project folder. Are you saying all symbol info is included in the *.sch file?
Only if it is a properly formatted KiCad V6 project. You still have not mentioned if it was V6.0.0 (or newer) or a KiCad-nightly V5.99.
It is in a 6.0 folder and when I start it and look in About, it doesn’t say but I clicked where it said copy version info and I’m pasting that below:
Application: KiCad
Version: (2013-05-31 BZR 4019)-stable
Build: wxWidgets 2.9.4 (wchar_t,compiler with C++ ABI 1002,GCC 4.7.2,wx containers,compatible with 2.8)
Platform: Windows NT 6.2 (build 9200), 64-bit edition, 64 bit, Little endian, wxMSW
Boost version: 1.53.0
Options: USE_PCBNEW_NANOMETRES=ON
KICAD_GOST=OFF
USE_WX_GRAPHICS_CONTEXT=OFF
USE_WX_OVERLAY=OFF
KICAD_SCRIPTING=OFF
KICAD_SCRIPTING_MODULES=OFF
KICAD_SCRIPTING_WXPYTHON=OFF
That is definitely not V6. 2013 is even from before KiCad V4.0
I am not sure but I think the old BZR versions do not have real KiCad version numbers.
Also strange if your project has a [Project]-cache.lib file. Those were only created by KiCad V5 as far as I know. Maybe you have attempted to upgrade your project earlier.
I think some time over the years I upgraded to Kicad 6.0.5 after those original projects but now when I try to open them in 6.0.5 it doesn’t work either.
As an alternative you can put the project on gitlab or such a file sharing site and then tell me where it is. But it’s nearing bed time for me, so I’m tot waiting very long right now.
No rush, I appreciate the help. When you want , the files are here: https://www.vasantcorporation.com/downloads/PCB-BALHIZLNA+AMDET-001-REV-.zip
no problem to post screen shots of steps I should take in forum.
OK, I’ve got them, you can remove them if you want to minimize exposure.
I don’t know in what sort of state the project is yet.
I can open the schematic (using the cached symbols) The schematic looks plausible. Looking into the file it does indeed appear to be from KiCad V3 version. Footprint links in the schematic do not have a library name. This is also a very old convention. I think it means that KiCad just uses any footprint it finds with a matching name.
I can not open the PCB, The PCB crashes on attempting this. (Segmentation fault, core dumped) KiCad has proclaimed it should always be able to open older files, but I am not sure whether files this old are supported. Your project may be worth it to be used in a bug report if projects this old should work in KiCad, but that would require uploading to gitlab. Issues on gitlab can be made private.
The project has a (seemingly) complete set of gerber files. KiCad can reverse-create a PCB from Gerber files, but this process is not automatic. It also can not recover footprints, as footprints do not exist in Gerber files. More info about this path in: Reverse engineering KiCad project from Gerber files
After adding both the “-cache” and the “-rescue” libraries to a random project of mine, I can open these libraries and get symbols out of them. Maybe it’s worth saving a few symbols, but most are probably better replaced with standard symbols from a newer KiCad version.
How many of such projects do you have to sort out?
KiCad version used to read the project:
Application: KiCad Schematic Editor x86_64 on x86_64
Version: 8.0.4-8.0.4-0~ubuntu20.04.1, release build
Libraries:
wxWidgets 3.2.2
FreeType 2.10.1
HarfBuzz 2.6.4
FontConfig 2.13.1
libcurl/7.68.0 OpenSSL/1.1.1f zlib/1.2.11 brotli/1.0.7 libidn2/2.2.0 libpsl/0.21.0 (+libidn2/2.2.0) libssh/0.9.3/openssl/zlib nghttp2/1.40.0 librtmp/2.3
Platform: Linux Mint 20.3, 64 bit, Little endian, wxGTK, X11, xfce, x11
OpenGL: AMD, AMD RENOIR (DRM 3.42.0, 5.15.0-117-generic, LLVM 12.0.0), 4.6 (Compatibility Profile) Mesa 21.2.6
Build Info:
Date: Jul 17 2024 01:37:21
wxWidgets: 3.2.1 (wchar_t,wx containers) GTK+ 3.24
Boost: 1.71.0
OCC: 7.6.3
Curl: 7.68.0
ngspice: 42
Compiler: GCC 9.4.0 with C++ ABI 1013
Build settings:
I have 12 projects to recover. Its fine to send a bug report and no need to stay private if the issues can be worked out. The custom foot prints are mainly what I was hoping to recover and references or calls to use the custom footprints for certain symbols I thought would be part of the symbol information. I thought the PCB-BALHIZLNA+AMDET-001-REV–cache.lib file was for the custom footprints and PCS-BALHIZLNA+AMDET-001-REV–cache.lib was for the custom symbols. If there is some relatively easy way to recover everything that would be great but I will move on to other things if I can’t. My immediate need was just some custom symbols and footprints I was hoping to pull out of that one old project for use in a new project I’m doing because my old brain was finding it very tedious trying to re-make too much. I’m not sure how to do a bug report or upload the files to gitlab.
Done. and 20 more…
All the *.lib files are libraries for schematic symbols. Footprints are inside the PCB file. I have confirmed this by opening it in a text editor. For example this snippet:
(module SOT223 (layer F.Cu) (tedit 546544B3) (tstamp 546544BC)
(at 240.3348 137.1219 180)
(descr "module CMS SOT223 4 pins")
(tags "CMS SOT")
(path /543B5D75)
(attr smd)
(fp_text reference U4 (at 3.9243 0.0762 270) (layer F.SilkS)
(effects (font (size 0.8 0.8) (thickness 0.14)))
)
(fp_text value LT3082 (at 0 0.762 180) (layer F.SilkS)
(effects (font (size 0.0001 0.0001) (thickness 0.000025)))
)
(fp_line (start -3.556 1.524) (end -3.556 4.572) (layer F.SilkS) (width 0.2032))
(fp_line (start -3.556 4.572) (end 3.556 4.572) (layer F.SilkS) (width 0.2032))
(fp_line (start 3.556 4.572) (end 3.556 1.524) (layer F.SilkS) (width 0.2032))
(fp_line (start -3.556 -1.524) (end -3.556 -2.286) (layer F.SilkS) (width 0.2032))
(fp_line (start -3.556 -2.286) (end -2.032 -4.572) (layer F.SilkS) (width 0.2032))
(fp_line (start -2.032 -4.572) (end 2.032 -4.572) (layer F.SilkS) (width 0.2032))
(fp_line (start 2.032 -4.572) (end 3.556 -2.286) (layer F.SilkS) (width 0.2032))
(fp_line (start 3.556 -2.286) (end 3.556 -1.524) (layer F.SilkS) (width 0.2032))
(pad 4 smd rect (at 0.0508 -0.5334 180) (size 10 10)
(layers B.Cu B.Mask)
(net 61 VCC)
)
(pad 4 smd rect (at 0 -3.302 180) (size 3.6576 2.032)
(layers F.Cu F.Paste F.Mask)
(net 61 VCC)
)
(pad 2 smd rect (at 0 3.302 180) (size 1.016 2.032)
(layers F.Cu F.Paste F.Mask)
(net 61 VCC)
)
(pad 3 smd rect (at 2.286 3.302 180) (size 1.016 2.032)
(layers F.Cu F.Paste F.Mask)
(net 1 +BATT)
)
(pad 1 smd rect (at -2.286 3.302 180) (size 1.016 2.032)
(layers F.Cu F.Paste F.Mask)
(net 14 N-0000022)
)
(pad 4 thru_hole rect (at 0.0254 -2.7178 180) (size 7 6) (drill 1.07 (offset 0 0.8))
(layers *.Cu *.Mask)
(net 61 VCC)
)
(model smd/SOT223.wrl
(at (xyz 0 0 0))
(scale (xyz 0.4 0.4 0.4))
(rotate (xyz 0 0 0))
)
)
But as mentioned before, I can not open it with the PCB editor from KiCad V8.0.4, and I have now created a bug report for that:
Another option is to install that old KiCad version (2013-05-31 BZR 4019)-stable") and then extract the footprints with that version. I do have vague memories that those very old KiCad versions have some serious library management issues though.
Out of curiosity I found some older KiCad projects, and I could open them with KiCad V8.0.4 without problems. So it is possible that this particular project is damaged somehow. Do you have another version of this project, or another project I can try?
Also curious, What is is worth to you to extract symbols & footprints from your 15 projects?
I gave it also a try as I happen to have 3 version of KiCad installed (6, 7 and 8), with 7 and 8 the pcb editor could not open the file, however v6 open it without problems, once opened in v6 and saved, open it with v7 and v8 was no problem.
Application: KiCad PCB Editor (64-bit)
Version: (6.0.10), release build
Libraries:
wxWidgets 3.2.1
libcurl/7.86.0-DEV Schannel zlib/1.2.13
Platform: Windows 10 (build 19045), 64-bit edition, 64 bit, Little endian, wxMSW
Build Info:
Date: Dec 19 2022 21:23:04
wxWidgets: 3.2.1 (wchar_t,wx containers)
Boost: 1.80.0
OCC: 7.6.2
Curl: 7.86.0-DEV
ngspice: 38
Compiler: Visual C++ 1929 without C++ ABI
Build settings:
KICAD_USE_OCC=ON
KICAD_SPICE=ON