I am new to Kicad, I am having trouble saving a complete downloaded part from digi-key website. The zipfile unzipped has kicad mod file, kicad step file kicad_sym file and a how to file. (I believe from snapEDA). I was able to complete the process. When I place symbol at the schematic level, the part has no footprint found. The text above the dark box generally will produce a number of potential footprints but none is there with this new part. Yet the footprint editor can display it. How is this link established? There is some missing critical steps I don’t understand in this complex import process. Youtube videos tend to blow right past this. Anyone have any thoughts on the underlying process how this works or is this (I am using) KiCad version 9. or is this a bug? Never had this problem in EAGLE, Just drag in the downloaded .lib part into the EAGLE library directory, done.
You should slow down and read the documentation, particularly the part about assigning footprints to symbols. Have you also read the preferred workflow in the Getting Started document?
Before you do that you may need to read jmk’s FAQ about creating personal libraries.
As they say it’s often what you think you know but isn’t so that trips you up. So accept that the workflow will differ from what you’ve been used to.
… and the part about library management. In short: KiCad does not search for libraries. So you have to add the location of the library to KiCad.
Something like this perhaps?