Like the topic says… what do I need to expect when I install 8.0.7 (freshly downloaded)?
Do I need to uninstall my existing copy then install the new?
What about updating the existing drawings?
Both versions can coexist.
You don’t need to upgrade any projects, but if you edit them in 8, you will be forced to update the project if you save it.
I think the only problem can be with libraries, but I’m not sure of details as I don’t use KiCad libraries.
The problem I expect is that V8 has its libraries while V7 its. As symbol and footprint copy is in schematic/PCB file they will open correctly. I don’t know if these saved in schematic/PCB files symbols/footprints have a full path to their source or are based on some variable that can now point to different libraries. Depending on this you can (or can not) expect in some cases complains on them being different than in library.
In the end, it was a fairly straightforward migration.
I got all my schematics opened / saved (and the handful of boards too) to the new version.
The most time-consuming part was having to refresh every. single. power. symbol.
I only had to revert one symbol back to my custom library (4528 - the ‘power unit’ breaks the standard set for the 74xx / 4xxx power units), and migrate two symbols into my custom library (AC plug and AC receptacle - I assume because they are US-specific standard and not worldwide).
Also ran into a couple annoyances with the Windows version I put on my PC at work (Win11, unfortunately) - the grid is very light, almost invisible, and moving a selection with the arrow keys takes FOREVER.
You only have to update as many times as there are distinct power symbols in the schematic. Select one, then Tools > Update Symbols from Library then choose Update symbols matching value. For instance you can update all the GND symbols in one go.
But wait! You can actually update multiple symbols in one go. In my experiment I used Ctrl Left Mouse Button to select +5V, GND and PWR_FLAG, then chose Update selected symbols. All three got updated. So you only have to do one update per schematic, provided you spot all the power symbols in your schematic.
The multiple selection mechanism is very powerful and it’s always worthwhile to see an action from the menus or context menu can be applied to the selection.
should have been “…symbol. type”. 
I did notice the "all of _ " option - I meant that some boards I transcribed had for example, +2.5, +5, +12, +15, -12, AND ground. I’ll remember the Ctrl+left mouse next time!
Would be nice if there was a ‘master list’ somewhere of all the symbols so I can see if any symbols I had in my personal library were in a library I chose to omit (for speed - most all the symbols I use are in a mere ~35 libraries, not counting my personal library).
Tools > Edit Symbol Library Links?
That was how I narrowed down the list of libraries to keep available, as many of the existing libraries I’ll never need, as they are applications I don’t expect to ever use, and which appear to be minute variations on a theme anyway…
Without having to browse each library in the symbol dialog, was there any way to list what is in each library? I was mainly curious to see if any of the symbols I’d created were now in the standard libraries? No biggie, I’ll stay the course, and for the purpose of this thread title, I am satisfied with the upgrade (at least on the Mac; i need to gather a bit more info before I ask questions relating to the Windows version).
This is what I am worried about. When I did move from KiC6 to KiC7 I did get a mesh, because the text/choices when you start the new app confuses me.
What should I do to prepare for the transition from KiCad7 to KiCad8? Copy my Libraries to a new KiCad*Libraries folder, but then what ( the libraries ) should I choose when the app starts up?
I got the default ones, Mine and third party’s.
Any tips? Explanations?
I can’t answer for all your questions, but when I once decided where my libraries are I have never moved them from that place. The only what I have to copy are the library lists, and I do it only because when at first run of schematic or PCB I select that I will show library lists (I don’t remember exact wording) then KiCad (at Windows) opens a file search dialog box that don’t shows system/hidden files and these lists KiCad just have as system or hidden. If in that window I could select system/hidden files I would not have to copy them anywhere. After showing KiCad my files they are no longer needed so this is only temporary copy.
As you do it on another system that may be you can just select these files without any additional combinations.
Remember that if you do something wrong you can always delete all KiCad V8 configuration files and try again (KiCad will ‘think’ it is run for the first time).
Alter the grid style, thickness, color value and opacity.
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