Netlists & Pads in footprints : improvements

[eelik]

Some of your points are difficult to follow, especially this:

@Zaan

Traces on the schematic (and on the board) should display netlist:
A right-click on the schematic should reveal the name of the net on the schematic,
also give ability to rename and or display the name.
On the board it is beautiful to see the net names in the traces - neatly done.

In all EDA software packages, AFAIK, schematic uses “wires”, so you can’t display the net name inside it. in KiCad net names are text items, you can add and remove them as you wish. If you want something else, you should describe it more accurately or maybe give a screencast of an application which does what you mean.

@Zaan

Hovering over a net on the schematic and on the board (with its connected pads) should highlight all of the same named net

Use the Highlight net tool in the schematic.

Use Control+mouse button click on the layout on a track or pad.

These will be even better in 6.0; you can try with the nightly builds if you want to (with a dedicated test project).

@Zaan

Eventually Kicad should also be worked to not need to generate a netlist to export to the board…

It doesn’t need netlist. Use Tools->Update PCB from Schematic.

@Zaan

Selecting multiple pads in footprint designer should give you an option to change all of their properties like pad size and shape.

You can “Copy Pad Properties” and “Paste Pad Properties” (from context menu->Pads).

@Zaan

I am missing the octagon shape for a pad.

This will be easy in 6.0 (or now in nightly builds for testing) by using chamfered pads. See Post-v5 new features and development news - #2 by eelik.