New schematic symbol minimum fields, minumum layers footprints

Schematic Library Symbols
1

New user here, so be gentle. :grinning:
Started out with Protel then Altium, stopped with Altium 20 years ago, mostly one off designs for specialist applications.
( and yes I did encounter the bug where redrawing a zone renamed it, found out about the bug the hard way after a 12 layer board board was made :cold_sweat:).

What I want to do is create a personal set of ā€œgenericā€ symbols (& footprints)

When I create a new symbol, is there a minimum number of attributes that I should populate?
Example, if i make a generic connector symbol, do I need to populate anything in the attributes
(so far I just do the reference and the footprint)

Also what is the minimum layers I need to populate in a footprint
Ie silkscreen f(&b) , courtyard, f(&b) (as well as pads)

Do I need to create mirror footprints of SMD footprints to mount on the back of the board.

These are for one off prototype boards.

2

Just try: donā€™t add anything to fields, save the new symbol or footprint, open it. If thereā€™s something in some fields, they may be mandatory. Try emptying the fields and saving and opening again.

Footprints can be flipped on the board.

3

What I did when first starting with Kicad was:

Open footprint editor
Scroll through the Kicad footprint libraries to find a similar connector.
Highlight and File > Save as.
Place it in your personal connectors library and give it the name you require.
Close the Kicad library then open your personal library with the connector you just saved.

Now you can either modify the connector you saved or build a new connector beside the Kicad connector (using the Kicad connector as a cheat sheet for all that is required). If you build a new connector beside the kicad connector, when finished, delete the Kicad connector.

4

Do what jmk suggests.

But if you want a straight answer to the direct question: only the copper pads are strictly necessary, so only the ā€œlanding patternā€ is the minimum.

Some kind of silkscreen marks are a de factor standard. Even though they arenā€™t necessary for a functioning board, many manufacturers and assemblers want to have them available if possible (i.e. if thereā€™s enough room in the board). In the assembly phase it may be needed for positioning (outlines) and rotating (pin 1 mark) the component.

The Fab layer is for more accurate representation of the outlines of the components (if compared to the Silk layer where sometimes only some small marks are possible for small components). It may be useful for you personally when you want to see the locations of the components on the board. You can also use it as an assembly map.

KiCad can use the Courtyard layer for certain functions. It may be good to have.

Usually all these layers are drawn only on the Front (top) layer, and on the Back only if thereā€™s some special need.

For more information, read (Start Here) Frequently Asked Questions and there What is the meaning of the layers in pcb_new and in the footprint editor? (KiCad 5 and earlier).

5

For shielding cover placed on the frame I have footprint without pads :slight_smile:

6

Thank you @eelik , @jmk , @Piotr for your replies.
I sort of assumed it was as all your answers suggest but because I am new at using KiCAD, I wanted to make sure.