New to this. CVPCB doesn't have any footprints. Help!

grahamvinyl · March 13, 2018, 5:01am

When I watch tutorials, There are complete libraries of footprints when CvPCB is being used. I have none and don’t have any understanding of the program to try to make things right. Would someone mind helping me figure this out? Thanks!

SU_PYROW · March 13, 2018, 5:58am

to even begin to help, Version # and OS, start with that. because … i have twelve different responses… EDIT i am not trying to be mean… I simply do not know where to start.

Rene_Poschl · March 13, 2018, 8:50am

Have a look at this FAQ post: (press the link or somewhere near the top right corner of the gray area to read the full thing.)

grahamvinyl · March 13, 2018, 2:41pm

Thanks! It’s 4.0.7 on OSX (10.13.3). You didn’t come across as mean at all. I really appreciate the help!

grahamvinyl · March 13, 2018, 2:43pm

Thans! Looking at that page, the first option (cvpcb) shows an entirely populated left column. On mine I have one item; nothing more. I am struggling figuring out how to properly populate it. Thanks!

SembazuruCDE · March 13, 2018, 3:08pm

It sounds to me that you don’t have your footprint library table populated. Check out this section of the official documentation: http://docs.kicad.org/stable/en/cvpcb.html#_footprint_libraries_management

This section also applies to Pcbnew. Once you have your global footprint library table populated, it should be valid for all projects that you open. The local library table (one of the two tabs in the library table dialog box) is project specific and CvPcb and Pcbnew will both use it.

Rene_Poschl · March 13, 2018, 3:24pm

In addition to the link provided by @SembazuruCDE you can also look at this FAQ article: How can i install a specific version of the footprint library?

SU_PYROW · March 13, 2018, 4:23pm

in cvpcb/Preferences/Configure Paths what do you have listed ??
EDIT:
since your watching tutorials… lets start from scratch. ok? we make a new project … first thing we do. check your PATHS. > Preferences/Configure Paths we want to see… that your list is populated. it “should” look like the picture that was posted by@sembazurucde here> http://docs.kicad.org/stable/en/cvpcb.html#_footprint_libraries_management

we do NOT want to see a list with $KIGITHUB listed as the location of files.
we DO want to see a the contents of this file “renamed” as… fp-lib-table

github.com

KiCad/kicad-library/blob/master/template/fp-lib-table.for-pretty

(fp_lib_table
  (lib (name Battery_Holders)(type KiCad)(uri ${KISYSMOD}/Battery_Holders.pretty)(options "")(descr "Batteries and battery holders"))
  (lib (name Buttons_Switches_Keyboard)(type KiCad)(uri ${KISYSMOD}/Buttons_Switches_Keyboard.pretty)(options "")(descr "Buttons and switches for keyboard applications"))
  (lib (name Buttons_Switches_SMD)(type KiCad)(uri ${KISYSMOD}/Buttons_Switches_SMD.pretty)(options "")(descr "Buttons and switches, surface mount"))
  (lib (name Buttons_Switches_THT)(type KiCad)(uri ${KISYSMOD}/Buttons_Switches_THT.pretty)(options "")(descr "Buttons and switches, through hole"))
  (lib (name Buzzers_Beepers)(type KiCad)(uri ${KISYSMOD}/Buzzers_Beepers.pretty)(options "")(descr "Audio signalling devices"))
  (lib (name Capacitors_SMD)(type KiCad)(uri ${KISYSMOD}/Capacitors_SMD.pretty)(options "")(descr "Capacitors, surface mount"))
  (lib (name Capacitors_Tantalum_SMD)(type KiCad)(uri ${KISYSMOD}/Capacitors_Tantalum_SMD.pretty)(options "")(descr "Tantalum capacitors, surface mount"))
  (lib (name Capacitors_THT)(type KiCad)(uri ${KISYSMOD}/Capacitors_THT.pretty)(options "")(descr "Capacitors, through hole"))
  (lib (name Connectors_Card)(type KiCad)(uri ${KISYSMOD}/Connectors_Card.pretty)(options "")(descr "Footprints for cards and card holders"))
  (lib (name Connectors_DSub)(type KiCad)(uri ${KISYSMOD}/Connectors_DSub.pretty)(options "")(descr "Footprints for DSub footprints"))
  (lib (name Connectors_Harwin)(type KiCad)(uri ${KISYSMOD}/Connectors_Harwin.pretty)(options "")(descr "Harwin connector footprints www.harwin.com"))
  (lib (name Connectors_HDMI)(type KiCad)(uri ${KISYSMOD}/Connectors_HDMI.pretty)(options "")(descr "HDMI connector footprints"))
  (lib (name Connectors_Hirose)(type KiCad)(uri ${KISYSMOD}/Connectors_Hirose.pretty)(options "")(descr "Hirose connector footprints www.hirose.com"))
  (lib (name Connectors_IDC)(type KiCad)(uri ${KISYSMOD}/Connectors_IDC.pretty)(options "")(descr "IDC connector footprints"))
  (lib (name Connectors_IEC_DIN)(type KiCad)(uri ${KISYSMOD}/Connectors_IEC_DIN.pretty)(options "")(descr "DIN connector footprints"))
  (lib (name Connectors_JAE)(type KiCad)(uri ${KISYSMOD}/Connectors_JAE.pretty)(options "")(descr "JAE connector footprints http://www.jae.com/jccom/en/connectors"))
  (lib (name Connectors_JST)(type KiCad)(uri ${KISYSMOD}/Connectors_JST.pretty)(options "")(descr "JST connector footprints www.jst.com"))
  (lib (name Connectors_Mini-Universal)(type KiCad)(uri ${KISYSMOD}/Connectors_Mini-Universal.pretty)(options "")(descr Mate-N-Lok))
  (lib (name Connectors_Molex)(type KiCad)(uri ${KISYSMOD}/Connectors_Molex.pretty)(options "")(descr "Molex connector foottprints www.molex.com"))

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github.com

KiCad/kicad-library/blob/master/template/sym-lib-table

(sym_lib_table
  (lib (name Altera)(type Legacy)(uri ${KICAD_SYMBOL_DIR}/Altera.lib)(options "")(descr "Legacy Altera symbol library."))
  (lib (name Battery_Management)(type Legacy)(uri ${KICAD_SYMBOL_DIR}/Battery_Management.lib)(options "")(descr "Battery management ICs"))
  (lib (name Bosch)(type Legacy)(uri ${KICAD_SYMBOL_DIR}/Bosch.lib)(options "")(descr "Assorted Bosch ICs"))
  (lib (name Connector)(type Legacy)(uri ${KICAD_SYMBOL_DIR}/Connector.lib)(options "")(descr "Generic connector symbols"))
  (lib (name Decawave)(type Legacy)(uri ${KICAD_SYMBOL_DIR}/Decawave.lib)(options "")(descr "Decawave symbols"))
  (lib (name DSP_Microchip_DSPIC33)(type Legacy)(uri ${KICAD_SYMBOL_DIR}/DSP_Microchip_DSPIC33.lib)(options "")(descr "Microchip DSPIC33"))
  (lib (name Diode)(type Legacy)(uri ${KICAD_SYMBOL_DIR}/Diode.lib)(options "")(descr "Diodes"))
  (lib (name Display)(type Legacy)(uri ${KICAD_SYMBOL_DIR}/Display.lib)(options "")(descr "Display modules"))
  (lib (name ESD_Protection)(type Legacy)(uri ${KICAD_SYMBOL_DIR}/ESD_Protection.lib)(options "")(descr "ESD protection devices"))
  (lib (name Espressif)(type Legacy)(uri ${KICAD_SYMBOL_DIR}/Espressif.lib)(options "")(descr "Assorted Espressif ICs"))
  (lib (name FPGA_Actel)(type Legacy)(uri ${KICAD_SYMBOL_DIR}/FPGA_Actel.lib)(options "")(descr "Actel FPGA symbols"))
  (lib (name Graphic)(type Legacy)(uri ${KICAD_SYMBOL_DIR}/Graphic.lib)(options "")(descr "Graphical symbols"))
  (lib (name LED)(type Legacy)(uri ${KICAD_SYMBOL_DIR}/LED.lib)(options "")(descr "Light Emitting Diode (LED) symbols"))
  (lib (name LEM)(type Legacy)(uri ${KICAD_SYMBOL_DIR}/LEM.lib)(options "")(descr "LEM current sensors"))
  (lib (name Lattice)(type Legacy)(uri ${KICAD_SYMBOL_DIR}/Lattice.lib)(options "")(descr "Assorted Lattice ICs"))
  (lib (name Logic_74xgxx)(type Legacy)(uri ${KICAD_SYMBOL_DIR}/Logic_74xgxx.lib)(options "")(descr "74xgxx logic symbols"))
  (lib (name Logic_74xx)(type Legacy)(uri ${KICAD_SYMBOL_DIR}/Logic_74xx.lib)(options "")(descr "74xx logic symbols"))
  (lib (name Logic_CMOS_4000)(type Legacy)(uri ${KICAD_SYMBOL_DIR}/Logic_CMOS_4000.lib)(options "")(descr "4000 series CMOS logic symbols"))
  (lib (name Logic_CMOS_IEEE)(type Legacy)(uri ${KICAD_SYMBOL_DIR}/Logic_CMOS_IEEE.lib)(options "")(descr "4000 series IEEE logic symbols"))

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its important that both files be in your kicad user directory/folder.
doing that… you should be a happy camper…

system · April 12, 2018, 4:26pm

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