When placing components and adding dimensions—such as from a component edge to the board edge—is it possible to lock the dimension to the component so it updates automatically when the component is moved or nudged using the arrow keys? This was a particularly useful feature in DipTrace that made it easy to maintain consistent spacing for jacks intended to align with enclosure cutouts.
I think no.
Locking footprints that have to be at specific positions is not enough?
-The footprint anchor point—for example, on an RCA jack—might be defined at Pin 1, while a dimension may need to be measured from the jack’s center point to the center of another component, such as a USB jack (where both exit through an enclosure). While it’s possible to update the anchor point and place the component using specific coordinates, it would be much easier to place the dimension between the two center points and nudge the component into position to achieve a pre-defined center-to-center spacing. This is one of those features I didn’t realize I relied on until switching from DipTrace to KiCAD, where dimensions are not “locked” to components or PCB features.
I appreciate the feedback. I’m still learning and definitely not an expert by any means.
To do that you have to have something (graphic) at center to be able to specify the distance from it. I’m using anchor in such situation (I am using only my own libraries).
Have in mind that such automatic keeping the distance assumes moving one component when you move the second. What makes no problem during positioning it will be working also later and until automatic rerouting all second element connected tracks will be done having such feature can sometimes damage something already done surprising one and second.
There are a bucket load of ways to do this in Kicad.
My way would probably be use a suitable Grid to set up the required footprints or one or more of the Positioning Tools in the Select menu.
Next, I would Group (again, from the select menu) these footprints and move this group into position on the PCB.
Finally I would Lock the Group.