PCB rule system changes suggested...all constraints of everything should be in one place

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Hi
I see there are default rules in BoardSetup-DesignRules-Constraints
and there is the option for custom rules in BoardSetup-DesignRules-CustomRules

My suggestion is that there should be NO “BoardSetup-DesignRules-Constraints”
and no constraints in the Zone place, etc ,

All those items in “BoardSetup-DesignRules-Constraints” should be defaults text in Custom Constraints. That is all those default rule items should be just like any custom rules.

othewise, it is a bit confusing to see what rule is for what at a glance. The zone placer with its own rules … no no no , rules in custom constraints should refer to the name of the zone etc . Thus there are default rules for EVERYTHING in the custom placer text.
Constraints should ALL be in one place…

I understand KICAD has probably grown from simple software to a monster…

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So did Altium.
I still have my original two floppy disks which covered the whole “Protel for DOS”

Maybe Kicad has found a different, and maybe better? path to being a monster. Time will tell.
Anyway, I think many here really don’t want an Altium clone.

JMHO

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Defaults (English is not my first language and I have no direct one word translation for that word) I understand that can be changed by other settings while Board setup Rules are what manufacturer can do so it is not a default but rater an unexceedable limit.

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Constraints are logically different. They are hard limits which must not exceeded and are mostly dictated by manufacturer capabilities.

Read also the tooltips:

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They ensure that custom rules etc. can’t accidentally lead to too small values.

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I guess that quite a lot of people (and especially beginners, students and hobbyists) do not need the custom rules and doing this all in text would make it more difficult to get started in KiCad.

There are also just far to many settings to fit on a single page. Have a look at the long list in PCB Editor / File / Board Setup / Design Rules / Violation Severity

I find the way the design rules are now divided over several pages with settings intuitive and easy to use.

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Seeing (in another thread, about AD) that you’re an “industry prof with 34 years of experience”, I would be happy to discuss the DRC stuff with you or answer your questions - provided that you change your attitude. Example: maybe in your professional setting, WRITING IN UPPERCASE is not considered rude, but in KiCad community it’s often perceived as such :slight_smile:

Best,
Tom

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thanks for all the replies.
Hi ok, no more uppercase. I use uppercase or bold to ensure when someone is reading quickly, they get the intended meaning

I take the point that the hard limits, and also to be a little more friendly, the defaults can be in a form panel.

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And it works?

It happened to me that I tried 3 times to explain something and someone ‘discussing’ with me each time answered faster than I even read what I sent (I always read what I send to find if something need be corrected).
From his answers it was clear for me that he did not understand the content and only caught a few words. Those time I gave up with conclusion that he reads too fast to be able to understand and decision that next time I will not loose my time for such discussion.
I hardly believe that using uppercase could help.

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FWIW, all the constraints on the Constraints page are compiled into rules internally.

But we keep a separate interface to have a more graduated learning curve and to allow simpler boards to not have to use custom rules.

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HI Jeff
easier learning curve. yeah, that’s fine. Improves the accessibility to people for the tool which is a good thing.

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