A user interface have a menu with predefined scale factors, and 1.0 , that is 1:1 is absent.
In a grid menu there is ability create a user grid for example.
Also in status bar any information about scaling is absent, so it is impossible detect actual scaling.
I am miss something or this primitive features is really absent?
oH I am sorry, a zoom in status bar is preset , but again, it show actual scaling factor if only I select this factor from menu, very strange feature.
I am using pcbnew 5.1.4. I see zoom settings of 1.38 and 0.85 on the menu. Yes, I tried to find a way to edit these settings, but could not. Why isnât 1.0 on the list ? This is irritating.
UPDATE: I reduced the grid size from 1 mil to 0.2 mil. This allowed me to get a zoom factor of 1.04.
If you quit pcbnew and do not save the file, when you restart pcbnew the next time, pcbnew still retains the last grid spacing that you just changed. Interesting.
If you run pcbnew windowed you can get it to 1.0 by adjusting the window size and hit the âZoom fit to board/pageâ button until itâs 1.0.
Doesnât change the auto-generated list though.
Might need to fill in a bugreport if itâs very important to you?
Similar area, different problem:
Just find a way how to scale to 1.0 as well as for others factors
A value of âZâ in status bar is changed only after mouse movement, that is it is need move mouse wheel up or down by step then move mouse itself - value of âZâ will change then. One step of mouse wheel is equal to 0.1.
I use os x10.14.6 but think it is not an os specific or kikad bug itself, but more like an âuser manual writerâ bug. On another hand it is not clear why mouse is need be moved to change âZâ value.
As this post was dedicate to âhow to scale to 1.0â then looks like that a problem solved.
thanks to all replied.
âŚone more addition, looks like I was incorrect about problem source.
I use Macbook air core i5 (canât tell a model exactly right now). If I zoom by built-in trackpad then value of âZâ is changed as expected. If by external mouse then mouse need be moved to cause a âZâ value change
I always prefer to see PCB much bigger then in real and never had a need to see it in 1:1. It is first time me seeing someone needs to have screen scale 1:1 so I wonder - what for?
I suppose that even you will be able to set 1:1 it will not be exactly 1:1 as program has to assume what is the dpi of screen (may be modern monitors send that info to system but not sure).
I can imagine two monitors both with the same number of pixels in X/Y directions but with different screen sizes.
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Couldnât find the "Zoom fit to board/page button in my pcbnew. Maybe itâs not there. I did try ViewâŚZoom to Selection and clicked to fill in the checkbox. Then by twiddling with the viewport size, I got the Z to 1.02. This was closer than I got twiddling with the full-size viewport, when the magnification toggled from between 0.85 and 1.22 when trying to reach 1.0
I conclude that it is not possible to display the PCB with unity magnification without printing or plotting, for the reason(s) @piotr gave.
EDIT: I was wrong when I said yesterday that making the pcbnew grid higher resolution got my Z closer to unity. It doesnât seem to have much effect.
The conclusions here are correct, the zoom functionality in KiCad was not really designed to support exact scaling (1:1 or other defined ratios), itâs more intended to be a way to navigate the board / schematic than a way to see something on screen with a defined scale. Please file a feature request on GitLab with more details about your use case if you think KiCad should support this.
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I am noticed that value of âZâ which approximately match 1:1 is equal to 1,11,
Piotr - A purpose of actual scaling for example is when you are create new uncommon footprint (in my case it is small oled tft) and need make sure that all is alright and match all dimensions without printing.
Another example , when you have only manufactured pcb without drawings and need create some plug-in board for this pcb and match some dimensions limits. Usually a tons of paper is needed when you will try accomplish such tasks. So it is more easy when you simply try lean against display your physical stuff.
You donât need a full-scale to do that in footprint library editor. Just move the cursor and look at dx and dy on the bottom of the viewport. See how these values change when you move the mouse cursor. Press the space bar to zero dx and dy. Move the mouse cursor to see how dx and dy change to measure distances. You might need to decrease the grid size to a fraction of a mm because the mouse cursorâs movements are also discretized to the grid size. (there is also an InspectâŚMeasure tool that makes this easy)
The measure tool is much better suited for this task then the dx dy view stuff. Especially now that snap to objects exists.
Since 30 years we are using only defined by us footprints. Each new PCB typically needs to define one or two new footprints. Normally datasheet is enough to define footprint. In some cases (untypical use of elements) I use also slide calliper, but never ever I needed to see footprint in scale or to print it in scale.
Using slide calliper you can easy measure dimensions which are important with accuracy 0.1mm - much better then you will be able to check matching touching that pcb to 1:1 picture at screen.
Simply not true.
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