Properties panel for the symbol editor
Expand Selection (hotkey U
in the PCB editor) now works on graphic lines (actually, any open graphic shapes) in addition to copper objects.
Graphic shapes (lines, arcs, rectangles, polygons) can now have nets assigned just like tracks.
This allows creating custom copper shapes without having to define them as custom pads inside a footprint.
This is handy for various reasons, for example if you want to define a copper polygon on the board to connect some pads together but don’t want it to be a filled zone (because you do not want it to ever keep clearance from anything like a zone would)
There are now cli options to run drc and erc
kicad-cli pcb drc
kicad-cli sch erc
Additionally both the cli and gui have an option to save a json formatted report
The schema of which can be found here resources/schemas · master · KiCad / KiCad Source Code / kicad · GitLab
Grids can now be modified in the UI, and grid overrides can be applied that set certain grids based on the item you’re acting upon.
Note: grid settings shown in previous message have now been moved to Preferences.
Added importers for EasyEDA / JLCEDA, both Standard and Professional editions.
To download STEP 3D models for imported boards, a separate plugin must be used:
- Download the latest “PCM Package” from EasyEDA 3D Loader Releases
- In KiCad, open “Plugin and Content Manager” > “Install from File…”, choose the downloaded archive
- Close PCM.
After importing your project/board, in PCB Editor, click on the plugin icon and then “Download and convert STEP 3D models from JLC”.
Pin Helpers: a set of tools to rapidly break out from symbols.
EAGLE libraries can now be used directly in Symbol Libraries, as well as in Footprint Libraries.
Also, the descriptions are much better now.
Length-tuning pattern properties:
(I don’t want to steal @dsa-t 's thunder, but perhaps he will upload a video of interactive editing of length-tuning patterns…)