Python Parser for .kicad_pcb

[NivagSwerdna]

Hi,

(I’m new to KiCAD) and trying to write a python program that will parse my .kicad_pcb file so I can automagically align some of my numerous components. I have looked at a number of projects that have parsers (e.g. pykicad) but they don’t seem to be able to handle my file (I’m using Version: (5.1.5)-3, release build).

Specifically my .kicad_pcb has multiple user_trace_widths and possibly some other features that maybe rate it as tricky to parse.

Please point me in the direction of a popular/maintained python kicad file parser and I’ll try and take it from there… even it needs some TLC to change it.

Using Python to manipulate the files seems like a very strong feature of KiCAD so it would be nice if I could get it to work

Thanks

[Rene_Poschl]

Why not use the KiCad internal python API?

[NivagSwerdna]

@Rene_Poschl

KiCad internal python API

I came a bit unstuck with that route… https://docs.kicad.org/doxygen/md_Documentation_development_pcbnew-plugins.html has a link to “user documentation” but the link is 404.

It sounds like what you are suggesting is a good idea… just not quite sure how to get started.

Thanks

[NivagSwerdna]

I’m making some reasonable progress… managed to configure PyCharm with the Python27 from KiCad and get the libraries pointing in the right direction…

import pcbnew

pcb = pcbnew.LoadBoard("../myDesignCOPY.kicad_pcb")

for module in pcb.GetModules():
    print "* Module: %s"%module.GetReference()

What I would like to do is enumerate components (seems to be 1:1 with Module) obtain their At position and move them according to my own rules.

I don’t see .At on module? I just need to apply a dx dy to the components that match a regexp.

Again any pointers to examples or documentation would be good… I’m not looking for someone to write this for me!

[MitjaN]

The place footprints action plugin might be what you are looking for. If it is not useful directly, at least it can serve as a code example.

As for documentation I’ve got two bookmarks:
https://kicad-downloads.s3.cern.ch/doxygen-python/namespacepcbnew.html
https://docs.kicad.org/doxygen-python/namespacepcbnew.html

I don’t know what is the difference though

[NivagSwerdna]

Thanks. I definitely think I’m heading in the right direction now…

import pcbnew

pcb = pcbnew.LoadBoard("../myDesignCOPY.kicad_pcb")

for module in pcb.GetModules():
    ref = module.GetReference()
    print "* Module: %s"%ref
    p = module.GetPosition()

    if ref == "D22":
        p.x = 123
        module.SetPosition(p)

pcb.Save("../myDesignCOPY.kicad_pcb_mod")

It’s not the easiest since it’s all SWIG and hence intellisense doesn’t behave well in PyCharm but it looks do-able. Thanks!

PS
The plugin does looks very similar to what I wanted to write! ROFL