Route, push & shove (in OpenGL mode) not working ... what buttons to use?

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Hi all:

I am in pcbnew, in OpenGL mode, on top copper trace, hit the route button (5th down from the top on the right side), hit “e” to choose a “Hightlight Collisions”, “Shove” or “Walk Around” mode…

…but nothing ever happens (using a variety of buttons including the left mouse button which I presume to be active button). None of the youtube videos actually mention what keys/buttons they are pressing… I assume left mouse button… they just dive in and start modifying which looks very impressive…

Note, I do not have an OpenGL card in this (Linux) machine… so is the problem I actually need video card acceleration for this to work?

Thanks

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after changing the mode you need to exit the interactive router and re enter it. Otherwise it stays on the old mode.

What are you trying to achieve?

Laying down tracks is done with the left mouse button.
Dragging existing traces is done after selecting interactive drag via the button M in version 4.0.x and G or D in nightly (will be version 5)

Remember that all but the highlight collision modes do not allow you to put down traces where they would violate DRC. So maybe test it with a trace where nothing is near the starting point.

If opengl really does not work you can use cairo. (But i think you would not get as far as you do if it truly does not work because of a missing graphics card)
Even cpu internal intel cards might be able to use opengl. In fact i use my internal intel card on my laptop and it works fine with opengl rendering.

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When?
For example, select “shove”. Trace a track. Now, trace another track and try to cross the first one. Does the new track shove the first one?

In a console, type ~$ glxinfo | grep “OpenGL version”

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When I try doing anything. I get the the big + cursor, which moves with the mouse, but pressing left mouse button (PLEASE TELL ME, ANYBODY, IS IT THE LEFT MOUSE BUTTON ?) doesn’t do anything. Doesn’t place new tracks, doesn’t move old tracks, just nothing but cursor movement.

glxinfo | grep “OpenGL version”

OpenGL version string: 3.0 Mesa 11.2.0

fairly recent Linux/64 Mint 18.3 install

In other ways, OpenGL canvas seems to work. I’m sure it must be that I need a hardware accelerator…

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We might have forgotten to ask the most important question.
What version of kicad are you running?

I don’t believe it is a driver problem. If the driver is missing, opengl canvas would not work at all.

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I’m running version 4.07-e2-6376-58-ubuntu 16.04.1

Now, I seem to have discovered that first pressing “x” seems to start something. Perhaps that is the secret.

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If x does start something then you where not previosly in interactive routing mode. Take note of the right toolbar. The active tool will be highlighted. The tool you are looking for is the one with the green trace on it. (add track or via)

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OK. Select the “add tracks and vias” tool, as you said it is the 5th of the right toolbar.
Now, press the left button AND RELEASE the left button right afterwards. Press the button to tell the tool the starting point and release to trace the track. Press the left button again to end the track.

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Excellent. I would have never guessed. I tried and tried…

This part is KEY AS WELL ! On the odd time I got it going, it wouldn’t “connect” at the end. Very frustrating at the time.

Thank you so much… !

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I vaguely recall having a similar problem when I first started with KiCAD about 3 years ago, but eventually either found a clue in some tutorial, or stumbled on the solution by myself.

Dale

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