Save/Restor footprint assignments (or export .cmp file)

Schematic
1

Hi there,

so what i want to accomplish is this:

I have a PCB based on trough-hole (THT) footprints. Now i want to create a second PCB with surface mount components (SMT), based on the same schematics. It is way easyer to mill the THT board for small projects but i eventually want to have a SMT version manufactured some day.

Now it would be nice to have sth like the .cmp file holding a ‘footprint to components - template’. This way i could assign the THT footprints, export the netlist and create the THT board. Then save the ‘footprint-template’, assign the SMT components, export the netlist and create the SMT board.
When i change the schematics i could then easily update both the SMT and THT boards by switching the ‘footprint - template’ or just select not to update the footprints in pcbnew.

I am aware that this also depends on pinouts, so it might be impossible anyways. Checking the ATTINY2313 Component i see that the Pinouts for the attiny PORTs would be mapped right if i just change the component from DIP to SO in the schematic. (that would still be easyer than remapping all the footprints).

So to all of you experienced folks - am i having a bad idea in the first place?
Is there a way to save a .cmp file? I looked trought the manual and the gui but could not find any references apart from the abandoning of the cmp files.

Thanks and cheers,
Marxen

2

CvPcb uses .equ (Equivalence files) to assign footprints by one-click automatic process. For example, you can create two .equ files: one for THT, second for SMD. When you do a CvPcb job just use one of your .equ files depending on which type of components you want to use.

Read the CvPcb manual to get information how to create these files (plain text, very simple format).

1 Like
3

Ah perfect! Thx. Sorry could have found that on my own :).