Some footprint libraries not appearing? (help?)

[jr22]

Bear with me, I’m new at this software (and forum), finally transitioning from Protel 99SE (!!!)

Some of my libraries, such as Package_QFP, are not appearing in the Footprint library browser, but they do appear in the same directory as other libraries that are working correctly.

In particular, I wanted to place an ATMEGA328PB, so I added it to the schematic, and it referenced footprint “Package_QFP:TQFP-32_7x7mm_P0.8mm”. But when I try to browse to that footprint using the viewer, it’s not found.

The file is there, in C:\Program Files\KiCad\share\kicad\modules\Package_QFP.pretty\TQFP-32_7x7mm_P0.8mm.kicad_mod but it doesn’t show up when I browse footprints.

I’m missing a lot of others as well! Comparing the footprint folders shown in the Footprint Editor vs. my kicad/modules directory, a TON are missing.

Any idea what’s up?

This is a brand new install, not sure what’s going on. Thanks.

I know it can see the other packages, because if I browse to a similar footprint called “Housings_QFP:TQFP-32_7x7mm_Pitch0.8mm” it works fine.

The Housings_QFP is in the same directory as the Package_QFP, so I don’t know why it’s seen, but Package is not.

[jr22]

If I add the missing library manually to the Footprint Library Browser, it does work, but why aren’t all of them in the directory added automatically? Is there a way to do so?

[jr22]

I might have answered my own question -

Library management in KiCad version 5

Disclaimer: screenshots taken in nightly from between version 5.0 and 5.1. Version 5.0.x looks slightly different. Version 5.1.x will look like the screenshots show. This is a detailed lecture. If you want to know how to simply add some assets you downloaded to KiCad then you can read the shorter tutorial https://forum.kicad.info/t/how-to-get-a-downloaded-symbol-footprint-or-full-library-into-kicad/19485/ Summary KiCad does not automatically detect libraries! There is no special library locati…

Seems like I have to manually add them, which is a little odd since so many are automatically added (how are those chosen?)

It would be nice to have a feature that added all needed libraries automatically, when a symbol with included footprint is added.

[Rene_Poschl]

@jr22

I know it can see the other packages, because if I browse to a similar footprint called “Housings_QFP:TQFP-32_7x7mm_Pitch0.8mm” it works fine.

This indicates you still have the version 4 library active (most likely via the dreaded github plugin). You might therefore want to read this I had KiCad 4 installed previosly. Now i updated to v5. Now i have some problems with the library setup

[jr22]

Thanks very much, that was the case, I’m sure I played with v4 at some point before installing v5. Deleting fp-lib-table seemed to fix the problem. (And I haven’t done much work in kicad yet so it didn’t affect projects).