Hi - I’m very new to KiCAD so apologies in advance.
I am working on making changes to a coworker’s schematic. If I single click on a component - its properties will come up in the properties panel. However, if I then press the ‘E’ button the “symbol properties” screen will pop up. And what I find confusing is that the properties listed there are not all the same as what was listed in the panel. For example, the Footprint is only listed in the pop up but not in the panel. I also added a parameter “Voltage” - and it only shows up in pop up and not panel. Why is this?
On a similar note - if I want to make that “Voltage” parameter visible on my schematic I can click on a component, press E, then click “show” in the fields list. But what if I want to do that to a bunch of components at once? Is there a way to do that?
Lastly is there a way to remove a parameter from a bunch of components at once?
Some more infos could be useful to understand what is happening:
which version you are using (help->about kicad) i think something like 9.0.x since you have a properties panel
are you using stock libraries? personal libraries? database libraries?
as far as i know ‘double click’ == ‘E’ != ‘properties panel’, the reason i think is just available ‘real estate’. The developer had to choose just that makes the most sense.
i’m on DBLib, to change the values of the component i do ‘select part’ → l mouse click → change symbol (since my parts are ‘atomic’).
To change multiple parts i simply select multiple (homogeneous) parts.
Depending on your workflow things could be very different from what i do.
The side panel can be turned on from the View menu. Its purpose is to allow quick access to important properties and allow mass editing. Just select several items and you are seeing their common properties which you can change for all selected items at once.
For example, the Footprint is only listed in the pop up but not in the panel.
There are more limitations on the properties panel. For instance all the paramters for the fields (visible/alignement/Font/…) can’t be set in the properties pane.
Think of the properties pane as a reduced, simplyfied way to access the most used settings for a symbol (whereas “most used” always depends on the opinion of user/programmer/usecase).
If you want access to all symbol parameters: use the “E” (Edit symbol properties) dialog.
I also added a parameter “Voltage” - and it only shows up in pop up and not panel. Why is this?
With: Symbol Editor / Tools / Edit Symbol Fields you have access to all fields of all symbols, and combined with grouping you can quickly modify or delete a lot of symbol properties.
I’m using 9.0.2. Sorry you’re right I should have included that in my first post.
I’m curious about the DBLib possibilities in KiCAD. I would like to move towards a database approach to make it easier to mass import components (ie add a whole 0402 1% E96 resistor library at once, not component by component). I’m very concerned with the efficiency of my employer’s current setup as well as the accuracy of it and I think a database can alleviate much of my concerns. Can this be done with Excel, or do I have to set up some sort of SQL server?
Well… If you have already a db in place, it is the logical choice, if not I assure it’s a lot of work. It pays off in the long run but anyway a lot of boring, dangerous work.
I have seen a post in the forum of a user that started with xcell, and technically since a odbc for xcell should exist, it should be possible. Advisable, in my opinion, not so much.