As a design evolves I make copies of my project folders
at least I can go back and start over from a past point with settings intact if I make changes, etc.
well, at some point i changed a grid setting which for the life of me can’t find again
not sure exactly what I did, or remember why exactly
and now when I duplicate symbols for example the copy will no longer snap to traces
the copy even seems to be re-sized … not seen this ever before
I realize I will likely have to go back to an earlier version or start over completely
but I thought I’d ask here first,
what are the default spacing/snap settings for the schematic editor and where do I find these ?!
First, check your grid.
At the very bottom of the page, under your work space, to the right center you will see the grid with a number.
Make sure this is 50 mils.
If it is not 50 mils, place your cursor on an empty space in the schematic editor and Right click .
Hover over Grid and then select 50 mil from the list now exposed.
Create a “Selection Box” around everything drawn on the schematic sheet.
Next, Right mouse click on anything in that Selection Box and select “Align Elements to grid”.
This should bring everything back under control.
A really common reason for the grid changing is accidentally hitting the N key instead of the M key when moving symbols.
N hotkey is “Change to Next Grid”.
I tried what you recommended but it didn’t fix things unfortunately …
my project files all seem corrupt (this way) going back to almost the beginning of this design
first two iterations are behaving ok
when I duplicate a symbol the schematic editor immediately imparts an offset on the part
I open schematics in other (unrelated) projects I don’t get this
if I turn off grid snapping and adjust grid numbering to smaller amounts
I still can’t get traces to complete with the ball end filling up into a green dot
eschema seems to not be linking parts to traces anymore …
KiCad is completely reliant on endpoints of wires lining up with attachment points of pins to recognize connections. All of KiCad’s symbols are designed to fit on a 50mils grid, and jmk’s advice should be enough to repair your project. Maybe you skipped some of the steps?
Make sure you have a mils grid. click on the mils icon on the toolbar on the left:
Schematic Editor / View / Grid Properties and then set the Current grid to the 50mils.
Zoom out to view the whole drawing sheet, then draw a big box around everything to select it, then right click and select Align Elements to grid from the popup menu.
That should get your schematic working again. There are a few edge cases where this is not enough. If you have for example designed any schematic symbols yourself and those are off grid, then you have to fix those symbols in the symbol editor.
