Hi there, i have question: Is it possible to check with a funktion, wich lines are connected, to find forgotten connections or wrog connections? I have also SprintLayout and there it is possible. Also i can export from KiCad to Gerber file and import it in Sprintlayout. Ther is a testing possible but the way is complicated. So my question is: Can i also testin KiCad, wich lines are connected? I dint find it in the manual. Thanks
Is the Highlight Net function in both eeschema and pcbnew what you want?
I like to see, wich lines are connected. In SprintLayout i can click test and see if i click on a line, how she is connected on all layers. Its on the layout, not in eeschema. Direct on layout
It works similarly in pcbnew. When you click on a copper area, all the copper on the same net is highlighted. And vias of course.
Thanks i didnt find and will test now!
I dont find it, what do i have to click before testing?
And in that case i only make the platine layout, because there are only some adapters on, so i didnt need a shematic before.
“Highlight Net”, The top icon beside “layers manager” in PCB.
Its not working, shows only parts of the lines, : I have no ! netlist, maybe i need that?
Is it possible that you are searching for the DRC feature? In it select the “list unconnected” to get a list of what is not yet connected.
Edit: and yes you need some way to tell KiCad what needs to be connected (after all if you want a check then the information to check against needs to exist). In kicads case this is typically done via the schematic or a netlist. In future (v6) one will have more options to work without schematic which means there will be more powerful ways to make the connectivity info within pcbnew without the need for a schematic/netlist
Yes, needs nets to work.
Look i show you, the pink lines are connected and each line i click it shows all connected lines and field!
That is made with SprintLayout
Now i am confused. This is just what the highlight tool of kicad does. So what are you missing there?
No, that is made with SprintLayout,im miss ing that in KiCad. But KiCad is better for me
Right toolbar second or third item from the top (highlight net) – then click on one of the traces and see what is connected.
i can not find it in KiCad. The Highlight i tried shows only the lines on one side of the platine. Or i didnt find the right button
highlight net should work without schematic.
@Thomi_My was the design made in kicad or did you import something? If it is the latter then maybe the import did not correctly import through holes (like vias)
In 5.1.9 “highlight net” highlights the whole layer if there are no assigned nets, for me.
Design in Kicad, no Import, only inport the Gerber fom KiCad in SprintLayout. That works.
Her is apic, if i highlight Net in KiCad
Everything is highlighted
Do you have a schematic, and a netlist?
I think I’ve seen sprint-layout once and it does not even have a schematic side. You just put footprints on a PCB and start drawing tracks. Is this correct?
KiCad don’t work that way. Proper use of KiCad mandates use of a netlist, and this pretty much means you have to draw a schematic first. This is not a bore, this is a bonus. On a schematic you are much less likely to make silly mistakes, or forget connections.
When the schematic is made, you can put a list of all connections (called “netlist”) into Pcbnew, and after that you can check any differences between the schematic and the PCB with Pcbnew / Inspect / Design Rule Checker This is a powerful tool, but it completely depends on a valid netlist (and thus schematic).
(There are other ways of creating a netlist, such as SKiDL, but that’s getting off-topic).
The Highlight tool also works with the netlist. Now I see everything gets highlighted at the same time, which means all your tracks are part of the same net (Very likely “no-net”, and you very likely do not have a schematic and proper netlist.
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