Hi,
If I’m going to have these problems where I have think too much, perhaps it is better to start again, and only use 5+. Does this sound a good idea?
Yes. But you should delete your KiCad configuration directory or at least the lib-tables from there. Go to the Windows file Explorer, type %appdata% as address, it’s there. There should be no need to re-install KiCad; just don’t use v4 anymore.
Hi E,
When I searched for %appdata% I was confronted with pages of stuff, that I don’t think I should play wit. Is there an easier way to get rid of 4?
C.
Write %appdata% in the address line of the explorer:
Press Enter. It goes to your AppData\Roaming\ folder. You should see kicad\ folder there. You can delete it entirely and start afresh. Or go inside that folder and delete just fp-lib-table and sym-lib-table. Then, when you start KiCad again, it does some first time things. They should be automatically enough if you have done a basic default installation.
Hi E,
All done and I’ve placed a PIC on a new Board, using the sequence.
One problem I had was being helped by the system, without me noticing, so there was cross pollination. I cut out the APPDATA file, so I didn’t jump off the cliff, now all of the old files are isolated in a separate folder.
Is it possible to open an old SCH so I can copy it. I can use a different computer, with all the old stuff on, if necessary.
Thanks, C.
You can work with old projects as long as they have the cache library intact. Worst that would then happen is that kicad needs to rescue your schematic if the libraries used by it no longer exist in their original form.
An alternative of course would be to have a double library setup where you switch to the old libs while working on old projects. (One kind of easy way to achieve this is to add the old libs as local libraries to the old projects that need them. If it is a version 4 generated project then read my FAQ article about remapping as it gives all the options you have available: Converting KiCad version 4 projects to version 5 (Remap a project))
Hi R,
I took the gamble to append the schematic, then save it, which was done successfully. The file system and caches are confusing to me. I can see that when associating components, there is a different set now, and I’ll try to use the new ones, as I have a habit of getting rid of files if they confuse me, and accept the headache I cause myself, and of course the staff of Kicad.
I hope to have a clean set of PCBs if I can.
I now have a schematic, and I’m associating components, at the moment.
C.
Hi,
It looks as though I’m going to start again, using only an screen shot of the schematic image, and start from scratch, which will teach me the new Assignments etc.
C.
Hi,
I’ve placed most of the components, on the Schematic. I tried saving it then re-starting, and got this error:
I can’t find this switch for the schematic, is there one?
C.
Are you sure it has ever been in the official library? (I checked the current master, and all 4.0.x releases of the lib. None of them contain a symbol called DATA_SW.)
What device should that switch represent? Maybe the device itself has already a specialized symbol in the library. (The analog switch library has symbols for devices that look to be similar.)
Hi R,
Ah! I suppose I used a simple 2 into 1 switch, and renamed it. I don’t mind what I use as long as the switch the PCB footprint.
C.
There is a symbol library in Eeschema called “Analog_Switch” which has 100+ different switches in it. It does not have the oldies such as 4066, 4051, etc. Those are in the libraries of 4xxx, 74xx 74xGxx, and who know where. Plenty to choose from 
The “Power_Management” library also has plenty of High-side and “Intelligent” power switches.
Hi P,
You say “Plenty to choose from” which I find confusing. Why are there so many, when all I want is a 2 to 1 switch, I don’t particularly care what it’s called, as long a it has a trigger PIN. I’d be happy with a similar range as the generic connectors.
To clarify, if I choose one with a similar look to the one I posted, can I assume that when it comes to assigning a footprint there will be +v and GND? (I suppose that’s obvious really)
C.
Because many different manufacturers make may different components that fulfill a similar usecase than what we know about yours.
Not all of these components are interchangeable. Meaning you really need to decide which component to use first, select a symbol (possibly with the correct footprint pre assigned) fitting that one component and go from there.
Hi R,
I used a MAX4644 6PIN so23-6 chip on my previous PCBs
I just looked on my other computer, with the ‘old’ version of Kicad, and checked for any information from previous PCBs. All I could see on the assign footprints page is DATA SW = To-SOT_Packages_SMD : SOT-23_6 Handsoldering. I didn’t find the actual shape I posted previously.
Even though I keep I keep lots of notes, and pointers, I am always finding myself wasting mine and others time, with these kind of problems. As you can see I can make PCBs ok, but don’t always remember the correct rules. Maybe there could be a simpler version of Kicad for us who have difficulties with so many choices. I’m wondering if the reason for me to use screens before the PCB one, is for autorouting, which is a big help.
C.
Well, now that we know which of the 100s of analog switches you are interested in using, I’m able to search the libraries.
No, the MAX4644 isn’t there. But I found a similar symbol in the Analog_Switch library that you could copy to a personal library, rename, and renumber the pins. (You probably should also check and update the other properties of the copied symbol, specifically Description and Documentation File Name (datasheet), and remove the aliases.) Check out the TS5A3159DBV. It even has a SOT-23-6 footprint. The pin numbers are all wrong for the MAX chip, but that is an easy change. The only think about this symbol that might be a little more complex to edit is this symbol has two units. One unit (A) has all the functional pins (the pole, the two throws, and the control) and the other unit (B) has the power pins. Don’t forget to change the pin numbers in both unit A and unit B. Also, when placing in your schematic make sure you place one each of the units for each SOT-23-6 you plan on using. Lets say the first one you call U7. You should have both U7A and U7B on your schematic.
If you really don’t want to deal with using both units, then on your copy add the power pins to Unit A and change the number of units to 1.
FWIW, I only have the 5.0.2 release library installed on this computer. This specific symbol might or might not be in the latest git offering. But learning how to take an existing symbol and modify it to your purposes is an important library maintenance task to learn.
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Hi S,
NOTE: I’ve done all of this before, also I have re-mapped libraries, all of which I have forgotten. The sign of a good system, is if it’s user friendly (with the expected level of competence).
First I tried Github, not user friendly.
Then I tried the Kicad editing method, using ‘1’ unit. This turned out to be user friendly, as I edited the component, which arrived as it should in the PCB. (Although perhaps not perfect )
Thanks, C.
Not sure what you mean by that. Github is a webservice for hosting git repositories. Additionally it provides a user interface for managing projects and also provides a way for non members to share their stuff with the original owners of a project.
Especially the later usecase is where github (and similar tools) brought in a lot of innovation enabling much less experienced people to contribute to open source projects. (A pull request is much easier to understand than sending patches via mail.)
Or do you feel the library team has set the bar for the contributions themselves too high?
In the past only compliance to the KLC was checked. Now every contribution must be checked against the datasheet or industry standards.
There are even people out there who feel we are too lenient on the symbol side. Especially with regards to certain international standards about how symbols should be created and especially reference designators.
I feel we have a good standard for the library right now. We try to balance the requirements of casual users versus the ones of power users.
Naturally we lean a bit towards the later. I do not feel that their requirements bring real downsides to casual users. (But yes to fulfill their requirements every symbol and footprint is a bit more work to create and check.)
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Hi R,
I meant no disrespect to Github, and have used it before as mentioned. My projects involve many different programs etc for programming, PCB making, mechanical tools etc, and I shy away from those programs that simply take too much effort to use. When it comes to ‘say’ Github, I have to learn a different language to be able to use it. I don’t know what a ‘pull request’ or ‘git’ is and have to look the meaning up before anything else.
I didn’t say that Kicad was not user friendly. In fact I said it is good, and this is why I stay with it. I have been using it for a long time now, and seen lots of changes.
I use Windows, and like many others who have used Windows over the years, am amazed at the sometimes difficulties with it. It is written by clever people, who can’t see how what to them is easy, is not easy to the average person.
I’m just about to donate to Kicad for the work and efforts that go into it, thank you.
Cheers, Camerart.
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