Hello!
I’m just starting to use KiCAD. I’m using version 9.02 under W11.
For now, I’m defining my layers inside a template.
The management of the REF and Value for the component is not very useful.
I decided to create specific layers for them.
This works well. However, when I quit and reload the template, the status of the layers reverts to ‘Auxiliary’. I need to change this before I can work with the template.
Is it a bug?
Regards
Vincent
I can’t help as I am still using V8 where I have (my decisions made with V4) values and references at courtyard layers.
From what I have read recently at forum when I will move to V9 my solution will no longer work for me and I suppose I will have to do with ref and value the same as you are trying to do.
I will follow your thread with interest because I am curious how exactly I will have to modify all my footprints to do the V8->V9 step.
User layer pairs are new in V9 and I am curious how they are used. At the moment I do not even know what this template you are saying about is.
I don’t understand this. You’re just starting with KiCad, and the first thing you do is customizing the whole layer setup? All of KiCad’s default footprint libraries are built around using the default layers, and as a result you are setting yourself up for a lot of extra work for a trivial (or only perceived) gain. I suggest you do at least a few projects in KiCad to get a feeling of how the defaults work before you dive into customizations.
If you really want to dive deep into customizing KiCad (at a later I hope). Quite a big part of KiCad’s default libraries are generated from scripts. These scripts are not part of a normal KiCad installation, but you can find them on gitlab.
Hello Paulvdh,
I work for a company that has used CADSTAR for a long time, and we have now switched to eCastar.
We develop and document PCBs, PCBA and schematics, which are used by subcontractors or on our production line across different plants.
At the same time, I have started my own company and developed some products. I have one licence for CADSTAR and eCADSTAR. The problem is that eCastar is very poor.
I am interested in switching to KiCAD, but I want to be able to continue producing the same documentation for subcontractors.
In all cases, I will use proprietary libraries with specific layers.
For my needs, Kicad’s capabilities for schematic and layout seem adequate.
What I need to check now is how to manage libraries, templates, the job process and personal configuration to suit my needs.
I have always worked this way throughout my career when evaluating different tools for professional use (Eagle, Altium and Cadstar).
regards
Haranguing people reporting unexpected behavior is not very helpful imo.
I see the same behavior. I also see that in the kicad_pcb, the layer type is only saved as user, so I think this is either a bug or incompletely implemented feature.
First, I apologize. I was wrong in making the assumption you’re a beginner in PCB design when you wrote you just started with KiCad.
For the rest. KiCad’s libraries are a great way to start with PCB design in KiCad, but people who do a lot of PCB design work tend to manage their own (in company vetted) libraries, or database driven versions. I’m mostly using KiCad on a hobby level. KiCad’s usage of the layers is “not very advanced”. It’s only quite recently that the User.1 though 9 layers were added, and I guess their use is (still) quite limited. Layer names can’t be renamed in the footprint (Footprint Editor), as that would easily result in a myriad of layer names if library data from different sources is combined. It looks like this is one of the areas that are obvious targets for improvement, but the KiCad development team is a relatively small group of (mostly) volunteers and this is limit for the development speed. But if I look at the progress made over the years, they are doing a very good job indeed.
I am surprised you don’t understand this.
I think that organizing your work is the first step when you are trying to use new tool. It is exactly the same what I have done when considered to use KiCad. My first question was how to organize layer use to be able to get at the end documentation I need. I wanted to be able to get pictures containing references or values together with courtyard like rectangles at the background of grey copper view. It was ‘must have’ deciding if I will move to KiCad or stay with Protel.
I found that I will be able to get what I want (with inkscape help) if I will have ref and value at courtyard layer and after finding it I know how my footprints shell look like so was able to start to make all needed for me symbols and footprints. Than having them I was able to start my first KiCad PCB.
For me such way is as natural as 2+2=4.
