Schematic Editor support: Alignment and pattern operations
Variants.
I use this and have to work around it with custom fields.
Wayland compatibility.
For completeness I guess, I use it under XWayland and that works fine but it’s not officially suppported.
Multiple document interface. Just more well-behaved.
Variables that span multiple units. Currently ${U1A:UNIT} returns “A” but I have to actually enter U1A to get that result. I want to do something like ${U1${UNIT_FROM_PIN(12)}:NET_NAME} which would resolve to “GND” if pin 12 of U1 happens to be connected to GND.
Well, I will join this topic. I would really like to implement fanout functions for components (as in cadence Allegro), so that the via with the track becomes part of the component on the board and moves with it when the component is moved. This feature would also be useful for large BGA-type enclosures, since there is nowhere without fanout. Of course, there is a functionality for creating an array of transition holes with tracks, but personally it doesn’t seem very convenient to me.
version 8 on linux debian
I am concerned about importing OrCAD schematic, or EDIF files?
just like import wizard
In the Add Symbol (or footprint) tool, to find the symbol, you need to know the partnumber or hover over or doubleclick all of them while sometimes it’s easier to just look for an image.
So it would be nice if you can click a library name and in the properties pane (which contains nothing in v8) a grid of clickable symbols with name is shown.
A mockup of how it could look like:
Just a detail, but I asked for it since years…
Just an example.
Try to route this pattern:
It needs at least 9 click (6 mouse clicks plus 3 ‘/’ key tabs).
The problem
- first track starts with a 90° and ends with 45°.
- second track starts with 45° and end with 90°.
- third track starts with 90° and ends with 45°
- and so on…
Please allways start with 90° and end with 45°. This makes routing much simpler.
The pattern would need just 6 mouse clicks.
I created a git issue for this some years ago…
Avoid 90° angles when routing a track. (#14637) · Issue · kicad/code/kicad
7 mouse clicks, zero keyboard clicks. Perhaps I’m misunderstanding . . . I see one track.
Can confirm: 5 single clicks and a double.
Hmmm, after 2’nd click I’m in that situation. Here I need the first keyboard tab to switch posture…
Can you please explain? Maybe I can’t see the wood for the trees.
I think I got it.
Use mouse path to set track needs to be checked.
However, its quite fiddly.
Yup I think you figured it out . . . I don’t find it fiddly but it is what I am familiar with.
I don’t know about you, but I have only BGA mode working in this plugin, and besides, the fanout is not grouped with the component so that it moves with it when moving.
@Enot1981
1,The author of this plugin has only developed BGA fan-out mode,You can ignore other options,Haven’t developed it yet.
2. Do you mean that the footprints should be in the same group as the fan-out tracks and vias?
3. Welcome to this plugin repository on github to give feedback on your suggestions
I mean, I would like the functionality of forming a fanout like in the video that I recorded.
2025-04-09 11-30-49.mkv (3.6 MB)
Previous Cad system I used had only one way to mark tracks in a PCB. The track was then selected=highlighted=active=and what ever. That was the track you were working with. KiCad should work in same way.
Now a track can be selected or high lighted or too many things. KiCad could also add some more kinds of tracks, like jumping tracks, singing tracks, green tracks, lost tracks, and so on. Too many. (I would like to see a track with only one end.)
Unfortunately every track must have a start and finish . . . so by definition two ends.