Trying to make sense of Properties and Fields and the difference between them.
I created a New_Library.kicad_Sym and copied the R symbol from Device.kicad_Sym into it.
Then I created a property_vs_field project and dropped the R symbol from New_Library into an empty schematic which created a part with reference R1. I had already created a field template with three items: my_field_1, my_field_2, and my_field_3, so I saw those fields when I opened the Symbol Fields Table (along with Reference, Value, Footprint, etc.).
Then I exported the netlist file. Inside it, I see this:
(components
(comp (ref "R1")
(value "R")
(description "Resistor")
(fields
(field (name "my_field_1") "3")
(field (name "my_field_2") "1")
(field (name "my_field_3") "2")
(field (name "Footprint"))
(field (name "Datasheet"))
(field (name "Description") "Resistor"))
(libsource (lib "New_Library") (part "R") (description "Resistor"))
(property (name "my_field_1") (value "3"))
(property (name "my_field_2") (value "1"))
(property (name "my_field_3") (value "2"))
(property (name "Sheetname") (value "Root"))
(property (name "Sheetfile") (value "kicad_property_vs_field.kicad_sch"))
(property (name "ki_keywords") (value "R res resistor"))
(property (name "ki_fp_filters") (value "R_*"))
(sheetpath (names "/") (tstamps "/"))
(tstamps "a763c09c-831e-4857-ae17-f6cb4484cd7c")))
The fields I created (my_field_1, my_field_2, my_field_3) are not just fields, but properties as well. Meanwhile, the Footprint, Datasheet, and Description which are listed as properties in New_Library.kicad_sym are now shown as fields but not as properties.
So what is a field versus a property? If it is both, which one takes precedence?
(Note that I tried looking for an answer on KiCad’s gitlab, but the search function there is even worse than the one on this forum.)