What is wrong with this footprint library?

[myne]

Right. So when you copy an ntfs folder, it also copies the file permissions.

Copy a read only file belonging to only Susie, and the copy keeps that.

Kicad doesn’t manage this, Windows does and it’s behaved the same since NT3.x

What has changed is that now Windows uses a special user to install programs and restrict those programs to only their files. I believe programs also have special users/groups these days.

This has helped reduce malware infections and impacts.

So IF you copied the original kicad read only folder, the new one will have all the same permissions or lack as the original. Kicad’s originals are read only, and/or only modifyable by the “kicad program user/group” so that goes a way to explaining it.

[retiredfeline]

@BobZ

As long as it is a phantom, I prefer it to be named Barthwarp Definkulator.

The footprint library table is stored in the configuration directory. See here for the locations for various platforms:

Where are the configuration files (settings, library tables)?

KiCad stores user settings (or preferences) and library tables for the user in a system specific location. The default paths are: Unix (Linux etc.): The user’s home directory + .config/kicad/ (= $HOME/.config/kicad/) Windows Vista & later: "C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming" + kicad\ (= %appdata%\kicad) OSX: The user’s home directory + /Library/Preferences/kicad/ From later 5.99 nightly builds onward the configuration folder has the version number added for each x.y version. For example: 5.99…

Have you looked at fp-lib-table with a text editor to see why the footprint edtior still sees the phantom library?

[BobZ]

I went through this process with my KiCad folder (containing my libraries for example) but it REALLY seems too long/complicated/dangerous/over my head. It tells me to repeat but I did not.

I do not know what I am doing when I do it.

And after that is done, I still cannot change that status from “read only”…

I hope that I did not screw anything up.

EDIT:

@retiredfeline

Have you looked at fp-lib-table with a text editor to see why the footprint edtior still sees the phantom library?

Just now I did that. Cannot find the phantom. AND…

Now I opened KiCad and those two issues seem to be gone!

But I still do not understand the “read only” status.

[BobZ]

OK I found a “DUH!”

Earlier today I opened project A and saw no issue when I opened the footprint editor.

Just now I opened project B and again the footprint editor looked for that “…copy” footprint library.

AHA! Sure enough, project B calls out a footprint from a library which I have now deleted/renamed. So I re-assigned the same footprint from the new library name. Now the issue seems to be gone again.

THAT is probably what happened above…simply opening a different project.

[Dennisch]

@BobZ

But I still do not understand the “read only” status.

See readonly properties box for a description of the three state check box used in Windows.

[BobZ]

@Dennisch

See readonly properties box for a description of the three state check box used in Windows.

Ahh OK thanks! So it is actually “indeterminate.”

But “tri-state” could be New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.