How do you back out of a segment without cancelling the entire trace? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2018, 09:42:03 pm
content: I'm laying out a board for my first time, and in some cases doing some zig zags to try to match the length with another trace, but when I realize I could have omited a zig zag the only want I know of to back out is to hit esc but then it cancels the entire trace. Is there a way to just back out of a single segment and not have to redo the whole trace?As a side note, is there an easy way to automatically match the length of another trace where it does the zig zag for me? In this case this is mostly just practice, just doing a basic Arduino like circuit board so it probably does not matter all that much, but trying to match certain things, like the crystal, and traces going to the UART chip etc.Either way still would like to know how to back out of a single segment without having to redo the whole thing. Or how to delete a segment after the fact.And suppose this is not worth a new post, also wondering is there a way to quickly duplicate foot prints? ex: screw holes, or pads, that arn't part of the original circuit.

author: Bassman59
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2018, 03:46:58 am
content: Quote from: Red Squirrel on March 14, 2018, 09:42:03 pmClick to select the segment, and hit the delete key. That should do it. Or, right-click a trace, and the context menu gives some selection options.QuoteFor Arduino-speed things, and especially for UARTs, there’s no need to match trace lengths.If you want to match two trace lengths, route them as a differential pair.There is also a length-tuning feature. Which version of Kicad are you using?QuoteYou can place anything you want from your libraries. In the right-hand tool bar is an IC package icon, click that and the footprint chooser pops up.

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2018, 12:34:18 pm
content: Delete takes out the entire trace and not just the segment, and you need to complete placement (ex: double click). I'm wondering if there's a way to do it while I'm still laying it out. Though I did notice that if I go in opengl mode I can delete individual segments so that works I guess.Not sure what version (not at home now) but if I recall it's 4.something. It's the one in the PPA for Linux Mint.I know I can place anything from libraries but how do I duplicate it after so I can place many without going through the same process for each one? Ex: if I want 100 holes or something.

author: nali
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2018, 12:50:09 pm
content: In standard view you should be able to use Backspace to back up a node while you're routing.There is a "Create array" which can be useful for things like via stitching, I think it needs to be in OpenGL mode. That's one of the annoying things about Kicad, different features are available depending on the viewing mode...It's worth bearing in mind that all files are plain text; sometimes I find it easier just to open in Notepad++ and modify the text directly.

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2018, 02:44:33 pm
content: Ohhh never though of trying backspace. Will try that, thanks.

author: hermit
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2018, 03:49:31 pm
content: You can copy an already placed part. I'll do that for resistors. I'll put the footprint I want on it first and then hover over the part, hit c. Left click places it.

author: Bassman59
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2018, 05:37:25 pm
content: Quote from: nali on March 15, 2018, 12:50:09 pmA developer priority is making sure that all features from the legacy canvas are available in the OpenGL ("Accelerated", if you are using nightly builds or version 5 release candidates) mode. At some point, the legacy canvas will go away.

author: Bassman59
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2018, 05:38:02 pm
content: Quote from: hermit on March 15, 2018, 03:49:31 pmThe problem with doing that is that there is no netlist information.

author: apurvdate
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 17, 2018, 05:40:28 am
content: Quote from: Red Squirrel on March 14, 2018, 09:42:03 pmin version 4.0.7'C' is hotkey for copy in schematic while 'ctrl+D' duplicates the item in PCB editorabout back-annotating changes in pcb to schematic -- export a .cmp file from pcb layout & import it in schematic

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2018, 11:23:24 pm
content: I just confirmed I am on version 4.07. And yeah I see CTRL+D works. Is there a way to change the shortcuts around so they are consistent? There also does not seem to be a shortcut cheat sheet in PCB mode so I'll just forget this next time. The help also just says it's not found. (that seems to be a trend in lot of open source programs for some reason where the help is not just built in and has to be installed separately, kind of a pain)

author: Bassman59
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2018, 03:59:56 am
content: Quote from: Red Squirrel on March 21, 2018, 11:23:24 pmOn 4.0.7, from the main menu Preferences -> Hotkeys -> Edit Hotkeys.QuoteOn 4.0.7, from the main menu Preferences -> Hotkeys -> List Hotkeys

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2018, 04:10:28 am
content: Thanks I missed those options. I'll have to change them around when I get the chance just to have some consistency.