Re: gEDA-user: PCB - how to update elements/components on a PCB

[David Rowe <david@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I've contemplated writing a script that could find and replace 
> footprints in the file but haven't had the time yet.

I have written a first pass Perl script to automate finding/replacing
footprints.  I have put this script and a few others for PCB file
manipulation up on my web site http://www.rowetel.com/perl4pcb.html

>  but would much 
> prefer that PCB dealt with the issue directly.   The gschem approach is 
> much better in that you can reference a part, limbed it like PCB, or 
> "smash" it into the file as primitives.  I'd love to see PCB do the same 
> thing.

I agree, the best fix would be a menu option inside PCB.  However I hope
the script I have written helps out a few people in mean time.

David

> 
> Joe T
> 
> 
> David Rowe wrote:
> 
> >Hi,
> >
> >I have a PCB design that uses 5 SOT-23 elements.  The original SOT-23
> >element is stored as a text file bf_SOT23:
> >
> >[david@solomon hardware-0.2]$ more pkg/newlib/bf_SOT23
> >
> >Element["" "bf_SOT23" "" "" 206000 121000 0 0 0 100 ""]
> >(
> >        Pad[-3500 3500 -3500 5500 3900 3000 6900 "1" "1" "square,edge2"]
> >        Pad[3500 3500 3500 5500 3900 3000 6900 "2" "2" "square,edge2"]
> >        Pad[0 -5500 0 -3000 3900 3000 6900 "3" "3" "square"]
> >        ElementLine [-6500 -8500 -6500 8248 1000]
> >        ElementLine [6500 -8500 -6500 -8500 1000]
> >        ElementLine [6500 8500 6500 -8248 1000]
> >        ElementLine [-6500 8500 6500 8500 1000]
> >
> >        )
> >
> >Now if I change this element, is there any way to make PCB automatically
> >update the 5 components I have placed on the PCB using this element?  I
> >would like to preserve the component designator, value, orientation etc.
> >
> >Currently I am manually loading up the element using "File-load element
> >to paste buffer" then manually replacing the 5 components and entering
> >the designator/value.
> >
> >Thanks,
> >
> >David
> >
> >
> >
> >  
> >
>