Re: gEDA-user: Gschem and footprints

[Steve Meier <smeier@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I am happy that doc is still useful.

Best Wishes to All here at geda,

Steve M.


On Wed, 2011-08-17 at 08:44 -0500, kqt4at5v@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> On Tue, 16 Aug 2011, Colin D Bennett wrote:
> 
> > On Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:35:46 -0500 (CDT)
> > kqt4at5v@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> >
> >> I am sure this has been done to death but I have to ask
> >> I am a beginner and the way I am using gschem and pcb is quite awkward
> >> I open my schematic in gschem and open pcb
> >> Then when I add a component in gschem I switch to pcb to search for a
> >> footprint When I find the proper footprint in pcb I switch back to
> >> gschem and manually edit the properties to add the footprint name
> >> I MUST be doing something wrong
> >
> > You're not doing anything âwrongâ.  There are many ârightâ ways of
> > working with gEDA... it allows you the freedom to choose what works
> > best for you. If switching back and forth between pcb and gschem is
> > tedious, then consider the following suggestions as just a few of the
> > possible optimizations you can make to your process.
> >
> > I almost never use pcb's footprint browser.  Yes, the default pcb
> > footprint library has a lot of symbols with obtuse names, so it is
> > difficult to find the one you need by name.  However, I only use a few
> > of the default footprint library's footprints--for instance: JUMPER4,
> > RESC1608N, CAPC1608N, ... and most of my footprints are custom ones I
> > have created myself.
> >
> > The footprints in my own library have extremely descriptive names and
> > all I need is a file manager window listing the available footprint
> > files and I can pick the correct footprint by name.  For instance, here
> > are some footprint file names from my library:
> >
> > ...
> >
> > You should be able to understand the purpose of each footprint by its
> > nae and perhaps a quick Google on the package code or part number.
> >
> > I also occasionally have used footprints from gedasymbols.org.  The
> > gedasymbols.org web site has a great interface for searching the
> > footprint library and previewing the footprints.
> >
> > Another thing you can do to save time is to defer footprint attribute
> > assignment until you have the schematic mostly drawn.  Then you can do
> > footprint assignment quickly.  You can use either gschem or the
> > âgattribâ tool to quickly assign footprints to all symbol instances
> > in a schematic.
> >
> > I highly suggest you become proficient at creating your own footprints
> > since you will often run into new parts without a pcb footprint, and
> > this allows you to keep a consistent footprint style matching your own
> > preference (you might have your own preference about silk screen
> > outline style, etc.).  Creating footprints was tedious for me at first,
> > but now after making several dozen, it has become really simple.  I just
> > grab a calculator (or the qalculator application), a pencil and paper,
> > and lay out the footprint per the manufacturer's package drawing and
> > recommended land pattern.  I usually create the footprint file (*.fp)
> > with a text editor since it's easy to get the exact layout that way,
> > but on occasion I will use pcb to draw the footprints graphically, or
> > make minor edits to hand-made footprint files.
> >
> 
> Thanks for all the suggestions
> I tend to think ignoring system libraries is the way for me
> I am spending too much time searching through thousands of footprints when I only regularly use a few dozen
> I will create a personal library and copy/create footprints there as needed
> I have reviewed "Footprint creation for the open-source layout program PCB"
> With this in hand I was easily able to modify a footprint for my needs
> And yes I agree gedasymbols.org is a great place to shop
> 
> One off topic question
> When I open a schematic in gschem and it contains an unknown symbol there is a placeholder with an error message
> But when I import a schematic into pcb it "seems" to throw away anything that has an unknown footprint
> Is this just the way pcb works or am I missing something
> 
> Thanks
> Richard
> _______________________________________________ geda-user mailing list geda-user@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user




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