Before anyone decides to crucify me for asking a stupid question, I want to state that I am
totally new to kicad, but, I've used pcb before quite successfully, so I don't think I'm totally
ignorant in using programs like kicad.
However, just like Giancarlo and I'm sure a few others as well, I cannot for the life of me
fathom how to install a .lib file that I downloaded from the internet and then install this
new library into kicad. I think there is a problem with terminology as well. Correct me if I
am wrong - a module in kicad is a package design. Every package obviously can be used
by many parts e.g. a 20 pin dip can be used by hundreds of TTL parts, some analog parts,
microcontrollers from Microchip or Atmel etc.
Question to someone like me is, if I download a .lib file, how then do I use it in for
example pcbnew?
I think the best way is for some handholding here. Perhaps someone can write a tutorial
on this. For example, I downloaded "Atmel AVR uP: ATmega8 (package DIL28)" from http://www.kicadlib.org/. This does not have a .emp file unlike the "Atmel AVR uP:
ATmega8 (package TQFP32)" part which does have a .emp file. What is the procedure from
here on? With the case of the ATmega8 part, we know it does come in different package
types. So how then do we associate (is that what you kicad users call it) the Atmega8 with
a TQFP package and a DIP package at the same time?
This procedure is definitely not clear in any of the documentation on kicad. I would even
say that it is non-existent. I've checked everywhere and what a waste of time this has
become. I would rather be designing my pcb rather than spending time scouring the net
for some hints on how to do this.
Another thing - say I want to bypass eeschema and go straight to designing the pcb itself,
because after all, it might be a simple circuit or I've copied a pcb layout from somewhere
else and I do not want to go through the whole process of creating a netlist or the part
does not exist in any library and I do not want to spend time (after all time is money)
creating all the info/data that goes with the part in order to store it into kicad's library of
modules and parts. How can this be done?
By the way, can you have more than one directory in the path for "Libs and dir" under
Preferences? If so, how do you eneter it into the Lib Modules Dir: text entry box?
Regards.
Stephen
--- In kicad-users%40yahoogroups.com">kicad-users
yahoogroups.com, "Giancarlo" <gcace21...> wrote:
>
> --- In kicad-users%40yahoogroups.com">kicad-usersyahoogroups.com, "Danilo Uccelli" <danucc> wrote:
> >
>; > 2008/3/3, Giancarlo <gcace21>:
> > >
>; > > sirs, help me on putting my downloaded libries in kidcadlib.org in
> > > KiCAD libraries as well as the modules and 3d wings..thanks.. im using
> > > Linux..
> > >
>; > > _
> > > .
> > >
> > >
>; > Hi,
> >
> > You can place the .lib files in ../kicad/library subdir and .mod in
> > ../kicad/modules subdir.
> > 3D packages have to be put in a subdir of ../kicad/modules/packages3d.
> >
> > With Linux you probably have to get root rights in order to write in
> theses
> > folders.
> >
> > You can also place all the files in a /home/<user>... subdir and
> give the
> > absolute path when you add theses library to your project.
> > I prefer this solution.
> >
> > HTH
> > --
> > Danilo Uccelli
> > CH-2400 Le Locle
> > danucc
> >
>;
>
> ahh... i see.. i guess the only concern in my problem is the access on
> my folders.. it is because i cant paste the files in kicad subdirectory
>
.
