Questions about libraries and PCBNEW

Hi,

I'm presently finding my way around Kicad and I have a few
questions regarding libraries in PCBNEW. I hope these
aren't too tiresome. BTW I'm using ver. 2007-11-29-c.

In the documentation for PCBNEW, section 10.6 (Creating
a new library), it gives two ways of creating a new library,
the "Create New Library" button or the "Export a Module"
button. The difference between the two methods is just
the directory in which the library is created (per my reading
of sec. 10.6).

My actual experience with the program says the documentation
is not quite correct. The "Create New Library" button creates
a new .mod file while the "Export a Module" button creates a
.emp file. These files are treated very differently.

As I understand it, a .mod file is _the_ library file. It holds
all the footprints that PCBNEW uses. Is this correct?

The .emp file, however seems able to hold only one footprint.
You can't add to an .emp file, only overwrite it with some
new footprint. Is this correct? If so, what's the purpose
of this .emp file construct, is it a scratchpad?

If I'm creating a new library, the bottom line is: Use "Create
New Library" and don't use "Export a Module", they are not
equivalent functions despite what the manual says.

Or am I missing something?

Thanks,
eric

BTW, so far, this seems like quite a nice program. I think
I'll be able to give my Ivex stuff the heave-ho soon.

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--- In kicad-users%40yahoogroups.com">kicad-usersyahoogroups.com, "einazaki668&quot; <einazaki668...> wrote:
&gt;
> Hi,
>
> I'm presently finding my way around Kicad and I have a few
> questions regarding libraries in PCBNEW. I hope these
&gt; aren't too tiresome. BTW I'm using ver. 2007-11-29-c.
>
> In the documentation for PCBNEW, section 10.6 (Creating
> a new library), it gives two ways of creating a new library,
> the "Create New Library&quot; button or the "Export a Module&quot;
> button. The difference between the two methods is just
>; the directory in which the library is created (per my reading
> of sec. 10.6).
&gt;
> My actual experience with the program says the documentation
> is not quite correct. The "Create New Library&quot; button creates
> a new .mod file while the "Export a Module&quot; button creates a
> .emp file. These files are treated very differently.
>
> As I understand it, a .mod file is _the_ library file. It holds
&gt; all the footprints that PCBNEW uses. Is this correct?
>
> The .emp file, however seems able to hold only one footprint.
> You can't add to an .emp file, only overwrite it with some
>; new footprint. Is this correct? If so, what's the purpose
> of this .emp file construct, is it a scratchpad?
>
> If I'm creating a new library, the bottom line is: Use "Create
> New Library&quot; and don't use "Export a Module&quot;, they are not
> equivalent functions despite what the manual says.
&gt;
> Or am I missing something?
>
> Thanks,
> eric
>;
> BTW, so far, this seems like quite a nice program. I think
&gt; I'll be able to give my Ivex stuff the heave-ho soon.
&gt;

Hi Eric,
Just look that answer from Jean-Pierre Charras :
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/kicad-users/message/3331

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