From 4d6d62ae64a339eacd74871c6588508a81857941 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: evanshultz Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2016 06:28:53 -0700 Subject: [PATCH] Initial update for Issue #394 Sections have been re-arranged according to the above issue. No content has been changed. Numbering and readability in this structure is not done! --- .../getting_started_in_kicad.adoc | 527 +++++++++--------- 1 file changed, 279 insertions(+), 248 deletions(-) diff --git a/src/getting_started_in_kicad/getting_started_in_kicad.adoc b/src/getting_started_in_kicad/getting_started_in_kicad.adoc index 0b8f8a5f..6793b2dd 100644 --- a/src/getting_started_in_kicad/getting_started_in_kicad.adoc +++ b/src/getting_started_in_kicad/getting_started_in_kicad.adoc @@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ http://www.kicad-pcb.org/ [[download-and-install-kicad]] -=== Downloading and installing KiCad +== Downloading and installing KiCad KiCad runs on GNU/Linux, Apple OS X and Windows. You can find the most up to date instructions and download links at: @@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ is the goal of the KiCad Development Team to keep the development branch as usable as possible during new feature development. [[under-linux]] -==== Under GNU/Linux +=== Under GNU/Linux Stable releases of KiCad can be found in most distribution's package managers as kicad and kicad-doc. If your distribution does not provide @@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ Alternatively, you can download and install a pre-compiled version of KiCad, or directly download the source code, compile and install KiCad. [[under-apple-os-x]] -==== Under Apple OS X +=== Under Apple OS X Stable builds of KiCad for OS X can be found at: http://downloads.kicad-pcb.org/osx/stable/ @@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ Unstable nightly development builds can be found at: http://downloads.kicad-pcb.org/osx/ [[under-Windows]] -==== Under Windows +=== Under Windows Stable builds of KiCad for Windows can be found at: http://downloads.kicad-pcb.org/windows/stable/ @@ -150,13 +150,52 @@ http://downloads.kicad-pcb.org/windows/stable/ For Windows you can find nightly development builds at: http://downloads.kicad-pcb.org/windows/ -[[support]] -=== Support -If you have ideas, remarks or questions, or if you just need help: -* https://forum.kicad.info/[Visit the forum] -* Join the http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=kicad[#kicad IRC channel] on Freenode -* http://www.kicad-pcb.org/help/tutorials/[Watch tutorials] +[[using-kicad]] +== Using KiCad + +=== Shortcut keys + +KiCad has two kinds of related but different shortcut keys: accelerator keys and +hotkeys. Both are used to speed up working in KiCad by using the keyboard instead +of the mouse to change commands. + +==== Accelerator keys +Accelerator keys have the same effect as clicking on a menu or toolbar icon: +the command will be entered but nothing will happen until the left mouse button +is clicked. Use an accelerator key when you want to enter a command mode but do not +want any immediate action. + +Accelerator keys are shown on the right side of all menu panes: + +image::images/gsik_accelerator_keys.png[Accelerator keys] + +==== Hotkeys +A hotkey is equal to an accelerator key plus a left mouse click. Using a +hotkey starts the command immediately at the current cursor location. Use +a hotkey to quickly change commands without interrupting your workflow. + +To view hotkeys within any KiCad tool go to *_Preferences -> Hotkeys -> +List Current Keys_* or press the question mark ("?"): + +image::images/gsik_hotkeys.png[Hotkeys] + +You can edit the assignment of hotkeys, and import or export them, from the +*_Preferences -> Hotkeys_* menu. + +NOTE: In this document, hotkeys are expressed with brackets like this: [a]. +If you see [a], just type the "a" key on the keyboard. + +==== Example +Consider the simple example of adding a wire in a schematic. + +To use an accelerator key, press "Shift + W" to invoke the "Add wire" command +(note the cursor will change). Next, left click on the desired wire start +location to begin drawing the wire. + +With a hotkey, simply press [w] and the wire will immediately start from the +current cursor location. + [[kicad-work-flow]] == KiCad Workflow @@ -213,60 +252,16 @@ which are functionally equivalent, but it may only be during layout that there is a strong case for choosing the exact gate or pin. Once the choice is made in the PCB, this change is then pushed back to the schematic. +[[tutorial]] +== Tutorial -[[using-kicad]] -== Using KiCad +The follwing sections will step through creating PCB fabrication files for a +new project. Each phase of this process will be covered in brief and should +be used as a guide to become familiar with KiCad. -=== Shortcut keys -KiCad has two kinds of related but different shortcut keys: accelerator keys and -hotkeys. Both are used to speed up working in KiCad by using the keyboard instead -of the mouse to change commands. - -==== Accelerator keys -Accelerator keys have the same effect as clicking on a menu or toolbar icon: -the command will be entered but nothing will happen until the left mouse button -is clicked. Use an accelerator key when you want to enter a command mode but do not -want any immediate action. - -Accelerator keys are shown on the right side of all menu panes: - -image::images/gsik_accelerator_keys.png[Accelerator keys] - -==== Hotkeys -A hotkey is equal to an accelerator key plus a left mouse click. Using a -hotkey starts the command immediately at the current cursor location. Use -a hotkey to quickly change commands without interrupting your workflow. - -To view hotkeys within any KiCad tool go to *_Preferences -> Hotkeys -> -List Current Keys_* or press the question mark ("?"): - -image::images/gsik_hotkeys.png[Hotkeys] - -You can edit the assignment of hotkeys, and import or export them, from the -*_Preferences -> Hotkeys_* menu. - -NOTE: In this document, hotkeys are expressed with brackets like this: [a]. -If you see [a], just type the "a" key on the keyboard. - -==== Example -Consider the simple example of adding a wire in a schematic. - -To use an accelerator key, press "Shift + W" to invoke the "Add wire" command -(note the cursor will change). Next, left click on the desired wire start -location to begin drawing the wire. - -With a hotkey, simply press [w] and the wire will immediately start from the -current cursor location. - -[[draw-electronic-schematics]] -== Draw electronic schematics - -In this section we are going to learn how to draw an electronic -schematic using KiCad. - -[[using-eeschema]] -=== Using Eeschema +[[creating-new-project]] +== Creating a new project 1. Under Windows run kicad.exe. Under Linux type 'kicad' in your Terminal. You are now in the main window of the KiCad project @@ -283,6 +278,13 @@ image::images/kicad_main_window.png[KiCad Main Window] take the extension ".pro". KiCad prompts to create a dedicated directory, click "Yes" to confirm. All your project files will be saved here. + +[[using-eeschema]] +== Using Eeschema + +[[draw-electronic-schematics]] +=== Drawing a schematic + 3. Let's begin by creating a schematic. Start the schematic editor __Eeschema__, image:images/icons/eeschema.png[Eeschema]. It is the first button from the left. @@ -531,6 +533,83 @@ Warning Pin power_in not driven (Net xx) comments on the schematic use the 'Place graphic text (comment)' icon image:images/icons/add_text.png[add_text_png] on the right toolbar. + +[[bus-connections-in-kicad]] +=== Connecting to a bus + +Sometimes you might need to connect several sequential pins of component +A with some other sequential pins of component B. In this case you have +two options: the labelling method we already saw or the use of a bus +connection. Let's see how to do it. + +1. Let us suppose that you have three 4-pin connectors that you want + to connect together pin to pin. Use the label option (press [l]) + to label pin 4 of the P4 part. Name this label 'a1'. Now + press [Insert] to have the same item automatically + added on the pin below pin 4 (PIN 3). Notice how the label is + automatically renamed 'a2'. + +2. Press [Insert] two more times. This key corresponds to the + action 'Repeat last item' and it is an infinitely useful command + that can make your life a lot easier. + +3. Repeat the same labelling action on the two other connectors + CONN_2 and CONN_3 and you are done. If you proceed and make a PCB + you will see that the three connectors are connected to each + other. Figure 2 shows the result of what we described. For + aesthetic purposes it is also possible to add a series of 'Place + wire to bus entry' using the icon + image:images/icons/add_line2bus.png[Place wire to bus entry] and bus + line using the icon image:images/icons/add_bus2bus.png[Place bus to bus + entry], as shown in Figure 3. Mind, however, that there will be no + effect on the PCB. + +4. It should be pointed out that the short wire attached to the pins + in Figure 2 is not strictly necessary. In fact, the labels could + have been applied directly to the pins. + +5. Let's take it one step further and suppose that you have a fourth + connector named CONN_4 and, for whatever reason, its labelling + happens to be a little different (b1, b2, b3, b4). Now we want to + connect _Bus a_ with _Bus b_ in a pin to pin manner. We want to do + that without using pin labelling (which is also possible) but by + instead using labelling on the bus line, with one label per bus. + +6. Connect and label CONN_4 using the labelling method explained + before. Name the pins b1, b2, b3 and b4. Connect the pin to a + series of 'Wire to bus entry' using the icon + image:images/icons/add_line2bus.png[add_line2bus_png] and to a bus line + using the icon image:images/icons/add_bus.png[add_bus_png]. See Figure + 4. + +7. Put a label (press [l]) on the bus of CONN_4 and name + it 'b[1..4]'. + +8. Put a label (press [l]) on the previous a bus and name + it 'a[1..4]'. + +9. What we can now do is connect bus a[1..4] with bus b[1..4] using a + bus line with the button image:images/icons/add_bus.png[add_bus_png]. + +10. By connecting the two buses together, pin a1 will be automatically + connected to pin b1, a2 will be connected to b2 and so on. Figure + 4 shows what the final result looks like. ++ +NOTE: The 'Repeat last item' option accessible via [Insert] can +be successfully used to repeat period item insertions. For instance, +the short wires connected to all pins in Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4 +have been placed with this option. + +11. The 'Repeat last item' option accessible via [Insert] has also + been extensively used to place the many series of 'Wire to bus entry' + using the icon image:images/icons/add_line2bus.png[add_line2bus_png]. ++ +image::images/gsik_bus_connection.png[gsik_bus_connection_png] + + +[[annotating-schematic]] +=== Annotating the schematic + 45. All components now need to have unique identifiers. In fact, many of our components are still named 'R?' or 'J?'. Identifier assignation can be done automatically by clicking on the 'Annotate @@ -544,6 +623,10 @@ Warning Pin power_in not driven (Net xx) unique. In our example, they have been named 'R1', 'R2', 'U1', 'D1' and 'J1'. + +[[electrical-rules-check]] +=== Electrical rules check + 47. We will now check our schematic for errors. Click on the 'Perform electrical rules check' icon image:images/icons/erc.png[erc_png] on the top toolbar. Click on the 'Run' button. A report informing you of any errors or @@ -557,10 +640,9 @@ NOTE: If you have a warning with "No default editor found you must choose it", try setting the path to `c:\windows\notepad.exe` (windows) or `/usr/bin/gedit` (Linux). -48. The schematic is now finished. We can now create a Netlist file to - which we will add the footprint of each component. Click on the - 'Generate netlist' icon image:images/icons/netlist.png[netlist_png] on - the top toolbar. Click on the 'Generate' button and save under the default file name. + +[[assigning-footprints]] +== Assigning footprints 49. After generating the Netlist file, click on the 'Run Cvpcb' icon image:images/icons/cvpcb.png[cvpcb_png] on the top @@ -597,6 +679,19 @@ try setting the path to `c:\windows\notepad.exe` (windows) or `/usr/bin/gedit` print it out and check your components to make sure that the dimensions match. +55. You can close _Cvpcb_ and go back to the _Eeschema_ schematic + editor. Save the project by clicking on *File* -> **Save Whole + Schematic Project**. Close the schematic editor. + + +[[saving-netlist]] +== Saving a netlist + +48. The schematic is now finished. We can now create a Netlist file to + which we will add the footprint of each component. Click on the + 'Generate netlist' icon image:images/icons/netlist.png[netlist_png] on + the top toolbar. Click on the 'Generate' button and save under the default file name. + 54. You are done. You can now update your netlist file with all the associated footprints. Click on *File* -> **Save As**. The default name 'tutorial1.net' is fine, click save. Otherwise you can use the @@ -606,10 +701,6 @@ try setting the path to `c:\windows\notepad.exe` (windows) or `/usr/bin/gedit` footprints. This will be explained in a later section of this document. -55. You can close _Cvpcb_ and go back to the _Eeschema_ schematic - editor. Save the project by clicking on *File* -> **Save Whole - Schematic Project**. Close the schematic editor. - 56. Switch to the KiCad project manager. 57. The netlist file describes all components and their respective pin @@ -619,6 +710,9 @@ try setting the path to `c:\windows\notepad.exe` (windows) or `/usr/bin/gedit` NOTE: Library files (__*.lib__) are text files too and they are also easily editable or scriptable. + +[[generating-bom]] +== Generating a BOM 58. To create a Bill Of Materials (BOM), go to the _Eeschema_ schematic editor and click on the 'Bill of materials' icon image:images/icons/bom.png[bom_png] on the top toolbar. @@ -685,86 +779,15 @@ You are now ready to move to the PCB layout part, which is presented in the next section. However, before moving on let's take a quick look at how to connect component pins using a bus line. -[[bus-connections-in-kicad]] -=== Bus connections in KiCad -Sometimes you might need to connect several sequential pins of component -A with some other sequential pins of component B. In this case you have -two options: the labelling method we already saw or the use of a bus -connection. Let's see how to do it. - -1. Let us suppose that you have three 4-pin connectors that you want - to connect together pin to pin. Use the label option (press [l]) - to label pin 4 of the P4 part. Name this label 'a1'. Now - press [Insert] to have the same item automatically - added on the pin below pin 4 (PIN 3). Notice how the label is - automatically renamed 'a2'. - -2. Press [Insert] two more times. This key corresponds to the - action 'Repeat last item' and it is an infinitely useful command - that can make your life a lot easier. - -3. Repeat the same labelling action on the two other connectors - CONN_2 and CONN_3 and you are done. If you proceed and make a PCB - you will see that the three connectors are connected to each - other. Figure 2 shows the result of what we described. For - aesthetic purposes it is also possible to add a series of 'Place - wire to bus entry' using the icon - image:images/icons/add_line2bus.png[Place wire to bus entry] and bus - line using the icon image:images/icons/add_bus2bus.png[Place bus to bus - entry], as shown in Figure 3. Mind, however, that there will be no - effect on the PCB. - -4. It should be pointed out that the short wire attached to the pins - in Figure 2 is not strictly necessary. In fact, the labels could - have been applied directly to the pins. - -5. Let's take it one step further and suppose that you have a fourth - connector named CONN_4 and, for whatever reason, its labelling - happens to be a little different (b1, b2, b3, b4). Now we want to - connect _Bus a_ with _Bus b_ in a pin to pin manner. We want to do - that without using pin labelling (which is also possible) but by - instead using labelling on the bus line, with one label per bus. - -6. Connect and label CONN_4 using the labelling method explained - before. Name the pins b1, b2, b3 and b4. Connect the pin to a - series of 'Wire to bus entry' using the icon - image:images/icons/add_line2bus.png[add_line2bus_png] and to a bus line - using the icon image:images/icons/add_bus.png[add_bus_png]. See Figure - 4. - -7. Put a label (press [l]) on the bus of CONN_4 and name - it 'b[1..4]'. - -8. Put a label (press [l]) on the previous a bus and name - it 'a[1..4]'. - -9. What we can now do is connect bus a[1..4] with bus b[1..4] using a - bus line with the button image:images/icons/add_bus.png[add_bus_png]. - -10. By connecting the two buses together, pin a1 will be automatically - connected to pin b1, a2 will be connected to b2 and so on. Figure - 4 shows what the final result looks like. -+ -NOTE: The 'Repeat last item' option accessible via [Insert] can -be successfully used to repeat period item insertions. For instance, -the short wires connected to all pins in Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4 -have been placed with this option. - -11. The 'Repeat last item' option accessible via [Insert] has also - been extensively used to place the many series of 'Wire to bus entry' - using the icon image:images/icons/add_line2bus.png[add_line2bus_png]. -+ -image::images/gsik_bus_connection.png[gsik_bus_connection_png] - -[[layout-printed-circuit-boards]] -== Layout printed circuit boards +[[using-pdbnew]] +== Using Pcbnew It is now time to use the netlist file you generated to lay out the PCB. This is done with the _Pcbnew_ tool. -[[using-pdbnew]] -=== Using Pcbnew +[[set-up-pcb]] +=== Creating and setting up a PCB 1. From the KiCad project manager, click on the 'Pcbnew' icon image:images/icons/pcbnew.png[pcbnew_png]. The 'Pcbnew' window will @@ -790,6 +813,10 @@ image::images/design_rules.png[Design Rules Window] 0.25'. Click the OK button to commit your changes and close the Design Rules Editor window. + +[[designing-pcb]] +=== Designing a PCB + 5. Now we will import the netlist file. Click on the 'Read Netlist' icon image:images/icons/netlist.png[netlist_png] on the top toolbar. Click on the 'Browse Netlist Files' button, select @@ -940,55 +967,76 @@ image::images/pcbnew_3d_viewer.png[pcbnew_3d_viewer_png] 28. Your board is complete. To send it off to a manufacturer you will need to generate all Gerber files. -[[generate-gerber-files]] -=== Generate Gerber files -Once your PCB is complete, you can generate Gerber files for each layer -and send them to your favourite PCB manufacturer, who will make the -board for you. +[[forward-annotation-in-kicad]] +== Forward annotation in KiCad -1. From KiCad, open the _Pcbnew_ software tool and load your board - file by clicking on the icon - image:images/icons/open_document.png[open_document_png]. +Once you have completed your electronic schematic, the footprint +assignment, the board layout and generated the Gerber files, you are +ready to send everything to a PCB manufacturer so that your board can +become reality. -2. Click on *File* -> **Plot**. Select 'Gerber' as the 'Plot Format' - and select the folder in which to put all Gerber files. - Proceed by clicking on the 'Plot' button. +Often, this linear work-flow turns out to be not so uni-directional. For +instance, when you have to modify/extend a board for which you or others +have already completed this work-flow, it is possible that you need to +move components around, replace them with others, change footprints and +much more. During this modification process, what you do not want to do +is to re-route the whole board again from scratch. Instead, this is how +you do it: -3. These are the layers you need to select for making a typical 2-layer - PCB: +1. Let's suppose that you want to replace a hypothetical connector CON1 + with CON2. -[width="100%",cols="20%,20%,20%,20%,20%",options="header"] -|========================================================= -|Layer |KiCad Layer Name |Old KiCad Layer Name |Default Gerber Extension - |"Use Protel filename extensions" is enabled -|Bottom Layer |B.Cu |Copper |.GBR |.GBL -|Top Layer |F.Cu |Component |.GBR |.GTL -|Top Overlay |F.SilkS |SilkS_Cmp |.GBR |.GTO -|Bottom Solder Resist |B.Mask |Mask_Cop |.GBR |.GBS -|Top Solder Resist |F.Mask |Mask_Cmp |.GBR |.GTS -|Edges |Edge.Cuts |Edges_Pcb |.GBR |.GM1 -|========================================================= +2. You already have a completed schematic and a fully routed PCB. -[[using-gerbview]] -=== Using GerbView +3. From KiCad, start __Eeschema__, make your modifications by + deleting CON1 and adding CON2. Save your schematic project with + the icon image:images/icons/save.png[Save icon] and c lick on the + 'Netlist generation' icon image:images/icons/netlist.png[netlist_png] on + the top toolbar. -1. To view all your Gerber files go to the KiCad project manager and click - on the 'GerbView' icon. - On the drop-down menu select 'Layer 1'. Click on *File* -> *Load Gerber - file* or click on the icon - image:images/icons/gerber_file.png[gerber_file_png]. Load all generated Gerber - files one at a time. Note how they all get displayed one on top of the - other. +4. Click on 'Netlist' then on 'save'. Save to the default file name. + You have to rewrite the old one. -2. Use the menu on the right to select/deselect which layer to show. - Carefully inspect each layer before sending them for production. +5. Now assign a footprint to CON2. Click on the 'Run Cvpcb' icon + image:images/icons/cvpcb.png[cvpcb] on the top + toolbar. Assign the footprint to the new device CON2. The rest of + the components still have the previous footprints assigned to + them. Close __Cvpcb__. + +6. Back in the schematic editor, save the project by clicking on 'File' + -> 'Save Whole Schematic Project'. Close the schematic editor. + +7. From the KiCad project manager, click on the 'Pcbnew' icon. The + 'Pcbnew' window will open. + +8. The old, already routed, board should automatically open. Let's + import the new netlist file. Click on the 'Read Netlist' icon + image:images/icons/netlist.png[netlist_png] on the top toolbar. + +9. Click on the 'Browse Netlist Files' button, select the netlist file + in the file selection dialogue, and click on 'Read Current Netlist'. + Then click the 'Close' button. + +10. At this point you should be able to see a layout with all previous + components already routed. On the top left corner you should see + all unrouted components, in our case the CON2. Select CON2 with + the mouse. Move the component to the middle of the board. + +11. Place CON2 and route it. Once done, save and proceed with the Gerber + file generation as usual. + +The process described here can easily be repeated as many times as you +need. Beside the Forward Annotation method described above, there is +another method known as Backward Annotation. This method allows you to +make modifications to your already routed PCB from Pcbnew and updates +those modifications in your schematic and netlist file. The Backward +Annotation method, however, is not that useful and is therefore not +described here. -3. To generate the drill file, from _Pcbnew_ go again to the *File* -> - *Plot* option. Default settings should be fine. [[automatically-route-with-freerouter]] -=== Automatically route with FreeRouter +== Autorouting with FreeRouter Routing a board by hand is quick and fun, however, for a board with lots of components you might want to use an autorouter. Remember that you @@ -1046,74 +1094,58 @@ re-route it again, using [Delete] and the routing tool, which is the 'Add tracks' icon image:images/icons/add_tracks.png[Add Track icon] on the right toolbar. -[[forward-annotation-in-kicad]] -== Forward annotation in KiCad - -Once you have completed your electronic schematic, the footprint -assignment, the board layout and generated the Gerber files, you are -ready to send everything to a PCB manufacturer so that your board can -become reality. -Often, this linear work-flow turns out to be not so uni-directional. For -instance, when you have to modify/extend a board for which you or others -have already completed this work-flow, it is possible that you need to -move components around, replace them with others, change footprints and -much more. During this modification process, what you do not want to do -is to re-route the whole board again from scratch. Instead, this is how -you do it: - -1. Let's suppose that you want to replace a hypothetical connector CON1 - with CON2. +[[generate-gerber-files]] +== Generating Gerber and drill files -2. You already have a completed schematic and a fully routed PCB. +Once your PCB is complete, you can generate Gerber files for each layer +and send them to your favourite PCB manufacturer, who will make the +board for you. -3. From KiCad, start __Eeschema__, make your modifications by - deleting CON1 and adding CON2. Save your schematic project with - the icon image:images/icons/save.png[Save icon] and c lick on the - 'Netlist generation' icon image:images/icons/netlist.png[netlist_png] on - the top toolbar. +1. From KiCad, open the _Pcbnew_ software tool and load your board + file by clicking on the icon + image:images/icons/open_document.png[open_document_png]. -4. Click on 'Netlist' then on 'save'. Save to the default file name. - You have to rewrite the old one. +2. Click on *File* -> **Plot**. Select 'Gerber' as the 'Plot Format' + and select the folder in which to put all Gerber files. + Proceed by clicking on the 'Plot' button. -5. Now assign a footprint to CON2. Click on the 'Run Cvpcb' icon - image:images/icons/cvpcb.png[cvpcb] on the top - toolbar. Assign the footprint to the new device CON2. The rest of - the components still have the previous footprints assigned to - them. Close __Cvpcb__. +3. These are the layers you need to select for making a typical 2-layer + PCB: -6. Back in the schematic editor, save the project by clicking on 'File' - -> 'Save Whole Schematic Project'. Close the schematic editor. +[width="100%",cols="20%,20%,20%,20%,20%",options="header"] +|========================================================= +|Layer |KiCad Layer Name |Old KiCad Layer Name |Default Gerber Extension + |"Use Protel filename extensions" is enabled +|Bottom Layer |B.Cu |Copper |.GBR |.GBL +|Top Layer |F.Cu |Component |.GBR |.GTL +|Top Overlay |F.SilkS |SilkS_Cmp |.GBR |.GTO +|Bottom Solder Resist |B.Mask |Mask_Cop |.GBR |.GBS +|Top Solder Resist |F.Mask |Mask_Cmp |.GBR |.GTS +|Edges |Edge.Cuts |Edges_Pcb |.GBR |.GM1 +|========================================================= -7. From the KiCad project manager, click on the 'Pcbnew' icon. The - 'Pcbnew' window will open. -8. The old, already routed, board should automatically open. Let's - import the new netlist file. Click on the 'Read Netlist' icon - image:images/icons/netlist.png[netlist_png] on the top toolbar. +[[using-gerbview]] +== Using GerbView -9. Click on the 'Browse Netlist Files' button, select the netlist file - in the file selection dialogue, and click on 'Read Current Netlist'. - Then click the 'Close' button. +1. To view all your Gerber files go to the KiCad project manager and click + on the 'GerbView' icon. + On the drop-down menu select 'Layer 1'. Click on *File* -> *Load Gerber + file* or click on the icon + image:images/icons/gerber_file.png[gerber_file_png]. Load all generated Gerber + files one at a time. Note how they all get displayed one on top of the + other. -10. At this point you should be able to see a layout with all previous - components already routed. On the top left corner you should see - all unrouted components, in our case the CON2. Select CON2 with - the mouse. Move the component to the middle of the board. +2. Use the menu on the right to select/deselect which layer to show. + Carefully inspect each layer before sending them for production. -11. Place CON2 and route it. Once done, save and proceed with the Gerber - file generation as usual. +3. To generate the drill file, from _Pcbnew_ go again to the *File* -> + *Plot* option. Default settings should be fine. -The process described here can easily be repeated as many times as you -need. Beside the Forward Annotation method described above, there is -another method known as Backward Annotation. This method allows you to -make modifications to your already routed PCB from Pcbnew and updates -those modifications in your schematic and netlist file. The Backward -Annotation method, however, is not that useful and is therefore not -described here. [[make-schematic-components-in-kicad]] -== Make schematic components in KiCad +== Making schematic components Sometimes a component that you want to place on your schematic is not in a KiCad library. This is quite normal and there is no reason to @@ -1218,7 +1250,7 @@ image::images/gsik_myconn3_l.png[gsik_myconn3_l_png] defined search path' and _file.lib_ in 'Component library files'. [[export-import-and-modify-library-components]] -=== Export, import and modify library components +=== Exporting, importing and modifying library components Instead of creating a library component from scratch it is sometimes easier to start from one already made and modify it. In this section we @@ -1264,7 +1296,7 @@ will see how to export a component from the KiCad standard library toolbar. [[make-schematic-components-with-quicklib]] -=== Make schematic components with quicklib +=== Making components with Quicklib This section presents an alternative way of creating the schematic component for MYCONN3 (see <> above) using the @@ -1303,7 +1335,7 @@ quite effective when you want to create components with a large pin count. [[make-a-high-pin-count-schematic-component]] -=== Make a high pin count schematic component +=== Making a high pin count component In the section titled _Make Schematic Components in quicklib_ we saw how to make a schematic component using the _quicklib_ web-based tool. @@ -1387,7 +1419,7 @@ image::images/gsik_high_number_pins.png[gsik_high_number_pins_png] Regular Expression syntax: _http://gskinner.com/RegExr/._ [[make-component-footprints]] -== Make component footprints +== Making component footprints Unlike other EDA software tools, which have one type of library that contains both the schematic symbol and the footprint variations, KiCad @@ -1463,7 +1495,7 @@ image::images/pad_properties.png[Pad Properties] toolbar, using the default name MYCONN3. [[note-about-portability-of-kicad-project-files]] -== Note about portability of KiCad project files +== Portability of KiCad project files What files do you need to send to someone so that they can fully load and use your KiCad project? @@ -1521,7 +1553,7 @@ tutorial1/ ---------------------- [[more-about-kicad-documentation]] -== More about KiCad documentation +== KiCad support and documentation This has been a quick guide on most of the features in KiCad. For more detailed instructions consult the help files which you can access @@ -1552,10 +1584,9 @@ On OS X: /Library/Application Support/kicad/help/en -[[kicad-documentation-on-the-web]] -=== KiCad documentation on the Web - -Latest KiCad documentations are available in multiple languages on the Web. - -http://kicad-pcb.org/help/documentation/ +If you have ideas, remarks or questions, or if you just need help: +* http://kicad-pcb.org/help/documentation/[View the documentation online] +* https://forum.kicad.info/[Visit the forum] +* Join the http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=kicad[#kicad IRC channel] on Freenode +* http://www.kicad-pcb.org/help/tutorials/[Watch tutorials]