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Re: PLUGIN::Footprint*() from python

 

Le 13/11/2012 16:16, Dick Hollenbeck a écrit :
The open issue of changing the non-copper names is best settled if we had a complete
list of proposed names to change to, and to make the determination if this is worth the
disruption.


Aw oh.   I slept on it and woke up thinking about this as my first conscious waking
thoughts this morning.  (Don't say it, I know I need to get a life, I've been working on
that, for a loooong time.)


As I attempt to show, I think there are some improvements in conciseness possible
(conciseness = ratio of clarity to size), even in the copper layer naming.


I like the wildcard notion and wanted to be able to use it in a few other places.  I also
noticed that "Inner3" does not explicitly say it is a copper layer.


Of course the value of the combos is the reduction in Pcbnew data file size, and increased
speed of parsing.  (Would put the [combo] mask into the hashtable instead of the layer index.)


Attached is my proposal and recommendation.

I would say that the combos can be used even in *.kicad_pcb files where they can.  Custom
layer names pertain to cu layers, and to tracks more than pads.  Here are the heuristics:


a) if a combo can be recognized in a layerMask when Format()ing, then it should be used,
in either BOARDs or MODULEs.

b) otherwise, if saving a BOARD, then use the translated layer names.

c) otherwise, if saving a MODULE, then use the untranslated english layer names.

Sounds very good for me, and I like it.
Inner1.Cu seems better than 1.Cu (more explicit.).

The prefix gives an idea of the type of layers.

Therefore ( just to be more explicit, and usually there is not a lot of items on these layers): Drawings, Comments, Eco1, Eco2 are something like user layers, and could be called something like: usr.Drwgs (or u.Drwgs), usr.Cmts, usr.Ecox (x = 1, 2 and perhaps more in the future)
and, for consistency:  PCB_Edges      brd.Edges

Thanks.

--
Jean-Pierre CHARRAS



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