kicad-developers team mailing list archive

["NHays Terrace" <nhays@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dick wrote:
>>I think in the future it would be nice if a module could hold tracks and
vias, in addition to one (or several) footprint(s).
>>
>>So the answer to your disciples might be that a module is potentially a
superset of a footprint.

Which leads me to ask:
Is it appropriate to create a graphics & text only module?
And as an aside, wouldn't it be grand to be able to group objects?  (So much
easier to select and move!)

I ask this because I am working on a script.
The script creates four modules: FabNotes, Stackup, DrillDiagram, and
DrillMap.
I create them on layer dwgs.user with all member objects on that same layer.
These are written into the .kicad_pcb file, overwriting previous versions of
the modules.

FabNotes (text), Stackup (drawings, text), and DrillMap (drawings, text) are
placed at (0,0) where the designer can move them to an appropriate place.
When my script updates them, I preserve the previous location.

DrillDiagram has markers for each drill and is also located at (0,0) or at
the auxiliary origin.
In either case, the markers show up at the right location where actual holes
are to be drilled.

These objects allow me to produce the standard mechanical fab sheet I'm
accustomed to.

I'm not sure how to integrate this into pcbnew.
I'm only beginning to browse the developer's world here.
For now I run the script outside of kicad.
Minimalist modules seem to work just fine as it is, but I wouldn't want to
be headed down the wrong implementation.

Nate