kicad-developers team mailing list archive

[Wayne Stambaugh <stambaughw@xxxxxxxxx>]

On 3/20/2015 5:18 AM, Maciej Sumiński wrote:
> On 03/19/2015 08:42 AM, jp charras wrote:
>> Good work!
>> Thanks to you, Orson a Tomasz
>>
>> It looks fine on W7, but I have some remarks:
>>
>> 1 - the proposed nickname contains the file or directory extension.
>> The current convention is to use the basic name (without extension).
>> Footprint names should not be sensible to the type of plugin.
>> (currently, keeping the extension breaks the existing components to fp
>> links)
>>
>> 2 - From my point of view the way environment variables are used is
>> wrong: the KIPRJMOD is always used, and full paths are made relative
>> to this path.
>> I am thinking the 2 env vars can be used only when the full path
>> *starts by* one of these 2 defined paths.
>> In other words they can be used for paths which are a subpath of the
>> defined paths.
>> (Keep in mind as soon as the env vars dialog editor is available, more
>> paths are also available)
>> If this is not the case, the full path must be used (using a env vars
>> has no sense if the library is not in the defined path).
>>
>> 3 - An important feature of the "old" wizard is the ability to
>> download libs from Github, and make a local copy (or update this local
>> copy)
>> Please do not forget this feature: it is especially important for new
>> users.
>> For most of users, working directly with on-line libraries is not good
>> (noticeable time to download, mainly each time you run CvPcb, no
>> control of changes ... )
>> So Github libs should be seen like the "Vault" of Altium.
>>
>> It could be a third option in the main page of the wizard like
>> "download kicad libs and make local copy" or a separate dialog or wizard.
>> About fp libs, some associated 3D fp lib shapes (now folders with
>> .3dshapes extension) have to be downloaded.
>> They are too big to be used online, and should be copied locally to
>> the KISYS3DMOD when you are using a new kicad footprint library.
>> They are currently on:
>> https://github.com/KiCad/kicad-library/tree/master/modules/packages3d
>> and the wizard must have an option to download select 3d libs, like
>> the option to download/use .pretty libs.
>>
>> This is especially important for newbies, but also other users.
>>
>> Again, thanks to you.
>>
>> (PS: you can delete the now not used webview folder)
> 
> Hi Jean-Pierre,
> 
> Quite sensible suggestions. They are already implemented in the patch
> attached to this message and the previously mentioned git repository.
> 
> There is just one difference regarding the second point. I use only the
> KIPRJMOD variable, as it enables portable projects. I think the main
> purpose of KISYSMOD is to create generic fp-lib-table configurations
> that can be easily adjusted, so it is not necessary here.

KISYSMOD is for users who don't want to use the github plugin and choose
to store footprint libraries locally.  It should point to a location
where the user has read only access such as /usr/share/kicad/modules on
linux.  Although this is not strictly enforced.

> 
> I will merge the changes once I get a report from Adam (thank you in
> advance!), and there are no other objections.
> 
> Regards,
> Orson
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~kicad-developers
> Post to     : kicad-developers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~kicad-developers
> More help   : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
>