kicad-developers team mailing list archive

[André S. <list.dev.kicad@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 12.03.2016 15:54, Chris Pavlina wrote:
> You're doing it the wrong way around - if the documentation suggests doing it
> this way, it should probably be changed.
>
> First, place the hierarchical labels _inside_ the sheets (not the sheet symbols
> - switch to that sheet and place them) using the "Place a hierarchical label"
> button directly under the global label button.
>
> Then, go back to the parent sheet, and use "Place hierarchical pin imported
> from the corresponding hierarchical label" (two above graphic lines) to import
> them.
>
> In the future, this might be the sort of question best posted to the users
> list, in many cases this might have gone ignored.
Thanks for the reply.
I regarded this a "bug", because I know the KiCad documentation quite 
good and felt it a hole in the design.
Yes I know the "classic" KiCad way.
I did not know that there is a wrong way for a tool that aims to be as 
useful as possible to a broad user base.

Some years ago I worked in a company with Zuken EDA that provided that 
functionality and I expected it to work in KiCad too, because the basics 
are here and just one thing is missing to make it work.

Just for clarification, what I try to do and that for me the "KiCad way" 
feels the "wrong way" (at least cumbersome).

* Set up a parent schematic with all the sheets to partition the design 
in logical/practical sections
* define the connections and place pins needed between the sections, 
redefine if necessary
  - now the "pins" are there on the sheets for later use inside the 
actual schematic
-- until here this works in KiCad already --
* when starting work on the schematic: import the hierarchical pins on 
the sheet as labels -- this is missing --

This is much faster than:

* Set up a parent schematic with all the sheets to partition the design 
in logical/practical sections
* open _each_ schematic (10 in my case) place labels inside
* go to parent schematic and import all labels on all sheets
* define the connections needed between the sections
* if some seem not best:
  - open corresponding schematics (min. 2 per signal)
  - rename/remove/add label
  - open parent schematic
  - "cleanup sheet pins"
  - add new sheet pins

All that is missing is an "import sheetpins" feature in the actual 
schematic to get a much smoother experience. The old way is still 
available for those who prefer this.

Which reminds me, that it is at least a bit annoying, that KiCad does no 
automatic renaming of the sheet-pin when the hierarchic label is renamed 
in the schematic (two way sync would be perfect).

Regards,
  André