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KiCad Interface

Printed From: PCB Libraries Forum
Category: Libraries
Forum Name: KiCad
Forum Description:
URL: https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1320
Printed Date: 31 Oct 2025 at 10:43am


Topic: KiCad Interface
Posted By: nick_123
Subject: KiCad Interface
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2014 at 1:49pm
Dear Forum,

My aim is to design schematic footprint and perform routing.

Now I have KiCad with me schematic design is easy in KiCad and making footprint is bit tough and there is little or no support from KiCad.

So I am looking for a software where making schematic, footprint, routing must be as easy as drag and drop icons plus some help either through forum in case need on how to use the software tool or how to make footprint so my question is there any such software?

Regards,
Nick


Replies:
Posted By: Nick B
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2014 at 3:12pm

Hi, you sure came to the right place - and almost perfect timing (a couple weeks early, as a matter of fact). We're currently working on supporting KiCad in our Library Expert, and the Parts on Demand will be live momentarily. 

Chris, when do you think that we will have support for KiCad available?



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Posted By: chrisa_pcb
Date Posted: 28 Apr 2014 at 3:42pm

We don't have an estimate on when KiCad support will go in, but when it does it'll probably take a couple days to a week.

Right now we've been focusing on getting v2014 out the door, and it just became available here:

http://www.pcblibraries.com/forum/201401-released_topic1322.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.pcblibraries.com/forum/201401-released_topic1322.html


Posted By: cbonsig
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2014 at 12:22pm
KiCad has been getting better and better lately, but footprints remain a challenge... Any update on when PCB Libraries Expert KiCad export may be available? Is there anything the community can do to help?

Posted By: cioma
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2015 at 10:05am
Any updates on KiCad support?

Posted By: makeapcb
Date Posted: 04 Feb 2016 at 10:57pm
I must have got too excited with the initial impression that there is a "free" downloadable version which could be used with CAD programs (KiCad or others).. but I realize that only the "viewer" version is seemingly the free download. (Apart from all the good information you have provided for free as PDF files of various standard footprints. Thank you!)

My understanding is that the viewer does not work with any specific CAD program. So obviously not even KiCad, I guess. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2016 at 8:07am
I don't think the problem is on our end. KiCad will not work with us like every other CAD vendor does.

We just don't develop encrypted CAD tool interfaces out of thin air. We need help from the CAD vendor.

We tried working with KiCad but they will not help us. So please bring your argument to KiCad.


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Posted By: cbonsig
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2016 at 11:06pm
KiCad is an open source community supported project, not a typical CAD vendor per se. I know that the active developers have lots on their plates, so I can understand if PCB Library Expert integration isn't at the top of the list... But it would be great if we could at least capture this request as an open issue in the development backlog. Can you share how/who you tried to contact regarding KiCad support? Maybe the community can help find a more productive channel.

FYI, I cross posted about this topic on a KiCad forum here:   http://forum.kicad.info/t/kicad-pcb-library-expert/2232" rel="nofollow - https://forum.kicad.info/t/kicad-pcb-library-expert/2232

Posted By: cioma
Date Posted: 07 Feb 2016 at 2:19pm
Tom, KiCad data is not encrypted, it's ASCII and well documented:
http://bazaar.launchpad.net/~stambaughw/kicad/doc-read-only/download/head:/1115%4016bec504-3128-0410-b3e8-8e38c2123bca:trunk%252Fkicad-doc%252Fdoc%252Fhelp%252Ffile_formats%252Ffile_formats.pdf/file_formats.pdf" rel="nofollow - http://bazaar.launchpad.net/~stambaughw/kicad/doc-read-only/download/head:/1115%4016bec504-3128-0410-b3e8-8e38c2123bca:trunk%252Fkicad-doc%252Fdoc%252Fhelp%252Ffile_formats%252Ffile_formats.pdf/file_formats.pdf

Perhaps there was some confusion/misunderstanding?

As KiCad is an open-source project you don't really need any support form the KiCad team directly: file formats are documented, bugtracker is available.

Posted By: chrisa_pcb
Date Posted: 08 Feb 2016 at 3:27pm
Hi Cioma,

Do you happen to have some minimal sample libraries of parts in this format? Are they included in the KiCAD installation, and if so where?

-Chris

Posted By: chrisa_pcb
Date Posted: 09 Feb 2016 at 12:22pm
Ok. I just installed the latest version of KiCAD and its greatly better than the one I had. I should be able to get this without too much trouble. In particular, the wizarding features to be able to put out sample files is extremely helpful.

Posted By: cioma
Date Posted: 10 Feb 2016 at 1:47pm
Hi Chris,

Here is the description of the KiCad footprint library organization:
http://docs.kicad-pcb.org/en/pcbnew.html#_managing_footprint_libraries_pretty_repositories


Please find my KiCad footprint library attached:
uploads/376/kicad.pretty.zip" rel="nofollow - uploads/376/kicad.pretty.zip

Most of the footprint there are from the PCB Library Expert Pro 2015.20.
I have the Librarian feature and I was manually transferring values calculated by the Library Expert to KiCad footprint editor

Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 17 Feb 2016 at 1:22pm
The KiCad interface was added to V2016.01 and the beta version which is released to beta testers.

Library Expert Lite with the KiCad interface will be available late next week.
 



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Posted By: cbonsig
Date Posted: 18 Feb 2016 at 12:50pm
Great news! I can't wait to try it out!

Thanks.

Posted By: cioma
Date Posted: 18 Feb 2016 at 4:31pm
Excellent, thank you very much!


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