Re: BOM formatting question
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Re: BOM formatting question
It's more of a localisation-gone-mad issue than an specifically an excel problem, however I agree that excel should do as it's told and not what it thinks it should do :-)) A few solutions: In the linux world a quick tr woild replace the , with whatever delimiter you wanted. Cywin would give the same functions on windows Likewise on most systems any good text editor could do the same, as could a simple perl, python, basic, or AutoIt script For windows, Autoit is an VERY useful tool to have around. If excel is your preferred sheet, then a VBA macro can be used. A good example is here ttp://www.cpearson.com/excel/ImpText.aspx Routines for both import and export, you can use any delimiter you set up. A quick mod could set the delimiter to a fixed value and not use the requester to ask the user what to use. Andy On Fri, 6 Jul 2012 00:19:03 +0100 "JorgeF_Tech" <jorgef.tech@...> wrote:
Hi
This is strictly a M$-Excel question.
This is one of those occasions where, as usual, M$ decided to reinvent the
wheel.
By default ¡°.csv¡± files are associated with Excel, but what the world
understands as ¡°comma separated values¡±, M$ sees ¡°<list delimiter> separated
±¹²¹±ô³Ü±ð²õ¡±.
When opening a ¡°.csv¡± file, Excel searches for the list delimiter defined in
the windows localization as the field separator.
The result is that it only works well in some countries, the ones where the
localization as a ¡°,¡± for the list delimiter.
When you open any other text file, Excel runs the import wizard and you have
the chance of fine tunning the import process from separators to column
headers, filed types and so on in a step by step fashion.
But this is not a configuration, is only an interactive wizard, so you have
to repeat all the steps each time you open a text file.
Best regards
Jorge
PS: Here in Portugal M$ reads ¡°csv¡± as ¡°semi-colon separated ±¹²¹±ô³Ü±ð²õ¡±. L
De: kicad-users@... [mailto:kicad-users@...] Em nome
de randyinnc55
Enviada: quinta-feira, 5 de Julho de 2012 07:18
Para: kicad-users@...
Assunto: [kicad-users] Re: BOM formatting question
Andres-
This does the trick, thanks. My only issue is that they are not organized by
reference designator type. All the different types are mixed together. In
other words it would be nice if the list was organized by capacitors (Cx),
then diodes (Dx), then connectors (Jx), etc, etc, and finally integrated
circuits (Ux) instead of mixed together. Oh well, it is close enough.
The other interesting thing I found is that KiCad uses ; as the field
delimiter and then saves the file by default as a .csv type. If you then try
to open the file that is made with Excel, it assumes that a comma , is the
field delimiter (it is a "comma spaced variable" file after all I suppose).
Even using Excel's Data > Text to Columns... menu choice and telling Excel
that the field delimiter is ; and not , it still wouldn't format properly.
The only way I could get that to work was to change the file extension from
.csv to .bom. Then Excel opened and formatted the file perfectly. So the
lesson learned would be to save the BOM file with an extension other than
the default .csv. Maybe .txt or .bom for example.
Thanks!
-Randy
--- In kicad-users@... <mailto:kicad-users%40yahoogroups.com> ,
Andres Kasulin <andreskasulin@...> wrote:
pcbnew formats BOM? similar to what you asked. Go to "File"->"Fabrication
Outputs"->"BOM File".
Check this thread:
________________________________
De: randyinnc55 <rluck1@...>
Para: kicad-users@... <mailto:kicad-users%40yahoogroups.com>
Enviado: mi??rcoles, 4 de julio de 2012 10:27
Asunto: [kicad-users] BOM formatting question
Is there a way to get the KiCad BOM output to look like the following:
generically:
Item#<t>Quantity<t>RefDesList<t>PartValue<t>Footprint
where <t> is a tab character.
hypothetical example:
1<t>3<t>C1,C2,C5<t>0.1uF<t>SM0603
2<t>2<t>C3,C4<t>100pF<t>SM0603
3<t>2<t>R1,R3<t>1.0K<t>SM0603
4<t>1<t>R2<t>10R0<t>SM1206
5<t>1<t>U1<t>LM358AM<t>SOIC8
Then I can import this file into Excel and use the tabs to delimit each
field.? ? Notice that all the reference designators in the RefDesList are
all within one field.? ? This way all those of a particular part value they
end up all in one Excel cell.? ? OrCad can make this kind of BOM easily.
Thanks!
?
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Re: BOM formatting question
? Hi ? This is strictly a M$-Excel question. This is one of those occasions where, as usual, M$ decided to reinvent the wheel. ? By default ¡°.csv¡± files are associated with Excel, but what the world understands as ¡°comma separated values¡±, M$ sees ¡° separated ±¹²¹±ô³Ü±ð²õ¡±. When opening a ¡°.csv¡± file, Excel searches for the list delimiter defined in the windows localization as the field separator. The result is that it only works well in some countries, the ones where the localization ?as a ¡°,¡± for the list delimiter. ? When you open any other text file, Excel runs the import wizard and you have the chance of fine tunning the import process from separators to column headers, filed types and so on in a step by step fashion. But this is not a configuration, is only an interactive wizard, so you have to repeat all the steps each time you open a text file. ? ? Best regards Jorge ? PS: Here in Portugal M$ reads ¡°csv¡± as ¡°semi-colon separated ±¹²¹±ô³Ü±ð²õ¡±. ?L ? ? ? De: kicad-users@... [mailto:kicad-users@...] Em nome de randyinnc55
Enviada: quinta-feira, 5 de Julho de 2012 07:18
Para: kicad-users@...
Assunto: [kicad-users] Re: BOM formatting question ? ? Andres-
This does the trick, thanks. My only issue is that they are not organized by reference designator type. All the different types are mixed together. In other words it would be nice if the list was organized by capacitors (Cx), then diodes (Dx), then connectors (Jx), etc, etc, and finally integrated circuits (Ux) instead of mixed together. Oh well, it is close enough.
The other interesting thing I found is that KiCad uses ; as the field delimiter and then saves the file by default as a .csv type. If you then try to open the file that is made with Excel, it assumes that a comma , is the field delimiter (it is a "comma spaced variable" file after all I suppose). Even using Excel's Data > Text to Columns... menu choice and telling Excel that the field delimiter is ; and not , it still wouldn't format properly. The only way I could get that to work was to change the file extension from .csv to .bom. Then Excel opened and formatted the file perfectly. So the lesson learned would be to save the BOM file with an extension other than the default .csv. Maybe .txt or .bom for example.
Thanks!
-Randy
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
--- In kicad-users@..., Andres Kasulin wrote: > > pcbnew formats BOM??similar to what you asked. Go to "File"->"Fabrication Outputs"->"BOM File". > > > Check this thread: > > > ________________________________ > De: randyinnc55 > Para: kicad-users@... > Enviado: mi??rcoles, 4 de julio de 2012 10:27 > Asunto: [kicad-users] BOM formatting question > > > > Is there a way to get the KiCad BOM output to look like the following: > > generically: > > Item#QuantityRefDesListPartValueFootprint > > where is a tab character. > > hypothetical example: > > 1<t>3C1,C2,C50.1uFSM0603 > 22C3,C4100pFSM0603 > 32R1,R31.0KSM0603 > 41R210R0<t>SM1206 > 51U1LM358AMSOIC8 > > Then I can import this file into Excel and use the tabs to delimit each field.????Notice that all the reference designators in the RefDesList are all within one field.????This way all those of a particular part value they end up all in one Excel cell.????OrCad can make this kind of BOM easily. > > Thanks! > > > ?? >
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Re: BOM formatting question
There is a more general way to solve your problem also. Instead of using "BOM", use "Netlist" and then you have access to the xslt processor (xsltproc) where you can write any sort of output format you want using an XML-ish script. I'm brain-dead when it comes to any sort of coding but I stole this from someone and made a few mods. At the risk of polluting the mail list, here is a complete script that creates an output I use for my interface with P&V. The output is similar to the default BOM output, but a little cleaner for my needs.
<!--XSL style sheet that takes EESCHEMA's Generic Netlist Format as input and ? ? outputs a simple BOM in CSV format.
?Feel free to enhance this and submit ? ? patches.
? ? How to use: ? ? ? ? https://lists.launchpad.net/kicad-developers/msg05157.html -->
? ]>
? ? , ? ? , ? ? , ? ? , ? ?
? ? &nl;
? ? refdes,value,footprint,lib,part&nl; ? ?
From: randyinnc55
To: kicad-users@...
Sent: Wednesday, July 4, 2012 6:27 AM
Subject: [kicad-users] BOM formatting question
?
Is there a way to get the KiCad BOM output to look like the following:
generically:
Item#QuantityRefDesListPartValueFootprint
where is a tab character.
hypothetical example:
13C1,C2,C50.1uFSM0603
22C3,C4100pF
32R1,R31.0KSM0603
4<t>1R210R0SM1206
51U1<t>LM358AMSOIC8
Then I can import this file into Excel and use the tabs to delimit each field. Notice that all the reference designators in the RefDesList are all within one field. This way all those of a particular part value they end up all in one Excel cell. OrCad can make this kind of BOM easily.
Thanks!
|
Re: BOM formatting question
for. Maybe it would be clearer if it said "single part type per
line" or "single part value per line", but that's just me ;-) Some of the (English) wording is kicad is a little curious, and I've always taken that to be because the text was written by someone who doesn't speak English as their first language. If kicad appears to be missing a feature its sometimes best to try all the buttons and see what happens. I am now able to get a very similar BOM now from either tool. And
the BOM generated on the schematic side still puts each part type
line in value order, rather than reference designator order (i.e.
first caps (Cx), then diodes (Dx), etc.) no matter how I check the
boxes in the List items group box. Oh, well, it's good enough. The database I've been working on organises BOM by part type, and then places the components in reference order. It'll do this even if you haven't added components to the database. The downside is that this ordering is done by an Access 97 front end, and the export to Excel really sucks. It does create a nice list in Word, however. With regard to Excel, in my version I get the dialog you are talking
about, I mentioned it in my post. But if the file extension is CSV,
it will not change away from using the commas as the separator no
matter how I set that dialog in my version of Excel. If I save the
file from KiCad with any other extension like TXT or BOM for example,
then that dialog works, I can set it to use the semicolons as the
separator, and all is well. I've switched to Libre/Open Office and that always pops up a dialog to allow you to select the separator. It can save files in Excel format. You can of course set the separator to comma when you export the BOM from EESchema, but I always use tab as I know there will never be a tab in the exported kicad fields. Regards, Robert. -- () Plain text email - safe, readable, inclusive. /\
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Re: BOM formatting question
Robert-
Yes I saw that. Semicolon is fine. And yes it needs to be back annotated so that the BOM that you can generate from the schematic side has all the part values as you said.
The dialog you mention on the schematic side does give you some options. I knew that. I misunderstood what the check box "single part per line" meant. I thought it meant each part instance on a separate line so I didn't try it. But with that unchecked, it was still putting a separate part instance on each line so that option didn't make sense to me. But that option instead means single part type on a separate line which is in fact the behavior I was looking for. Maybe it would be clearer if it said "single part type per line" or "single part value per line", but that's just me ;-)
The BOM dialog on the PCB side does not give you any options for formatting the generated BOM file beyond the file name.
I am now able to get a very similar BOM now from either tool. And the BOM generated on the schematic side still puts each part type line in value order, rather than reference designator order (i.e. first caps (Cx), then diodes (Dx), etc.) no matter how I check the boxes in the List items group box. Oh, well, it's good enough.
With regard to Excel, in my version I get the dialog you are talking about, I mentioned it in my post. But if the file extension is CSV, it will not change away from using the commas as the separator no matter how I set that dialog in my version of Excel. If I save the file from KiCad with any other extension like TXT or BOM for example, then that dialog works, I can set it to use the semicolons as the separator, and all is well.
Thanks,
-Randy
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
--- In kicad-users@..., Robert <birmingham_spider@...> wrote:
Randy,
You didn't read my post. I'll repeat it here:
"Have you used the radio button on the BOM export that sets the field
separator for spreadsheet import?"
I'm guessing you are completely ignoring the dialog that gets popped up
when you export the BOM, because it allows you to set how the components
are organised and the field separator. You must also be ignoring the
Excel dialogs, because they allow you to select a separator (at least
they do on my copy, and Libre/OpenOffice has the same feature).
Regards,
Robert.
On 05/07/2012 07:18, randyinnc55 wrote:
Andres-
This does the trick, thanks. My only issue is that they are not
organized by reference designator type. All the different types are
mixed together. In other words it would be nice if the list was
organized by capacitors (Cx), then diodes (Dx), then connectors (Jx),
etc, etc, and finally integrated circuits (Ux) instead of mixed
together. Oh well, it is close enough.
The other interesting thing I found is that KiCad uses ; as the field
delimiter and then saves the file by default as a .csv type. If you
then try to open the file that is made with Excel, it assumes that a
comma , is the field delimiter (it is a "comma spaced variable" file
after all I suppose). Even using Excel's Data> Text to Columns...
menu choice and telling Excel that the field delimiter is ; and not ,
it still wouldn't format properly. The only way I could get that to
work was to change the file extension from .csv to .bom. Then Excel
opened and formatted the file perfectly. So the lesson learned would
be to save the BOM file with an extension other than the default
.csv. Maybe .txt or .bom for example.
Thanks! -Randy
--- In kicad-users@..., Andres Kasulin<andreskasulin@>
wrote:
pcbnew formats BOM? similar to what you asked. Go to
"File"->"Fabrication Outputs"->"BOM File".
Check this thread:
________________________________ De: randyinnc55<rluck1@> Para:
kicad-users@... Enviado: mi??rcoles, 4 de julio de 2012
10:27 Asunto: [kicad-users] BOM formatting question
Is there a way to get the KiCad BOM output to look like the
following:
generically:
Item#<t>Quantity<t>RefDesList<t>PartValue<t>Footprint
where<t> is a tab character.
hypothetical example:
1<t>3<t>C1,C2,C5<t>0.1uF<t>SM0603 2<t>2<t>C3,C4<t>100pF<t>SM0603
3<t>2<t>R1,R3<t>1.0K<t>SM0603 4<t>1<t>R2<t>10R0<t>SM1206
5<t>1<t>U1<t>LM358AM<t>SOIC8
Then I can import this file into Excel and use the tabs to delimit
each field.? ? Notice that all the reference designators in the
RefDesList are all within one field.? ? This way all those of a
particular part value they end up all in one Excel cell.? ? OrCad
can make this kind of BOM easily.
Thanks!
?
------------------------------------
Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting
your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked
up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit for
details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad
library. For building Kicad from source and other development
questions visit the kicad-devel group at
! Groups Links
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Re: Addendum: Problem with GerbView/PCBnew import - Problem with translation
Hello Jorge. Bernd, I did receive your previous message with the ¡°GerberMuell,zip¡±
attachement.
Oh, sorry! I forgot "ESD-Schutz.zip" complete but sended "GerberMuell.zip" twice. But now it is at the addendum. With best regards: Bernd Wiebus alias dl1eic
|
Re: BOM formatting question
Randy,
You didn't read my post. I'll repeat it here:
"Have you used the radio button on the BOM export that sets the field
separator for spreadsheet import?"
I'm guessing you are completely ignoring the dialog that gets popped up
when you export the BOM, because it allows you to set how the components
are organised and the field separator. You must also be ignoring the Excel dialogs, because they allow you to select a separator (at least they do on my copy, and Libre/OpenOffice has the same feature).
Regards,
Robert.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 05/07/2012 07:18, randyinnc55 wrote: Andres-
This does the trick, thanks. My only issue is that they are not
organized by reference designator type. All the different types are
mixed together. In other words it would be nice if the list was
organized by capacitors (Cx), then diodes (Dx), then connectors (Jx),
etc, etc, and finally integrated circuits (Ux) instead of mixed
together. Oh well, it is close enough.
The other interesting thing I found is that KiCad uses ; as the field
delimiter and then saves the file by default as a .csv type. If you
then try to open the file that is made with Excel, it assumes that a
comma , is the field delimiter (it is a "comma spaced variable" file
after all I suppose). Even using Excel's Data> Text to Columns...
menu choice and telling Excel that the field delimiter is ; and not ,
it still wouldn't format properly. The only way I could get that to
work was to change the file extension from .csv to .bom. Then Excel
opened and formatted the file perfectly. So the lesson learned would
be to save the BOM file with an extension other than the default
.csv. Maybe .txt or .bom for example.
Thanks! -Randy
--- In kicad-users@..., Andres Kasulin<andreskasulin@...>
wrote:
pcbnew formats BOM similar to what you asked. Go to
"File"->"Fabrication Outputs"->"BOM File".
Check this thread:
________________________________ De: randyinnc55<rluck1@...> Para:
kicad-users@... Enviado: mi??rcoles, 4 de julio de 2012
10:27 Asunto: [kicad-users] BOM formatting question
Is there a way to get the KiCad BOM output to look like the
following:
generically:
Item#<t>Quantity<t>RefDesList<t>PartValue<t>Footprint
where<t> is a tab character.
hypothetical example:
1<t>3<t>C1,C2,C5<t>0.1uF<t>SM0603 2<t>2<t>C3,C4<t>100pF<t>SM0603
3<t>2<t>R1,R3<t>1.0K<t>SM0603 4<t>1<t>R2<t>10R0<t>SM1206
5<t>1<t>U1<t>LM358AM<t>SOIC8
Then I can import this file into Excel and use the tabs to delimit
each field. Notice that all the reference designators in the
RefDesList are all within one field. This way all those of a
particular part value they end up all in one Excel cell. OrCad
can make this kind of BOM easily.
Thanks!
------------------------------------
Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting
your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked
up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit for
details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad
library. For building Kicad from source and other development
questions visit the kicad-devel group at
! Groups Links
--- avast! Antivirus: Inbound message clean. Virus Database (VPS):
120704-0, 04/07/2012 Tested on: 05/07/2012 08:04:34 avast! -
copyright (c) 1988-2012 AVAST Software.
--
() Plain text email - safe, readable, inclusive.
/\
|
Re: Multi-Part Components
I've already modified the database I'm working on to deal with multi-part components following Andy's post. When it receives a "parent" component in the BOM, it adds the correct number of "child" components. At the moment it doesn't know about components that come in strips (or bags, for that matter) of 100 (I can't do everything at once), so it just says a single two slot receptacle needs two crimp terminals and adds a quantity of two and the strip part number to the parts list. That's clearly not as it should be, but it sure beats tracking down the correct crimp terminals on the supplier's website every time one selects a receptacle.
The database is not conceived of as part of EESchema, so I'm not sure where that came from. It's an independent system that *could* be hooked into kicad via a standard interface (eg ODBC). In the inward direction EESchema could have a dialog that generates SQL to search the database and (once the component has been selected) fill in the EESchema fields as required. The BOM would go in the outward direction. This isn't essential, it's just some niceties that someone could add if they want to. Those functions are currently achieved using a standalone UI (FlameRobin, Access, or any other SQL tool). The creation of a nicely formatted parts list is performed by a standalone application (currently Access) that also talks to the database server (using ODBC); I'm not suggesting that gets integrated into EESchema.
Regards,
Robert.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 04/07/2012 22:56, JorgeF_Tech wrote: Hi
I second Andy position.
Kicad is a PCB design tool, not a full project manager and doesn't seem to
be intended to replace the whole project team.
If we start enlarging the scope of the tool, one of this days someone will
be asking for a full library of nuts, bolts, washers, enclosures, power
cords,... and whatever else we need to put a finished product on the
shelves.
This kind of complex components, as the connectors made of separate pins and
plastic frame, are normally addressed by some kind of database tool that has
records with the composition details for a specific internal product code,
alongside with approved vendors, costs and so on.
Its like when you take your car/dishwasher/. to be serviced. They only fill
the replaced/tuned parts and man work hours get added by the system.
Just my 2 cents.
Best regards
Jorge
De: kicad-users@... [mailto:kicad-users@...] Em nome
de Andy Eskelson
Enviada: segunda-feira, 2 de Julho de 2012 17:57
Para: kicad-users@...
Assunto: Re: [kicad-users] Multi-Part Components
You give each part a unique ident, then you can export the BOM and feed
the result into an external stock control / parts database system. In
that you can associate the part with whatever source you are using. So if
you have 50 pins that come off a strip, your external system will add up
all the pins of that type, and total up the number of pin strips needed.
It really is far too much hard work to try to get the Kicad BOM to do
things like this, it's simply the wrong tool.
IIRC there was a posting many months ago regarding a shareware stock /
parts system that provided quite a lot of functions and was easy to use.
Maybe someone can remember the name.
Andy
On Mon, 02 Jul 2012 17:41:11 +0100
Robert<birmingham_spider@...<mailto:birmingham_spider%40gmx.net> >
wrote:
There was a recent discussion about putting things on the schematic so
they get exported in the BOM but don't get placed on the PCB. A
related problem is multi-part components. For example, a jack plug for
a header might consist of a receptacle and a number of crimp terminals
snapped off from a strip, the receptacle and the strip each having their
own part number and ordering information.
Has anyone come up with a slick way to generate multiple parts in the
BOM file for a single component on the schematic?
Regards,
Robert.
--
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/\
------------------------------------
Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question.
Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad.
Please visit for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library.
For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at ! Groups
Links
--
() Plain text email - safe, readable, inclusive.
/\
|
Re: BOM formatting question
Andres-
This does the trick, thanks. My only issue is that they are not organized by reference designator type. All the different types are mixed together. In other words it would be nice if the list was organized by capacitors (Cx), then diodes (Dx), then connectors (Jx), etc, etc, and finally integrated circuits (Ux) instead of mixed together. Oh well, it is close enough.
The other interesting thing I found is that KiCad uses ; as the field delimiter and then saves the file by default as a .csv type. If you then try to open the file that is made with Excel, it assumes that a comma , is the field delimiter (it is a "comma spaced variable" file after all I suppose). Even using Excel's Data > Text to Columns... menu choice and telling Excel that the field delimiter is ; and not , it still wouldn't format properly. The only way I could get that to work was to change the file extension from .csv to .bom. Then Excel opened and formatted the file perfectly. So the lesson learned would be to save the BOM file with an extension other than the default .csv. Maybe .txt or .bom for example.
Thanks!
-Randy
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
--- In kicad-users@..., Andres Kasulin <andreskasulin@...> wrote:
pcbnew formats BOM??similar to what you asked. Go to "File"->"Fabrication Outputs"->"BOM File".
Check this thread:
________________________________
De: randyinnc55 <rluck1@...>
Para: kicad-users@...
Enviado: mi??rcoles, 4 de julio de 2012 10:27
Asunto: [kicad-users] BOM formatting question
Is there a way to get the KiCad BOM output to look like the following:
generically:
Item#<t>Quantity<t>RefDesList<t>PartValue<t>Footprint
where <t> is a tab character.
hypothetical example:
1<t>3<t>C1,C2,C5<t>0.1uF<t>SM0603
2<t>2<t>C3,C4<t>100pF<t>SM0603
3<t>2<t>R1,R3<t>1.0K<t>SM0603
4<t>1<t>R2<t>10R0<t>SM1206
5<t>1<t>U1<t>LM358AM<t>SOIC8
Then I can import this file into Excel and use the tabs to delimit each field.????Notice that all the reference designators in the RefDesList are all within one field.????This way all those of a particular part value they end up all in one Excel cell.????OrCad can make this kind of BOM easily.
Thanks!
??
|
Re: Addendum: Problem with GerbView/PCBnew import - Problem with translation
Hello Jorge. Bernd, I did receive your previous message with the ¡°GerberMuell,zip¡±
attachement.
Oh, sorry! I forgot "ESD-Schutz.zip" complete but sended "GerberMuell.zip" twice. But now it is at the addendum. With best regards: Bernd Wiebus alias dl1eic
|
Re: BOM formatting question
pcbnew formats BOM?similar to what you asked. Go to "File"->"Fabrication Outputs"->"BOM File".
Check this thread:
________________________________
De: randyinnc55 <rluck1@...>
Para: kicad-users@...
Enviado: mi¨¦rcoles, 4 de julio de 2012 10:27
Asunto: [kicad-users] BOM formatting question
Is there a way to get the KiCad BOM output to look like the following:
generically:
Item#<t>Quantity<t>RefDesList<t>PartValue<t>Footprint
where <t> is a tab character.
hypothetical example:
1<t>3<t>C1,C2,C5<t>0.1uF<t>SM0603
2<t>2<t>C3,C4<t>100pF<t>SM0603
3<t>2<t>R1,R3<t>1.0K<t>SM0603
4<t>1<t>R2<t>10R0<t>SM1206
5<t>1<t>U1<t>LM358AM<t>SOIC8
Then I can import this file into Excel and use the tabs to delimit each field.??Notice that all the reference designators in the RefDesList are all within one field.??This way all those of a particular part value they end up all in one Excel cell.??OrCad can make this kind of BOM easily.
Thanks!
|
Re: Multi-Part Components
I think it's more the case that (understandably) many kicad users have no experience of large and complex products and the construction and production of such things. The PCB is just a small part of the whole. Before the days of databases and CAD type programs, you would have a drawing set, which would show the PCB layout, components and so on. You would also have an assembly drawing that would show the PCB in outline form, and specify all the mounting hardware, AND the assembly order. It was very common to have a dozen or more assembly drawings in order to build up a product. I can still vividly remember the smell of freshly printed dyeline drawings - ammonia was used in the developing process and the paper held that smell for days :-) M6 Pan head bolt, Crinkle Washer, plain washer, PCB, plain washer, spacer, mounting plate, start washer, nut - then a note to specify locking compound, torque and so on as needed. Long winded to type, but it's just a slightly exploded item on a drawing. You got used to reading them. Loads of ancillary drawings detailing things like cable form assembly, front panel layout and engraving, etc. etc. Then there is the part list, EVERY item is identified and listed. The drawing does not list things as M4 bolt, but by part number. That is then cross references with the parts list which can be dozens of pages long. Walk into the purchasing department and there would the stock cards that detailed what every part was, where it was to be purchased from, alternate sources and so on. Everything is a lot easier now with databases and PC's doing a lot of the grunt work, especially keeping track of inventory, but the process is basically the same. While it is nice to have extra features there is a danger as you say that it could grow like topsy and quickly get out of hand. All you actually need is a list of part numbers used. Now that could be formatted as part number + quantity or it could be as simple as the part number only repeated as many times as that part is used. It's no big deal for a database to count up the duplicated part numbers to get a total. One of the paradigms of linux is that a tool should do one job well, not a bad way to do things. So far Kicad tends to follow that method. I hope it continues to do so. Andy On Wed, 4 Jul 2012 22:56:37 +0100 "JorgeF_Tech" <jorgef.tech@...> wrote: Hi
I second Andy position.
Kicad is a PCB design tool, not a full project manager and doesn't seem to
be intended to replace the whole project team.
If we start enlarging the scope of the tool, one of this days someone will
be asking for a full library of nuts, bolts, washers, enclosures, power
cords,... and whatever else we need to put a finished product on the
shelves.
This kind of complex components, as the connectors made of separate pins and
plastic frame, are normally addressed by some kind of database tool that has
records with the composition details for a specific internal product code,
alongside with approved vendors, costs and so on.
Its like when you take your car/dishwasher/. to be serviced. They only fill
the replaced/tuned parts and man work hours get added by the system.
Just my 2 cents.
Best regards
Jorge
De: kicad-users@... [mailto:kicad-users@...] Em nome
de Andy Eskelson
Enviada: segunda-feira, 2 de Julho de 2012 17:57
Para: kicad-users@...
Assunto: Re: [kicad-users] Multi-Part Components
You give each part a unique ident, then you can export the BOM and feed
the result into an external stock control / parts database system. In
that you can associate the part with whatever source you are using. So if
you have 50 pins that come off a strip, your external system will add up
all the pins of that type, and total up the number of pin strips needed.
It really is far too much hard work to try to get the Kicad BOM to do
things like this, it's simply the wrong tool.
IIRC there was a posting many months ago regarding a shareware stock /
parts system that provided quite a lot of functions and was easy to use.
Maybe someone can remember the name.
Andy
On Mon, 02 Jul 2012 17:41:11 +0100
Robert <birmingham_spider@... <mailto:birmingham_spider%40gmx.net> >
wrote:
There was a recent discussion about putting things on the schematic so
they get exported in the BOM but don't get placed on the PCB. A
related problem is multi-part components. For example, a jack plug for
a header might consist of a receptacle and a number of crimp terminals
snapped off from a strip, the receptacle and the strip each having their
own part number and ordering information.
Has anyone come up with a slick way to generate multiple parts in the
BOM file for a single component on the schematic?
Regards,
Robert.
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------------------------------------
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Re: Addendum: Problem with GerbView/PCBnew import - Problem with translation [1 Attachment]
Hi ? Bernd, I did receive your previous message with the ¡°GerberMuell,zip¡± attachement. ? ? Best regards Jorge ? ? De: kicad-users@... [mailto:kicad-users@...] Em nome de Bernd Wiebus
Enviada: segunda-feira, 2 de Julho de 2012 21:35
Para: kicad-users@...
Assunto: Addendum: [kicad-users] Problem with GerbView/PCBnew import - Problem with translation [1 Attachment] ? ? [Attachment(s) from Bernd Wiebus included below] Hello.
The file "GerberMuell.zip" which should be at the attachent of my
previous post, too, got lost somehow.
So i will add it here.
With best regards: Bernd Wiebus alias dl1eic
|
Re: Multi-Part Components
Hi ? I second Andy position. ? Kicad is a PCB design tool, not a full project manager and doesn¡¯t seem to be intended to replace the whole project team. If we start enlarging the scope of the tool, one of this days someone will be asking for a full library of nuts, bolts, washers, enclosures, power cords,¡.. and whatever else we need to put a finished product on the shelves. ? This kind of complex components, as the connectors made of separate pins and plastic frame, are normally addressed by some kind of database tool that has records with the composition details for a specific internal product code, alongside with approved vendors, costs and so on. ? Its like when you take your car/dishwasher/¡ to be serviced. They only fill the replaced/tuned parts and man work hours get added by the system. ? Just my 2 cents¡ ? ? Best regards Jorge ? ? ? ? ? ? ? De: kicad-users@... [mailto:kicad-users@...] Em nome de Andy Eskelson
Enviada: segunda-feira, 2 de Julho de 2012 17:57
Para: kicad-users@...
Assunto: Re: [kicad-users] Multi-Part Components ? ? You give each part a unique ident, then you can export the BOM and feed
the result into an external stock control / parts database system. In
that you can associate the part with whatever source you are using. So if
you have 50 pins that come off a strip, your external system will add up
all the pins of that type, and total up the number of pin strips needed.
It really is far too much hard work to try to get the Kicad BOM to do
things like this, it's simply the wrong tool.
IIRC there was a posting many months ago regarding a shareware stock /
parts system that provided quite a lot of functions and was easy to use.
Maybe someone can remember the name.
Andy
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Mon, 02 Jul 2012 17:41:11 +0100 Robert < birmingham_spider@...> wrote: > There was a recent discussion about putting things on the schematic so > they get exported in the BOM but don't get placed on the PCB. A > related problem is multi-part components. For example, a jack plug for > a header might consist of a receptacle and a number of crimp terminals > snapped off from a strip, the receptacle and the strip each having their > own part number and ordering information. > > Has anyone come up with a slick way to generate multiple parts in the > BOM file for a single component on the schematic? > > Regards, > > Robert. > > -- > () Plain text email - safe, readable, inclusive. > /\ > > > ------------------------------------ > > Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question. > Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad. > Please visit for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library. > For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at ! Groups Links > > >
|
Re: Editing ARC on PCB edge layer
Ok I got it.
Board file unit is in inch and it's pretty simple when nothing is placed except pcb edges.
Regards,
Mahesh
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
--- In kicad-users@..., "maheshsutariya" <maheshsutariya@...> wrote:
Thanks Robert and Andy,
@Andy, Which can file can be edited to set this ARC PCB edges..Brd file?
Do you particular point in file[some search keyword] where I can edit this?
Regards,
Mahesh
--- In kicad-users@..., Andy Eskelson <andyyahoo@> wrote:
It is a pain, this is where diving into the file with a text editor is
useful.
Andy
On Tue, 03 Jul 2012 15:11:47 +0100
Robert <birmingham_spider@> wrote:
On 03/07/2012 15:02, maheshsutariya wrote:
I am not getting arc edit form for second time[so unable to edit
again]. Even I am not able to delete this ARC once edited.
is this known problem? is there any work around for this? Arcs can be difficult or impossible to select, especially once edited,
and I don't know any workaround other than right-clicking all over the
arc until you get lucky. If you don't get lucky then all you can do is
use block selection to delete the arc and start again.
IMHO arcs in kicad really, badly need re-thinking and re-coding.
Regards,
Robert.
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------------------------------------
Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question.
Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad.
Please visit for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library.
For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at ! Groups Links
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Sorry, I left out a step. You need to export a .STF file from CVPCB with which to do the backannotation - you can't use the .CMP file directly. Once you've finished you no longer need the .CMP or .STF files.
Regards,
Robert.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 04/07/2012 14:48, Robert wrote: Edit...Backannotate will get the footprints back out of the .CMP file
and into EESchema. Export the BOM and check the list is sane. Once
you have done that I personally would suggest you delete the .CMP file
and leave CVPCB alone (when you export the netlist the .NET file will
contain everything PCBNew needs). Clearly you probably want to take a
backup before backannotating in case you end up worse off.
Regards,
Robert.
On 04/07/2012 14:31, randyinnc55 wrote:
OK, but the footprints in the CMP file and in the NET file do match.
--- In kicad-users@..., Robert<birmingham_spider@...> wrote:
Gaaa! I hate CVPCB. The problem is that you need to ensure the .CMP
file generated by CVPCB and the .NET file generated by EESchema match.
If you miss a stage, you end up with weirdness. Personally I just
put the footprint in the relevant field in the component properties in
EESchema and bypass CVPCB, using it only as a convenient means of
checking my footprint selections.
Regards,
Robert.
On 04/07/2012 14:12, randyinnc55 wrote:
Or did I do something wrong?
I created a multisheet schematic with a top level sheet and then 5
sheets in parallel below that. I then used the CvPcb button and
filled in all the footprints to associate each item on the schematic
with a footprint. I made a netlist and ran that forward to a PCB. I
placed all the components on the PCB layout. Then I realized that I
wanted to move a small subsection of the schematic from one of the
sheets to another. I kept all the part values, footprints, and
reference designators the same. I re-ran the netlister because I had
also changed something else, adding a couple of new components. It
added these new components to the PCB layout. The ones I moved from
one schematic sheet to another were all still there. I did my PCB
layout, routed and made Gerbers and everything looks fine. Now I go
to make a Bill of Materials. In looking at the BOM listing, I see
that all the components that I moved from one sheet to the other
don't have footprints associated with them. But the netlister says
they do, and the PCB clearly has these parts with the correct
footprints. If I select and edit these particular components on the
schematic, the footprint text box is blank. But if I look at the
listing from CvPcb, these components do in fact show footprints. Is
this a bug or did I do something wrong?
Thanks.
------------------------------------
Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting
your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked
up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit for
details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad
library. For building Kicad from source and other development
questions visit the kicad-devel group at
! Groups Links
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Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question.
Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad.
Please visit for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library.
For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at ! Groups Links
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Edit...Backannotate will get the footprints back out of the .CMP file and into EESchema. Export the BOM and check the list is sane. Once you have done that I personally would suggest you delete the .CMP file and leave CVPCB alone (when you export the netlist the .NET file will contain everything PCBNew needs). Clearly you probably want to take a backup before backannotating in case you end up worse off.
Regards,
Robert.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 04/07/2012 14:31, randyinnc55 wrote: OK, but the footprints in the CMP file and in the NET file do match.
--- In kicad-users@..., Robert<birmingham_spider@...> wrote:
Gaaa! I hate CVPCB. The problem is that you need to ensure the .CMP
file generated by CVPCB and the .NET file generated by EESchema match.
If you miss a stage, you end up with weirdness. Personally I just
put the footprint in the relevant field in the component properties in
EESchema and bypass CVPCB, using it only as a convenient means of
checking my footprint selections.
Regards,
Robert.
On 04/07/2012 14:12, randyinnc55 wrote:
Or did I do something wrong?
I created a multisheet schematic with a top level sheet and then 5
sheets in parallel below that. I then used the CvPcb button and
filled in all the footprints to associate each item on the schematic
with a footprint. I made a netlist and ran that forward to a PCB. I
placed all the components on the PCB layout. Then I realized that I
wanted to move a small subsection of the schematic from one of the
sheets to another. I kept all the part values, footprints, and
reference designators the same. I re-ran the netlister because I had
also changed something else, adding a couple of new components. It
added these new components to the PCB layout. The ones I moved from
one schematic sheet to another were all still there. I did my PCB
layout, routed and made Gerbers and everything looks fine. Now I go
to make a Bill of Materials. In looking at the BOM listing, I see
that all the components that I moved from one sheet to the other
don't have footprints associated with them. But the netlister says
they do, and the PCB clearly has these parts with the correct
footprints. If I select and edit these particular components on the
schematic, the footprint text box is blank. But if I look at the
listing from CvPcb, these components do in fact show footprints. Is
this a bug or did I do something wrong?
Thanks.
------------------------------------
Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting
your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked
up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit for
details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad
library. For building Kicad from source and other development
questions visit the kicad-devel group at
! Groups Links
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--
() Plain text email - safe, readable, inclusive.
/\
------------------------------------
Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question.
Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad.
Please visit for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library.
For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at ! Groups Links
---
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Re: BOM formatting question
Have you used the radio button on the BOM export that sets the field separator for spreadsheet import?
Regards,
Robert.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 04/07/2012 14:27, randyinnc55 wrote: Is there a way to get the KiCad BOM output to look like the following:
generically:
Item#<t>Quantity<t>RefDesList<t>PartValue<t>Footprint
where<t> is a tab character.
hypothetical example:
1<t>3<t>C1,C2,C5<t>0.1uF<t>SM0603
2<t>2<t>C3,C4<t>100pF<t>SM0603
3<t>2<t>R1,R3<t>1.0K<t>SM0603
4<t>1<t>R2<t>10R0<t>SM1206
5<t>1<t>U1<t>LM358AM<t>SOIC8
Then I can import this file into Excel and use the tabs to delimit each field. Notice that all the reference designators in the RefDesList are all within one field. This way all those of a particular part value they end up all in one Excel cell. OrCad can make this kind of BOM easily.
Thanks!
------------------------------------
Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting your question.
Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked up by the creator of Kicad.
Please visit for details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad library.
For building Kicad from source and other development questions visit the kicad-devel group at ! Groups Links
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OK, but the footprints in the CMP file and in the NET file do match.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
--- In kicad-users@..., Robert <birmingham_spider@...> wrote:
Gaaa! I hate CVPCB. The problem is that you need to ensure the .CMP
file generated by CVPCB and the .NET file generated by EESchema match.
If you miss a stage, you end up with weirdness. Personally I just
put the footprint in the relevant field in the component properties in
EESchema and bypass CVPCB, using it only as a convenient means of
checking my footprint selections.
Regards,
Robert.
On 04/07/2012 14:12, randyinnc55 wrote:
Or did I do something wrong?
I created a multisheet schematic with a top level sheet and then 5
sheets in parallel below that. I then used the CvPcb button and
filled in all the footprints to associate each item on the schematic
with a footprint. I made a netlist and ran that forward to a PCB. I
placed all the components on the PCB layout. Then I realized that I
wanted to move a small subsection of the schematic from one of the
sheets to another. I kept all the part values, footprints, and
reference designators the same. I re-ran the netlister because I had
also changed something else, adding a couple of new components. It
added these new components to the PCB layout. The ones I moved from
one schematic sheet to another were all still there. I did my PCB
layout, routed and made Gerbers and everything looks fine. Now I go
to make a Bill of Materials. In looking at the BOM listing, I see
that all the components that I moved from one sheet to the other
don't have footprints associated with them. But the netlister says
they do, and the PCB clearly has these parts with the correct
footprints. If I select and edit these particular components on the
schematic, the footprint text box is blank. But if I look at the
listing from CvPcb, these components do in fact show footprints. Is
this a bug or did I do something wrong?
Thanks.
------------------------------------
Please read the Kicad FAQ in the group files section before posting
your question. Please post your bug reports here. They will be picked
up by the creator of Kicad. Please visit for
details of how to contribute your symbols/modules to the kicad
library. For building Kicad from source and other development
questions visit the kicad-devel group at
! Groups Links
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