Importing.md
Importing

This document describes how to import the Template board into a new or existing PCB in KiCad. For doucmentation on project library management, see the libraries docs.

How to Start a New PCB

Choose whether to keep the commit history from the Template repository or throw it away, and follow the instructions for the respective choice.

Keeping Commit History

Use Git to duplicate the entire repository (note that this is different than cloning the repository). Create a new repository on CADLAB and follow the instructions <![CDATA[]]>here<![CDATA[]]> to duplicate the Template repository into the new repository.

After the entire repository is duplicated, feel free to change all files named Template.* or Template-cache.lib to a name fitting the new repository.

Throwing Away Commit History

Create a new repository on CADLAB and copy over all files and folders from the Template repository into the new repository. Make sure to copy over the .gitignore file too.

After the entire repository is duplicated, feel free to change all files named Template.* or Template-cache.lib to a name fitting the new repository.

How to Copy into an Existing PCB

First copy the library files, then copy the schematic files. Make sure to copy over any changes in the .gitignore file too.

Copying the Library Files

Copy the Libraries/UVA_SolarCar_Template/ folder to the existing PCB project (make sure that the Libraries/ folder is at the same level as the existing PCB project's .pro file). If the existing project already has a Libraries/UVA_SolarCar_Template/ folder, it can still be copied over and overwritten.

If this is the first time copying the library files, follow the next two steps. Otherwise, move on to Copying the Schematic Files.

Next, add the Libraries/UVA_SolarCar_Template/UVA_SolarCar_Template.lib file as a Project Symbol Library to the existing PCB project in KiCad:


Go to Preferences > Manage Symbol Libraries...
Go to the Project Specific Libraries tab
Click on the folder symbol near the bottom left (2nd from the left, it says Add existing library to table when hovering over it) and select the file Libraries/UVA_SolarCar_Template/UVA_SolarCar_Template.lib
Check that the library path is correct, it uses the ${KIPRJMOD} substitution, and uses / instead of \
Click OK


Finally, add the Libraries/UVA_SolarCar_Template/UVA_SolarCar_Template.pretty/ folder as a Project Footprint Library to the existing PCB project in KiCad:


Go to Preferences > Manage Footprint Libraries...
Go to the Project Specific Libraries tab
Click on the folder symbol near the bottom left (2nd from the left, it says Add existing library to table when hovering over it) and select the folder Libraries/UVA_SolarCar_Template/UVA_SolarCar_Template.pretty/
Check that the library path is correct, it uses the ${KIPRJMOD} substitution, and uses / instead of \
Click OK


Copying the Schematic Files

Use KiCad's "Append Schematic Sheet Content" tool to import relevant schematic parts into an existing PCB.

To do this:


In the Template.sch file, create a new heirarchical sheet and call it export.sch.
Copy-paste all components to export into export.sch.
Save.
Open the existing PCB schematic to import into.
Create a new heirarchical sheet and call it import.sch.
In import.sch, click on File > Append Schematic Sheet Content...
Find and open export.sch.
If asked, use relative path instead of absolute path.
If an error message saying "A duplicate library name that references a different library exists in the current library table. This conflict cannot be resolved and may result in broken symbol library links for the schematic." appears, do NOT continue the load. Cancel it and instead do the following:


This error message only appears if trying to append a component for which an external footprint/schematic symbol was used. If importing such components, delete them from export.sch and manually add them into import.sch after appending.

It should now be possible to copy-paste any relevant parts of the imported schematic to the existing PCB schematic.
Delete any unnecessary heirarchical sheets and save.