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Electronics => PCB/EDA/CAD => KiCad => Topic started by: cobramostar on September 30, 2020, 09:55:07 pm

Title: altium2kicad
Post by: cobramostar on September 30, 2020, 09:55:07 pm
i tried to switch to kidcad with this tool
but it did not go well
does anyone have the will to explain to a beginner step by step
how to do it

https://codeload.github.com/foldvarid93/JBC_SolderingStation/zip/master
i wanted to try adding another channel to this scheme
means second soldering iron

Title: Re: altium2kicad
Post by: pointhi on October 01, 2020, 08:07:24 am
Download the nightlies and try out the integrated Altium importer. (For now: start pcbnew in standalone mode -> File -> Import -> Non-KiCad file -> Altium Designer)

I will develop a schematic importer as well before KiCad 6 release.

https://forum.kicad.info/t/work-in-progress-native-altium-importer/20712
Title: Re: altium2kicad
Post by: cobramostar on October 01, 2020, 04:23:11 pm
"Download the nightlies"

what is nightlies  ? ? ?

unfortunately I didn't understand

i work with linux mint

thanks
Title: Re: altium2kicad
Post by: pointhi on October 01, 2020, 04:39:01 pm
Nightlies are the current development version of KiCad. You can get it using an PPA, or with Flatpack:

https://kicad.org/download/linux-mint/
Title: Re: altium2kicad
Post by: cobramostar on October 01, 2020, 04:53:04 pm

I have now tried to make an envelope through the website

http://www2.futureware.at/KiCad/ (http://www2.futureware.at/KiCad/)

4. Download the resulting ZIP archive, extract it, open the .pro File in KiCad
5. In case of problems, review the altium2kicad-conversionlog.txt Logfile in the ZIP archive.
If you have any issues with this converter, please file them on the altium2kicad Issue page.

but I only got the following files

cobra@cobra-Satellite-L500:~/compile/lemilica/foldvarid/JBC_SolderingStation-master_2/altium2kicad$ ls -all
sveukupno 11052
drwxrwxr-x 6 cobra cobra    4096 lis   1 18:44 .
drwx------ 8 cobra cobra    4096 lis   1 18:44 ..
-rw-r--r-- 1 cobra cobra    7261 lis   1 18:44 altium2kicad-conversionlog.txt
-rw-rw-r-- 1 cobra cobra   40448 tra   3 22:27 BOM_JBC_SolderingIron.xls
-rw-rw-r-- 1 cobra cobra      59 tra   3 22:27 .gitignore
-rw-rw-r-- 1 cobra cobra    5970 tra   3 22:27 JBC_SolderingIron.OutJob
drwxr-xr-x 3 cobra cobra    4096 lis   1 18:43 JBC_SolderingIron-PcbDoc
-rw-rw-r-- 1 cobra cobra 7392768 tra   3 22:27 JBC_SolderingIron.PcbDoc
-rw-rw-r-- 1 cobra cobra    4305 tra   3 22:27 JBC_SolderingIron.PcbDoc.htm
-rw-r--r-- 1 cobra cobra  322534 lis   1 18:44 JBC_SolderingIron-PcbDoc.kicad_pcb
-rw-rw-r-- 1 cobra cobra   52144 tra   3 22:27 JBC_SolderingIron.PrjPcb
-rw-rw-r-- 1 cobra cobra      58 tra   3 22:27 JBC_SolderingIron.PrjPcbStructure
drwxr-xr-x 3 cobra cobra    4096 lis   1 18:43 JBC_SolderingIron-SchDoc
-rw-rw-r-- 1 cobra cobra  378368 tra   3 22:27 JBC_SolderingIron.SchDoc
-rw-r--r-- 1 cobra cobra   17183 lis   1 18:44 JBC_SolderingIron-SchDoc-cache.lib
-rw-r--r-- 1 cobra cobra  364930 lis   1 18:44 JBC_SolderingIron-SchDoc.log
-rw-r--r-- 1 cobra cobra   49655 lis   1 18:44 JBC_SolderingIron-SchDoc.sch
-rw-r--r-- 1 cobra cobra 1337547 lis   1 18:44 Pads.html
-rw-r--r-- 1 cobra cobra  706140 lis   1 18:44 Pads.txt
-rw-rw-r-- 1 cobra cobra  517334 tra   3 22:27 Schematic.PDF
drwxr-xr-x 2 cobra cobra    4096 lis   1 18:44 wrl
-rw-r--r-- 1 cobra cobra    9833 lis   1 18:44 wrlshapes.kicad_pcb
drwxr-xr-x 2 cobra cobra    4096 lis   1 18:44 wrlshp
cobra@cobra-Satellite-L500:~/compile/lemilica/foldvarid/JBC_SolderingStation-master_2/altium2kicad$

but there are no required files ending in pro

4. Download the resulting ZIP archive, extract it, open the .pro File in KiCad
Title: Re: altium2kicad
Post by: cobramostar on October 01, 2020, 04:59:33 pm
Nightlies are the current development version of KiCad. You can get it using an PPA, or with Flatpack:

https://kicad-pcb.org/download/linux-mint/

cobra@cobra-Satellite-L500:~$ sudo apt install --install-recommends kicad
[sudo] lozinka za cobra:         
Čitanje popisa paketa... Završeno
Izgradnja stabla zavisnosti       
Čitanje informacija stanja... Završeno
kicad je već najnovije inačice (5.1.7-202009280731+a382d34a8~87~ubuntu18.04.1).
0 nadograđenih, 0 novo instaliranih, 0 za uklanjanje i 135 bez nadogradnje.

cobra @ cobra-Satellite-L500: ~ $ sudo apt install --install-recommends kicad
[sudo] password for cobra:
Reading package list ... Done
Building an addiction tree
Reading status information ... Done
kicad is already the latest version (5.1.7-202009280731 + a382d34a8 ~ 87 ~ ubuntu18.04.1).
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 135 without upgrade.

i seem to have that version with PPA but i don't have that option
Title: Re: altium2kicad
Post by: cobramostar on October 01, 2020, 05:40:45 pm
Download the nightlies and try out the integrated Altium importer. (For now: start pcbnew in standalone mode -> File -> Import -> Non-KiCad file -> Altium Designer)

I will develop a schematic importer as well before KiCad 6 release.

https://forum.kicad.info/t/work-in-progress-native-altium-importer/20712

I can only choose Eagle or P-Cad the option to select Altium Designer is mute


Title: Re: altium2kicad
Post by: pointhi on October 01, 2020, 09:51:41 pm
There is a package named kicad-nightly in the PPA which you need to install. KiCad 5.1.7 does not include any Altium importer stuff.
Title: Re: altium2kicad
Post by: cobramostar on October 02, 2020, 10:02:09 pm
To launch nightly version of a kicad’s binaries, you have to add "-nightly" to the command name:

    kicad → kicad-nightly

    pcbnew → pcbnew-nightly

    eeschema → eeschema-nightly

    cobra@cobra-Satellite-L500:~$ pcbnew → pcbnew-nightly
Gtk-Message: 23:58:38.555: GtkDialog mapped without a transient parent. This is discouraged.
cobra@cobra-Satellite-L500:~$



I don't seem to understand

 :-// :-//

edit seems work

thanks

but how open schematic   ? ? ?

eeschema not open  ? ? ?


thanks
Title: Re: altium2kicad
Post by: Doctorandus_P on October 03, 2020, 05:54:55 pm
Apparenly you're new to the term "nightly".

It is a common term for open source programs.
For commercial programs, you normally only see officially released versions.

For Open Source programs, it is common to release "nigtly" versions.
The Idea is that these (unofficial) versions are build "overnight", for people who want to try very new features, and for people who want to help with finding bugs in new features that are not implemented properly yet.
The "nigtly" versions are not supposed to be bug-free. They are used to find bugs, so they can be eliminated.
The bugs in the nigtly versions can also change overnight. Old bugs get eliminated, new bugs get introduced.

Something you also have to be aware of:
There has also been a file format change in the nightly versions of KiCad, and if you're working on a project in the nightly versions, and you find a bug that makes it impossible to continue on a project, then you can also not go back to the stable version of KiCad for that project. Things like that are common when dealing with nightly versions.

This also means you have to do something "special" to get (and start) these versions.
Often there is a way to both install a stable version and a "nightly" at the same time.
Title: Re: altium2kicad
Post by: cobramostar on October 03, 2020, 07:44:20 pm
ok i opened it first
start pcbnew in standalone mode -> File -> Import -> Non-KiCad file -> Altium Designer
then I saved it as JBC_SolderingIron.kicad_pcb
and then opened with Kicad eeschema
the envelope duplicated the resistors
Title: Re: altium2kicad
Post by: cobramostar on October 04, 2020, 08:15:47 pm
does anyone have any idea how liberaris resistors not to be double  ? ? ?

how can i update liberaris or edit  ? ? ?

thanks
Title: Re: altium2kicad
Post by: Simon on October 05, 2020, 03:35:31 pm
I never quite understand the ability to import from one package to another, what about all the libraries? I suppose you can continue to edit with the libraries of what you import into.
Title: Re: altium2kicad
Post by: Doctorandus_P on October 05, 2020, 07:24:00 pm
There are lots of different reasons why it's useful to import PCB's from another "package".
Having libraries from the other "package" is often not important.

One reason is finding an interesting project, made by others, somewhere on the 'net. If you can import that project into your current program, you can modify it as you wish and make a PCB from it. Changes can be as simple as changing a footprint for a connector, or swapping a uC for another.

Then there is software that goes obsolete, or gets more expensive with each version up to a price you can't afford it anymore. I've been bitten by this, and the only thing left of some of my old projects are the PDF's I made of the schematics.

Yet another reason is up scaling. If the program you are  using is missing features and you need to switch to a program with more capabilities, it's beneficial if you can migrate your old projects to the new program, Especially if that old program is based of perpetual monthly or yearly payments. Why pay for 2 programs?

Overall it reduces the effect of vendor lock-in.

Ideally (for customers) there would be no need "import" at all. PCB' format would be standardised into a universal format that can be read by any of the programs.
This is however a big nightmare for the makers of such programs, as it would eliminate vendor lock-in completely.
It would be a dream for people who do PCB design as free-lance work. They can use whatever program they like, without worrying about what program their employer prefers.

But indeed, if you are a single person or company, and are happy with the software you have and have no connections with the rest of the world, ten there is no reason to bother wih importing or exporting a project.
Title: Re: altium2kicad
Post by: Simon on October 05, 2020, 08:04:59 pm
Yea, I have used all the cheap ones except eagle and resettled on KiCad as in the time I spent touring the cheap paid options they got a lot better. But yes I am technically locked out of some old projects or it would be a faf to find the licence and hope that version still works on my machine. Fortunately I don't need those projects anymore.