Electronics > KiCad
Find out all paths between two nets
2N3055:
--- Quote from: max.wwwang on March 09, 2023, 04:59:50 am ---
What I want is to find out the possible path of signal (not a direct electrical connection, of course!) between two nets. I don't think I misunderstood the term net in this context.
--- End quote ---
I reread this and answer is very easy...
You already have it on screen all the time.
It is called the schematic..
THAT is the purpose of it's existence, to show interconnection of components and allows us to figure out how it works..
The whole knowledge of electronics is about looking at the schematics and figuring out what it does... OR inventing something and making a schematic that does it..
You need to learn and work to be smart and knowledgeable. You can't fake it.
max.wwwang:
--- Quote from: 2N3055 on March 12, 2023, 09:52:15 am ---
--- Quote from: max.wwwang on March 09, 2023, 04:59:50 am ---
What I want is to find out the possible path of signal (not a direct electrical connection, of course!) between two nets. I don't think I misunderstood the term net in this context.
--- End quote ---
I reread this and answer is very easy...
You already have it on screen all the time.
It is called the schematic..
THAT is the purpose of it's existence, to show interconnection of components and allows us to figure out how it works..
The whole knowledge of electronics is about looking at the schematics and figuring out what it does... OR inventing something and making a schematic that does it..
You need to learn and work to be smart and knowledgeable. You can't fake it.
--- End quote ---
This is brilliant. Thanks.
Please don’t use the net highlight function. That’s the purpose of schematics, labels and other convenient facilities. You can figure it all out!
ebastler:
--- Quote from: max.wwwang on March 12, 2023, 07:10:01 pm ---This is brilliant. Thanks.
Please don’t use the net highlight function. That’s the purpose of schematics, labels and other convenient facilities. You can figure it all out!
--- End quote ---
Look -- 2N3055's advice may have come across as cynical, but he has a point.
The "highlight net" function can indeed be helpful while you are looking at a schematic. With the modern style of schematics, where the majority of "connections" are made by putting the same label onto several different pins, it can help you with finding all the points which are connected to the net. (1) (2)
But figuring out which upstream signals affect a given net, and which downstream signals are in turn affected by it, will remain your responsibility and manual work. KiCad will only highlight a single net at a time; it knows which output pin drives this net, but does not know how this pin is affected by upstream signals. Understanding those relationships requires an understanding of the circuit, which for the time being is still for humans to provide. Which is what 2N3055 was saying, I think.
(1) I only wish nets were more clearly highlighted in the schematic editor. At least with Kicad v6, which I am still using, they appear in a magenta color which does not stand out much, at least not for me.
(2) Just to make sure we are using the same nomenclature: Placing the same label on several different pins, but not connecting them by lines, still creates one "net" in KiCad terminology.
Doctorandus_P:
Highlighting is just a tool, and it can be useful, either for checking your own schematic, or to get an idea quicker of how somebody else's schematic is put together. KiCad only highlights a single net at a time, but it can do so when connections are only with labels, and also over multiple sheets though the hierarchy.
--- Quote from: ebastler on March 12, 2023, 08:03:20 pm ---(1) I only wish nets were more clearly highlighted in the schematic editor. At least with Kicad v6, which I am still using, they appear in a magenta color which does not stand out much, at least not for me.
--- End quote ---
Go to: Schematic Editor / Preferences / Preferences / Schematic Editor / Colors and you can adjust the color of the highlighting. I have V7, but this should work in V6 too.
ebastler:
--- Quote from: Doctorandus_P on March 12, 2023, 08:28:06 pm ---Go to: Schematic Editor / Preferences / Preferences / Schematic Editor / Colors and you can adjust the color of the highlighting. I have V7, but this should work in V6 too.
--- End quote ---
Thanks! Yes, I had played with the colors a while ago, but did not find anything much better. I guess the thin lines just don't convey color very strongly to me.
Something like the "glow" effect used for the currently selected items would be nice, but that is not user-configurable I believe?
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