manufacturing information management

[phil from seattle]

Yeah, I'm back with more questions...

So, one of the really cool things about Kicad is the ability to add properties to symbols and footprints.  This allows you to link in distributor information which is really great when tied to BoM generation.  For LCSC, there is even a BoM generator script. Really nice - now I can keep my schematics in sync with what I am actually building.

This is easy for a part that has a unique symbol.  Just add a disti field and put in the part number.  If you do it to the library symbol, it's there forever (though that may not be great in the long run but I digress).

However, for generic symbols (Rs and Cs for example), this doesn't work and you have to change the individual components in the schematic.  Slow, tedious.  I have taken to editing the schematic files directly to add the data.  A bit faster but still tedious. I have 60 resistors in one project with 10 different values so even text editing is a little error prone. I got it done but needed a good long drink afterwards. At least now my BoM generation with LCSC numbers is 100% in sync and I can quickly verify that all the right parts are being specified when I place an assembly order. Well, until I have to change to a different part.

Is there a better way to do this? 

I would love a "spreadsheet view" of my symbols where I could change any value, part number, etc and update the schematic. This would allow me to quickly update with an alternate part number in case of an out of stock situation like happens with JLCPCB regularly. I know there have been database discussions (wars?  lots of arguing) about this sort of thing for Kicad but don't see anything out of it.

[nfmax]

You want 'Edit Symbol Fields' - the top-row icon in eeschema that looks a bit like a spreadsheet. No substitute for a real database, but much easier than editing each symbol's properties one-by-on.

[phil from seattle]

Thanks. Now I feel pretty dumb missing that.  sigh...