Zero out symbol data fields after a symbol is copied and its value field is changed

[Art]

This is probably a feature request, but it would make life much easier if all the fields for a component (like datasheet, Description, all the custom fields) are zeroed out when you edit the value field. For example if I want to insert a new resistor, more often than not I would just copy and paste one of the resistors already placed on the schematic and then adjust its value by editing Value field directly. If I don't catch it later, during BOM generation, it would have a wrong part number and everything else assigned to it. Then same goes for the case when you just need to adjust the value of the symbol. If all the fields go blank, it will be easy to see, when BOM is generated.

[Rene Poeschl (poeschlr)]

I am not so sure KiCad should delete this stuff when copying. After all a lot of times you need another 1k resistor when copying from another 1k resistor.

In your case it might anyway be better to add a new resistor symbol from the library if you want it cleaned up. Maybe add more specialized symbols with the footprint field already filled out to aid you in this process. (You would then need one symbol per footprint in your library. Meaning one R_0603, R_0402, ... symbol)

[Rene Poeschl (poeschlr)]

Another thing: I might not even want the datasheet to be cleaned up when copying an existing symbol. Most resistor datasheets describe a full series of resistors. (Meaning even if i change the value of the resistor it might still be the same datasheet.)

This could mean that you might want even more resistors in your lib. One per resistor series.

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Another option would be to use house part numbers where you have a clear mapping from the value field to the part number. Then you could use a special wildcard character that tells your bom script that it should put the value field in this place on BOM export.

This would allow you not to worry about the BOM entries when changing the value field.

[Art (diametrix)]

@Rene

I realize that the Facebook generation is conditioned only to read short sentences and topic names, but you might want to venture out from the beaten path and try to read the whole post. Who knows, you might learn something. I'll try to stick to short sentences just for you.

I didn't suggest to zero out all the fields simply when a symbol is copied. Like you reasonably mentioned, quite often you just need to copy a symbol and keep it as is. I suggested to zero out all the fields, when you EDIT the value field of the symbol. Since a value is different, we can assume it is a completely different component now and therefore all the fields are not valid.

As far as the datasheet is concerned, you are absolutely right, sometimes a single datasheet covers a group of components (i.e. surface mount resistors of the same series). However, when you weigh in the repercussions of forgetting to correct all the fields for a symbol and then ordering a wrong component when BOM is generated, or not ordering the right one - I think not having a datasheet listed is not really rated that high on my list of priorities.

[José I. Romero (jose-cyborg)]

Zeroing out fields like that will not work for me, I am already annoyed that reference designators get lost when copying and pasting. My components have several custom fields where KiCad has no way of knowing how they relate to each other and just deleting the values on editing one of them would just be unexpected and counterproductive.

I suggest you spend some time to familiarize yourself with the field editing facilities available in KiCad as well as the symbol library system the tools are already there for fairly productive workflows without KiCad swooping in and breaking POLA for no good reason.

[Art (diametrix)]

@jose

I suggest you spend some time and actually read description of the problem and not just the name of the thread. The copy and paste in this case is really incidental, the real issue comes when you EDIT THE VALUE FIELD. It’s just it happens most often after copy and paste action.

And thank you for your patronizing, but I do just fine with field editing “facilities”. The issue discussed here is not how to edit fields efficiently, but the fact, that when you duplicate a symbol and change the value field by directly clicking on it, more often than not, you don’t change all the other fields, and if you don’t pay close attention when reviewing your BOM, you are not going to order that part, because it is just going to get grouped with the other parts.

[Art (diametrix)]

Edit the topic name specially for those who couldn’t be bothered to read more than one sentence at a time

[Wayne Stambaugh (stambaughw)]

If someone does decide to implement this, please make it user configurable. Unlike Art, most of the resistors I use are from the same series from the same vendor so clearing all of the other fields would make more work in my use case.

[Art (diametrix)]

@Wayne,

I was suggesting "less harm done" option. If you follow my suggestion, the worst that can happen, you would eventually notice that you are missing all those fields, and will have to enter them manually. Oh the other hand, if you copy a symbol and change its value but not any other fields the issues that could arise may include: using a wrong footprint and thus, if not caught, creating unusable boards, ordering wrong components, not ordering right components. All those can cost you time and money. To me that's no-brainer, you don't trade a dubious convenience for real possibility for mistakes that would cost you money and time.

Even if we are talking strictly about resistors (which we are not), AND if you always use the same manufacturer and series, the only fields that could be replicated with high degree of probability getting it right would be Datasheet and Manufacturer (if you use one), possibly Distributor - all fields that don't really affect anything except for your personal peace of mind. All the fields that matter, like Part Number, Description, Footprint, Price etc. can't not be reasonably assumed to be the same, even if the part belongs to the same series.

[KiCad Janitor (kicad-janitor)]

KiCad bug tracker has moved to Gitlab. This report is now available here: https://gitlab.com/kicad/code/kicad/-/issues/3401