Unable to print footprint from footprint editor

[Brian J Hoskins]

After creating a footprint in the footprint editor, I am unable to print a scale drawing of it.

** PRINT PREVIEW **

In Print Preview I experience the following:

If I select File->Print->Preview the preview looks okay.
If I select File->Print->Print->Print Preview the preview is missing some crucial layers.

** PRINT **

When I start the print job the output comes out blank. I have also tried setting print to file, and the PDF file output is blank too.

This seems to be the same bug as reported in #1089027, but the previous bug report was reported solved by using wx3.0. I am using wx3.x but the problem is not solved my end.

** SYSTEM and BUILD DETAILS **

Application: kicad
Version: 0.201503130816+5508~22~ubuntu14.04.1-product Release build
wxWidgets: Version 3.0.2 (debug,wchar_t,compiler with C++ ABI 1002,GCC 4.8.2,wx containers,compatible with 2.8)
Platform: Linux 3.13.0-46-generic x86_64, 64 bit, Little endian, wxGTK
Boost version: 1.54.0
         USE_WX_GRAPHICS_CONTEXT=OFF
         USE_WX_OVERLAY=OFF
         KICAD_SCRIPTING=ON
         KICAD_SCRIPTING_MODULES=ON
         KICAD_SCRIPTING_WXPYTHON=ON
         USE_FP_LIB_TABLE=HARD_CODED_ON
         BUILD_GITHUB_PLUGIN=ON
         KICAD_USE_WEBKIT=OFF

[jean-pierre charras (jp-charras)]

I do not have these issues on Ubuntu 14.04 LTS on KDE (Kubuntu).
File->Print->Preview is managed by Kicad.
File->Print->Print->Print Preview is not. It is managed by the system printing.

on Kubuntu 14.04 LTS the print function works but not very well (very long time to create the file, and some missing items in some cases).

Unfortunately it is unlikely we can fix this issue, because it is not managed by Kicad.

Workaround: use plot menu, which is fully managed by Kicad and works.

[Brian J Hoskins (subscriptions-w)]

Thanks Jean-Pierre.

I agree about the plot option as a workaround. It isn't a great workaround though because when I try "plot to file" it outputs separate files for each of the layers. Still, the workaround is definitely better than nothing.

Do you have any further detail about your suggestion that the problem is related to system printing that might help me to investigate further? It seems strange that the system accepts and prints some of the drawing layers, but not others, with this having nothing to do with Kicad? Also I have not yet experienced problems printing from other applications...

[jean-pierre charras (jp-charras)]

Le 16/03/2015 20:28, Brian J Hoskins a écrit :
> Thanks Jean-Pierre.
>
> I agree about the plot option as a workaround. It isn't a great
> workaround though because when I try "plot to file" it outputs separate
> files for each of the layers. Still, the workaround is definitely
> better than nothing.
>
> Do you have any further detail about your suggestion that the problem is
> related to system printing that might help me to investigate further? It
> seems strange that the system accepts and prints some of the drawing
> layers, but not others, with this having nothing to do with Kicad? Also
> I have not yet experienced problems printing from other applications...
>

Kicad uses the wxWidgets printing system API, and knows nothing about
printers.

Well, to tell the true, I *never* saw wxWidgets printing system working
well on Linux.

Until wxWidgets 3.0, it just did not work.
Since wxWidgets 3.0, it works, but not very well.

I think the issue has nothing to do with board layers themselve, but
something break the printing process.
Perhaps a workaround can be found.

Eeschema seems have less issues, but the printed objects are less complex.

--
Jean-Pierre CHARRAS

[Brian J Hoskins (subscriptions-w)]

You mention that you are unable to repeat the problem on a system which runs KDE. Is the fact that you use the KDE environment relevant? Do you know how?

I can confirm this problem also occurrs on my laptop which runs lubuntu 14.10.1 (desktop is LXDE). Again, I haven't yet experienced problems printing from other applications on lubuntu.

I am surprised if there is some known problem with printing under wxWidgets that affects print jobs with Linux as significantly as this. I had a very quick google but couldn't immediately (I'll keep looking) find any information about such problems.

Even if it really is the fault of wxWidgets, would you agree that this still qualifies as a valid bug (problem would be a better word) for Kicad given that it relies upon wxWidgets?

For now I think the best workaround for me is to run Kicad in a Windows virtual machine any time I need to print. Assuming of course that the problem will not occur in the Windows version. I'll have to check...

Thanks once again.

[Jeff Young (jeyjey)]

Is this still an issue?

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for KiCad because there has been no activity for 60 days.]