Add different numbering option to "create array" function to create repetitive layouts

[suckiden]

hi,

the create array function in the PCB editor should offer a setting for numbering with offset. This would allow to easy generate repetitive designs. In this case I want to describe it by looking at a board that has several stepper motor drivers on it. Instead of designing every driver by hand it could be done nearly automatically as followed:

work flow description.

1. create numerous hierarchy schematics sheets for the repetitive circuit parts (in our case the stepper driver)
2. use the annotation option "Start to sheet number*100" so that the same components of every sheet hast the same end number (e.g. the driver IC of the first sheet has the number IC201, the driver IC of the second driver has the number IC301 and so forth)
3. design the layout for the first driver
4. select the components, tracks and copper areas of the first driver and use the create array function to make an array
5. done!

currently it is possible to create the array but the numbering is wrong because the numbering setting doesn't include a "offset" setting to be able to achieve the same numbering as in the schematic editor. otherwise it would be very easy to make repetitive designs. And I also think that this setting could be implemented very easily

Best Regards
Suckiden

P.S. I'm not sure how to label it as 'wishlist'

[Nick Østergaard (nickoe)]

FYI https://lists.launchpad.net/kicad-developers/msg19326.html

[suckiden (stefan-jindra)]

hi, thank you for the reply and the quick patch though I'm not sure how to get this patch working. Is there a good instruction how to patch a kicad version under windows? Or will this patch be available in the official build as well?

[Nick Østergaard (nickoe)]

@suckiden, have you tried building kicad on windows? If so, you simply need to apply the patches and rebuild.

[suckiden (stefan-jindra)]

actually not. I'll try this using the winbuilder of kicad. But I'm not sure how to include the patch.
The link you've posted shows the content of the needed C++ files but it's just plain text an I guess I don't need to manually copy and paste them into .cpp files. So is there another way of getting the necessary files and where do I need to put them before building again?

thanks!

[Jeff Young (jeyjey)]

The Create Array dialog is already pretty complex, and it seems that it doesn't do exactly what anyone wants. What about moving the feature to Python?

[NhatKhai (nhatkhai)]

There is https://github.com/MitjaNemec/Kicad_action_plugins to help replicate the layout. I also develop a python script to do same for my 10 channels design (>100 ICs / channels). But I have not public it. I'm thinking of public it, not now sure people need it anymore.

[KiCad Janitor (kicad-janitor)]

KiCad bug tracker has moved to Gitlab. This report is now available here: https://gitlab.com/kicad/code/kicad/-/issues/1985