Remove layer name max char length

[Timothée Manaud]

In Pcbnew, Layer Setup, one can change the copper layer name. (BTW why no other layers?)
But the layer name is limited to 20 char, is there a good reason? As I would like explicit naming in my project.

Version:
Application: kicad
Version: no-vcs-found-bf44d39~61~ubuntu16.04.1, release build
Libraries:
    wxWidgets 3.0.2
    libcurl/7.47.0 OpenSSL/1.0.2g zlib/1.2.8 libidn/1.32 librtmp/2.3
Platform: Linux 4.13.0-26-generic x86_64, 64 bit, Little endian, wxGTK
Build Info:
    wxWidgets: 3.0.2 (wchar_t,wx containers,compatible with 2.8) GTK+ 2.24
    Boost: 1.58.0
    Curl: 7.47.0
    Compiler: GCC 5.4.0 with C++ ABI 1009
Build settings:
    USE_WX_GRAPHICS_CONTEXT=OFF
    USE_WX_OVERLAY=OFF
    KICAD_SCRIPTING=ON
    KICAD_SCRIPTING_MODULES=ON
    KICAD_SCRIPTING_WXPYTHON=ON

[jean-pierre charras (jp-charras)]

Copper layer names are intended to be renamed by net names, when they are planes.
(20 chars for a net name is really is really a long net name)
A to long name creates issues to be shown in the layer manager.
Renaming other layers has no sense, because they are dedicated layers.

but what is really the meaning of:
"I would like explicit naming in my project"

[Timothée Manaud (timothee)]

I would like long naming, especialy non copper layer: they are not dedicated as User1, User2, Cmts, Dwgs. To me it looks like I can do what I want with theses 4 layers, so renaming them to:
"plastic_case_without_ribs"
"brass_insert_injection_molding"
"test_fixture_top_push_pin"
"test_fixture_bottom_test_nail"

Makes sense, as when exporting, the layer name is in the filename.

[Wayne Stambaugh (stambaughw)]

AFAIK there is no limit in the board file format for the length layer names. If users want to use very long layer names then they can live with the consequences of making a mess of how their board is displayed. I don't think we should arbitrarily limit this unless there is some technical reason.

[Timothée Manaud (timothee)]

Hi Wayne, you are right there is no limit to to layer length, but there is a limit on the "Layers Setup" dialog.
In the file:
pcbnew/dialogs/dialog_layers_setup_base.fbp
This property prevent from inputing anything longer that 20 char:
<property name="maxlength">20</property>

[KiCad Janitor (kicad-janitor)]

Fixed in revision b49ca04355924fad99db0f40c755e48b43f93f51
https://git.launchpad.net/kicad/patch/?id=b49ca04355924fad99db0f40c755e48b43f93f51