Add Items listbox to Export to SVG for references, values, worksheet, etc.

[Piotr Gałka]

I think Export (SVG and others) should (now they don't - I've checked for SVG with 2 days old version) use Values & References visibility flags as there are no such flags in Export dialog box.

I know that "no new functions added now" but as Export uses right panel colors using these flags (for things which can't be decided in Export dialog box) seems for me being just the same function and I suppose it needs hopefully adding only two if() for each of export formats and in places where probability of makeing this way new bugs is very low.

Why I think it is usefull. I found the only way to get directly form KiCad 2 pictures with black elements on gray copper - one with references and one with values by designing my footprints with the same picture at F.Silks and F.CrtYd and Reference at one of them and Value at second. If for Export (SVG) I could switch on/off Reference/Value I'd need to use only one layer for it.

[Jeff Young (jeyjey)]

You can Plot to SVG and switch Reference/Value on and off. Does that not work for your use-case?

(In general Export should export everything that can be expressed in the export format. It's more of a Save As... than a Render To...)

[Piotr Gałka (piotrgalka)]

@Jeff
> Does that not work for your use-case?
No.
Since 20 years we make our printed doccumentation (laser bw printer) in form of black rectangles (elements) on light grey copper (2 pictures one with values and one with references). This pictures are not 1:1 but as big as fit at A4. It is helpfull if devices are handsoldered (from time to time it happens).
Makeing this (under Protel) was time consuming. Now I am planning to move to KiCad and my first check was if I can do it simpler. Plot can only plot one layer. Then I would need to use other programm to get my pictures. I have checked it going through GerbV (I couldn't get it from KiCad Gerber Viever but don't remember where was the problem) and it works but it is extra step and I got 1M svg while direct from KiCad I got 120k). I think Plot (as mainly gerber generator) don't uses colours. I suppose in Inkscape I would have to import each layer svg at another position to be able to select it and change colour then I will have to precisily move one on another. May be it is simple for someone familiar with InkScape, but I'm not. For example I didn't found the way how to select ellipse colour befor drawing it so I suppose I would don't know how to select color before importing svg (to have it at once at right position).
I found how I cen get my pictures directly from KiCad. In 4.0.7 there are problems with through hole pads colour. I have checked it in V5 and found another problem with value colour (bug 1774171 - fixed). Since always we use footprints defined ourself, so it is not a problem for me to have them as I need. As I use silks for doccumentation then when we will need some paint at pcb I suppose to use to it one Eco layer. If I could use only one layer for my doccumentation I will have silks for that.

> In general Export should export everything
But in KiCad export you select layers to export.

[Piotr Gałka (piotrgalka)]

I hoped that 5.1 would use in Export to SVG visibilty flags for Names and References (from right panel, as it uses colours form that panel) or would have such flags added in Export dialog box.
I have installed the last nightly (1.1.2019) and not :(

[KiCad Janitor (kicad-janitor)]

KiCad bug tracker has moved to Gitlab. This report is now available here: https://gitlab.com/kicad/code/kicad/-/issues/2152