Hello,
When I create a DXF output of a KiCAD layer (like if I was doing a Gerber plot, but choosing DXF format instead), the generated DXF file contains a myriad of useless layers, named BLUE1, BLUE2, BLUE3, ..., CYAN1, CYAN2, CYAN3, ..., GRAY1, GRAY2, GRAY3, ..., etc.
- Is there any use for these layers? I think there is no use.
- I need to remove them in an external tool like LibreCAD every time, it takes time and is annoying.
My request: Please, only provide one DXF layer. Do not populate the DXF file with useless empty layers that need to be deleted later in an external tool.
Olivier
Application: kicad
Version: (5.1.2)-1, release build
Libraries:
wxWidgets 3.0.4
libcurl/7.61.1 OpenSSL/1.1.1 (WinSSL) zlib/1.2.11 brotli/1.0.6 libidn2/2.0.5 libpsl/0.20.2 (+libidn2/2.0.5) nghttp2/1.34.0
Platform: Windows 7 (build 7601, Service Pack 1), 64-bit edition, 64 bit, Little endian, wxMSW
Build Info:
wxWidgets: 3.0.4 (wchar_t,wx containers,compatible with 2.8)
Boost: 1.68.0
OpenCASCADE Community Edition: 6.9.1
Curl: 7.61.1
Compiler: GCC 8.2.0 with C++ ABI 1013
Build settings:
USE_WX_GRAPHICS_CONTEXT=OFF
USE_WX_OVERLAY=OFF
KICAD_SCRIPTING=ON
KICAD_SCRIPTING_MODULES=ON
KICAD_SCRIPTING_PYTHON3=OFF
KICAD_SCRIPTING_WXPYTHON=ON
KICAD_SCRIPTING_WXPYTHON_PHOENIX=OFF
KICAD_SCRIPTING_ACTION_MENU=ON
BUILD_GITHUB_PLUGIN=ON
KICAD_USE_OCE=ON
KICAD_USE_OCC=OFF
KICAD_SPICE=ON
These additional layers are how a DXF file communicates the color of an object inside of it (each layer can only be 1 color, so to give an object color you put it on a layer). This only has an effect when plotting the schematic to DXF, since the board layers are always plotted as black.
What could be done is to only plot the other layer information in the table when plotting in color (e.g. only create a black layer when doing monochrome plotting such as from pcbnew).