Actions
Forum Thread Details
  • Replies 15 replies
  • Subscribers 124 subscribers
  • Views 2831 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Related

KiCAD 8: alternative pin functions

Jan Cumps

I tried KiCAD's (not so) new alternative pin functions option in  the library editor.

I'm designing a project with a Renesas controller. There wasn't a symbol yet, so I started to create one. The majority of the mcu's pins have more than 5 functions. I figured this would be a good candidate to test the new option.

image

Here's the definition in the editor:

image

And a schematic with 3 symbols placed, with a few pins showing different functions.

image

I've attached the symbols: MCU_RENESAS_R_20240323_3.zip

It's a bit of work to get this set up, but it works well. Thoughts?

Parents
  • Jan Cumps said:
    I tried KiCAD's new alternative pin functions option in  the library editor.

    So, I don't want to be *that guy*... buuuuuut, Alternative Pin functions are not new to KiCad 8.

    They've been available as far back as early as KiCad 5, maybe even before.

    However, what is new in version 8 is how you assign them. The "Alternative Pin Function" table in the Schematic Editor now better shows which pins have alternative functions. And you can now change the pin assignment on the symbol in the schematic editor. (If clicking on a pin selects the entire symbol, there is an option in preferences named something like "Clicking on pin selects symbol," which needs to be unchecked.)

    By the way, there's an open feature request to graphically indicate on the symbol which pins have alt functions available. The issue could probably use some feedback on what such a feedback symbol would look like.

Reply
  • Jan Cumps said:
    I tried KiCAD's new alternative pin functions option in  the library editor.

    So, I don't want to be *that guy*... buuuuuut, Alternative Pin functions are not new to KiCad 8.

    They've been available as far back as early as KiCad 5, maybe even before.

    However, what is new in version 8 is how you assign them. The "Alternative Pin Function" table in the Schematic Editor now better shows which pins have alternative functions. And you can now change the pin assignment on the symbol in the schematic editor. (If clicking on a pin selects the entire symbol, there is an option in preferences named something like "Clicking on pin selects symbol," which needs to be unchecked.)

    By the way, there's an open feature request to graphically indicate on the symbol which pins have alt functions available. The issue could probably use some feedback on what such a feedback symbol would look like.

Children