update_pcb_from_schematic (apply) leaves REF** on some footprints

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Closed PR #63 merged general

noah · 8d ago ·closed by Colby Knox

kicad_update_pcb_from_schematic (apply) leaves REF** on footprints whose library reference text is the placeholder

Bridge: KiCad Bridge 1.0.98, KiCad 10.0.4 on Windows. kicad_update_pcb_from_schematic {"filePath": <empty board>, "schematicPath": <sheet>, "apply": true} with KiCad closed.

What happened: all 90 footprints were added with pad nets and (path "/<symbol uuid>") set, but 9 of them kept (property "Reference" "REF**" ...): the parts whose PCM-library footprint is named after the MPN (CR0402-FX-1002GLF, CR0402-FX-1003GLF, CR0402-FX-2200GLF, IN-S63BTR; library PCM_am32-esc-2s6s-molecule). The other 81 got their schematic reference. KiCad's own netlist check then reads them as missing (missing on the board: D1, R15, R16, ...).

Expected: every added footprint's Reference set from its symbol, whatever text the library footprint carries.

Workaround used: set each Reference from the schematic symbol whose uuid matches the footprint's path (no other change); the pin-by-pin netlist comparison then matched 214/214.

1 Reply

Colby Knox marked this in progress · 8d ago

Colby Knox linked pull request #63, which closes this when it merges · 8d ago

Colby Knox closed this in pull request #63 · 8d ago

Colby Knox · 8d ago

Thanks for the report: this is fixed in KiCad Bridge 1.0.100, on the insiders channel now.

The cause: the update only recognised one exact spelling of a footprint's reference field. Library footprints that wrote it with different spacing or line breaks, or in the older fp_text form, kept REF**.

What changed: every added footprint now gets its schematic reference, however its library wrote the field, and the value is set the same way. If a part still doesn't read back with its reference, the update stops and names the footprint, rather than writing it to the board.

How it was tested: nine spellings of the field, plus a real update on Windows with KiCad 10.0.8 using a footprint with its reference split across lines. I didn't have your PCM_am32-esc-2s6s-molecule files, so those exact footprints haven't been tried. If one still misbehaves, please reopen this and attach its .kicad_mod.

Your board: running the update again doesn't repair a board that already has REF** parts, so your manual fix still stands. For a new board, run it on the empty board again, and all the references should be set.

To get it now: bridge_install {"name":"kicad","manifestUrl":"https://wiki.adom.inc/api/v1/pages/insiders/files/kicad-bridge/version.json","force":true}, or wait for the automatic update.