-
-Since version 1.0.10, pcb-rnd implements a new footprint mechanism (see
-[fp_fs] and [library_t]).
-The new code allows footprint backend plugins to get library from anywhere.
-The [fp_wget] plugin is an implementation that:
-
-
downloads a library list from the web on startup into a local cache
-
downloads footprints from the web on-demand into a local cache
-
-
-This is all transparent, the user experience is that the remote library is
-like a read-only local library reachable from the library window. Since
-version 1.2.2, automatic index update is controlled by a configuration setting
-and a selective, per website mecahnism for manual triggered update.
-
-A web site used as a library should be able to:
-
-
generate a plain text list of all footprints available
-
return the raw footprint file by name
-
-
-The plugin uses external program wget to communicate on the web.
-
-
-
How to configure for eakrill
-Add wget@edakrill in the library search path (e.g. in preferences as library-newlib).
-
-
How to configure for gedasymbols.org
-Add wget@gedasymbols in the library search path (e.g. in preferences as library-newlib).
-
-
-
Refresh
-When configured run-time, the user needs to trigger a refresh explicitly, using
-the library reload action (or the refresh button in the library window on the
-gtk HID).
-
-
-
-The original code has a special setup for representing trees, C structures
-called LibraryMenu and LibraryEntry. This system can represent only a subset
-of trees: there is a root, a level consist of directories only and a next level,
-each directory consist of data nodes only. This has been enough for newlib,
-which strictly follows this model in the file system hierarchy. The lesstif
-HID also hardwired this model in the GUI.
-
-In pcb-rnd this has been replaced with a new struct type called library_t
-that can represent an arbitrary tree: directories and files within directories
-down to many levels.
-
-Both the gtk and the lesstif had has been modified accordingly and can
-properly display the tree. This in turn enables alternative footprint backend
-implementations such as fp_wget to import
-more complex libraries, e.g. the one on gedasymbols.org.
-
-
pcb-rnd - the [pcblib] and [pcblib-param] and [fp_fs] patches
-
-
-The footprint library shipped with mainline pcb is cluttered with
-special purpose parts. I believe PCB encourages the user from
-an early stage to build his own library. Thus the purpose of
-the library shipped with PCB should be
-to provide a minimal collection of real essential footprints ...
-
-
... for the very beginning of the learning curve;
-
... and to be the core of the user's own library later.
-
-
-[pcblib] is a replacement of newlib/ and lib/ and the m4 macros with
-such an essential core library of static footprints ("file elements")
-and easier-to-use parametric footprints.
-
-Parts are sorted only in a few directories: smd, thru-hole, connector and
-parametric. I believe there are so many orthogonal properties of footprints
-that there's no obvious hierarchy. Also, pcblib contains much fewer footprints
-than newlib so it should be still easy to navigate.
-
-Parametric footprints are in a separate directory for now, even tho they
-would fit under smd, thru-hole or connector. The reason is purely historical
-and the layout may change in the future.
-
-
Example
-To the right: Footprint selection dialog on pcblib, with the smd directory
-open. Note how few smd parts are there. Still, smd/ is the most crowded
-subdirectory!
-
-
[fp_fs]
-As of version 1.0.10, the footprint list/search/load of footprints is a plugin.
-The original code that handles local file system footprint libraries (e.g.
-pcblib or newlib) is now a plugin. Alternative plugins can be provided that work
-from databases or from the web. In extreme
-situations the file system based footprint plugin can even be disabled.
-
-
save/load and compatibility
-Not affected: elements are embedded in the PCB.
-
-
plans
-None, the feature is complete.
-
-
-
-
-
-
Index: trunk/doc/features/pcb-fp.png
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Index: trunk/doc/features/index.html
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--- trunk/doc/features/index.html (revision 13637)
+++ trunk/doc/features/index.html (revision 13638)
@@ -33,11 +33,6 @@
![[pcb-rnd logo]](../resources/logo32.png){kind=logo}
-![[screenshot of footprint select menu, with preview]](pcb-fp.png)
-![[screenshot of footprint select menu, with preview]](pcblib.png)
-