Library Conventions | KiCad EDA

Version 3.0.57

Library maintainer rules & guidelines

S7.2 Graphical symbols

Graphical symbols represent "drawing" rather than physical components. They may or may not correspond to an object on the PCB.

For all graphical symbols:

  1. Symbol name must be set to invisible

  2. Graphical symbols must not contain any pins

  3. The option exclude from BOM must be checked

For symbols that may appear on a PCB (e.g. an OSHW logo), the default is to set them up such that a footprint can easily be assigned:

  1. Reference Designator must be set to SYM and must be visible

  2. Most graphical symbols match multiple footprints (e.g. different sizes, layers or styles).

    1. Set footprint filters appropriately

    2. Only add a default footprint if there is unambiguously only one possible suitable footprint.

  3. The option exclude from board must not be set

For symbols that will never appear on the PCB:

  1. Reference Designator must be set to #SYM and must be invisible

  2. The option exclude from board must be checked

Example of a symbol which may have a footprint:

S7.2_with_fp

Example of a symbol which will never have a footprint:

S7.2_without_fp

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