Newbie - user error - or confusing text - not sure, results are not what the book says...

[anglerfish27]

I've never used KiCad before so this may completely user error. I at the beginning on page 10-11. This is the Assign Footprints section.

I have added all the 1x20_P2.5mm_vertical to all the components as the book says to do. I added the 4 pin version for the 4 breakouts pads. I added the LED,resistor and switch reset to match what the book says and my screen looks 100% the same as on page 10 figure 1-10 for the assign footprints section.

No matter what I do when I do the "View the selected footprint in the footprint viewer" tool icon it opens a new window of the PCB footprint layout design. I don't see anything but a blank blue window....

The ONLY time I see anything is if I select the "3D Viewer" Icon within the new window that is opened that is supposed to be showing me the footprint viewer.

I have tried saving before viewing. I have tried selecting all the components in the middle, just one, removed the association and selected the components I would be adding but not adding them yet and trying to view. The result is the same blue page above. I am on the latest version of KiCad (8) on MacOS, same as the book uses. I'm guessing no one else is having this problem because #1 they know KiCad already somewhat and this book they were just able to run through it, or #2 other newbies like myself haven't complained or the book just hasn't sold that much, OR the likely solution --USER ERROR AKA ME.

Please help me understand how to view the footprint association from page 10. I'm fully aware and open that the issue is ME and not the book or program. But if the very unlikely chance the book IS the problem, or its wording, well then that would be something we would want to clarify for completely experienced people such as myself.

Hoping for a solution. 10 pages in and I've already screwed up to the point I can't continue to learn KiCad correctly. Awesome. Please help me point out my stupidity. What am I doing wrong?? I've clicked everywhere I can think of...

Thank you kindly,
Anglerfish27

[bjepson]

Hi @anglerfish27,

Sorry to hear that you're having trouble. I suspect that something has happened to the zoom and the viewport of the footprint viewer. It could be that it's inadvertently scrolled to some part of the footprint canvas that doesn't contain the footprint (in other words, it's there, just out of view). You might try zooming out and/or panning.

I've attached a video that shows going from adding the component to a new schematic and assigning the footprint, then viewing the footprint in the viewer. Can you try these steps and see what happens? If you still don't see the footprint, it could be a bug in KiCad that I haven't encountered before.

Best,

Brian

output.mp4