> The open issue of changing the non-copper names is best settled if we had a > complete list of proposed names to change to, and to make the determination if this is worth the disruption.
Aw oh. I slept on it and woke up thinking about this as my first conscious waking thoughts this morning. (Don't say it, I know I need to get a life, I've been working on that, for a loooong time.) As I attempt to show, I think there are some improvements in conciseness possible (conciseness = ratio of clarity to size), even in the copper layer naming. I like the wildcard notion and wanted to be able to use it in a few other places. I also noticed that "Inner3" does not explicitly say it is a copper layer. Of course the value of the combos is the reduction in Pcbnew data file size, and increased speed of parsing. (Would put the [combo] mask into the hashtable instead of the layer index.) Attached is my proposal and recommendation. I would say that the combos can be used even in *.kicad_pcb files where they can. Custom layer names pertain to cu layers, and to tracks more than pads. Here are the heuristics: a) if a combo can be recognized in a layerMask when Format()ing, then it should be used, in either BOARDs or MODULEs. b) otherwise, if saving a BOARD, then use the translated layer names. c) otherwise, if saving a MODULE, then use the untranslated english layer names.
Proposed default English layer name changes The impetus of these changes is twofold: 1) lay the foundation of the combo abbreviations 2) bring clarity and conciseness Old New Alternate ===== ===== ========= Front F.Cu Inner1 Inner1.Cu 1.Cu Inner2 Inner2.Cu 2.Cu Inner3 Innere.Cu 3.Cu Inner4 Inner4.Cu : Inner5 Inner5.Cu Inner6 Inner6.Cu Inner7 Inner7.Cu Inner8 Inner8.Cu Inner9 Inner9.Cu Inner10 Inner10.Cu Inner11 Inner11.Cu Inner12 Inner12.Cu Inner13 Inner13.Cu Inner14 Inner14.Cu Back B.Cu Adhes_Back B.Adhes Adhes_Front F.Adhes SoldP_Back B.SoldP SoldP_Front F.SoldP SilkS_Back B.SilkS SilkS_Front F.SilkS Mask_Back B.Mask Mask_Front F.Mask Drawings Drwgs Comments Cmts Eco1 1.Eco Eco2 2.Eco PCB_Edges Edges Laying the above building blocks, then paves the way for the following combos. Special reserved names which indicate combos: New Meaning ==== ======== *.Cu all cu layers, used frequently in thru hole pads F&B.Cu front and back cu, sometimes needed in double sided SMD pads *.Adhes front and back adhesive, used on double sided SMD pads *.Mask front and back solder mask, used most on all pads *.SoldP front and back solder paste, used on most all pads Of course the value of the combos is the reduction in Pcbnew data file size, and increased speed of parsing.
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