Metadata-Version: 2.1
Name: inventree-kicad-plugin
Version: 1.3.12
Summary: KiCad HTTP library plugin for InvenTree
Home-page: https://github.com/afkiwers/inventree_kicad
Author: Andre Iwers
Author-email: iwers11@gmail.com
License: MIT
Keywords: inventree kicad pcb schematic inventory
Requires-Python: >=3.9
Description-Content-Type: text/markdown
License-File: LICENSE

# InvenTree KiCad - HTTP Library Plugin

A KiCad Conform API endpoint plugin, designed for integration with [InvenTree](https://inventree.org), empowers users to seamlessly incorporate InvenTree parts into KiCad's parts library tool. Please note that this plugin exclusively offers metadata and necessitates the presence of corresponding symbol and footprint libraries within the KiCad EDA environment.

As of the current stage of development, KiCad exclusively offers read-only access to parts through the HTTP lib interface.

However, this plugin provides a metadata import tool to import changes made within KiCad. This enables users to add footprints, symbols and datasheets to individual parts during the schematic design process if not already available and re-import that information into InvenTree to have it available for the next time.

## Installing the Plugin

There are several methods available for installing this plugin. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the installation process, please refer to the [InvenTree - Installing a Plugin Guide](https://docs.inventree.org/en/latest/extend/plugins/install/#installation-methods). Depending on your preferred approach, the following instructions will provide you with the necessary information.

Prior to plugin installation, ensure that you've activated both **URL Integration** and **App Integration**. You can accomplish this by going to Settings → Plugin Settings → Plugins. Additionally, if you're operating within a Docker environment, be sure to enable **Check plugins on startup** as well.

![image](/images/plugin_general_settings.png)

### Through GitHub

Navigate to the **Plugin Settings** and click on the Install Plugin button. This will trigger a new window to appear, prompting you to enter the following information:

- Package Name: inventree-kicad-plugin
- Source URL: git+<https://github.com/afkiwers/inventree-kicad-plugin>

![image](/images/install_plugin_via_github_url.png)

### Through PiP

The plugin can be found here: [inventree-kicad-plugin](https://pypi.org/project/inventree-kicad-plugin/).

- Package Name: inventree-kicad-plugin

![image](/images/pip_install.png)

**IMPORTANT**: Remember to restart your server and run the migrate command to implement the model changes required for this plugin. Failure to do so may result in the plugin encountering issues and not functioning correctly.

## Configure Plugin Settings

After installing the plugin, head over to the Plugin Settings and activate it. Look for **KiCadLibraryPlugin** in the list of available plugins. Once activated, you'll be able to open the plugin and proceed with the setup process.

![image](/images/admin_add_change_categories.png)

## Adding Categories to KiCad

Navigate to the admin backend, and scroll down until you find the **INVENTREE_KICAD** section. Within this section, click on **KiCad Categories**.
If the section is not visible, ensure you've enabled the "Enable URL integration" and "Enable app integration" options in the Plugin Settings and run a database migration.

![image](/images/admin_model.png)

Once opened the "KiCad Categories" model, you'll have the option to add new categories which, once added, will be visible in KiCad's Symbol Chooser dialog.

![image](/images/admin_add_change_categories.png)

#### Default Settings for Categories

The plugin allows you to set default values when the child part lacks specific details regarding the KiCad symbol, footprint, or reference. This feature is particularly useful when dealing with components such as resistors or capacitors, as they often share the same symbols, reducing the need for repetitive data entry.

![image](/images/admin_add_category.png)

#### Using Footprint Parameter Mappings

If you already have Footprint/Package Type parameters on your parts and
don't want to specify a separate KiCad Footprint Parameter for them, you
can use the Footprint Parameter Mapping functionality to map from it to
KiCad Footprint names. Simply add the desired mappings to the KiCad
Category:

![image](/images/admin_footprint_mappings.png)

You can also use this in combination with the per category "Footprint
Parameter Template" override to use a different Parameter to map from.

![image](/images/admin_footprint_parameter_override.png)

## Creating User Access Tokens

Head back to the admin backend and click on Tokens. Click on "ADD Token" to generate a token dedicated to a particular user. It is important to emphasize that it is highly advisable to create individual tokens for each user, rather than employing a single token for everyone.

![image](/images/admin_tokens.png)

## KiCad Configuration files

Below is an example config which should help you get started reasonably quickly. The only thing needed here is to replace **<http://127.0.0.1:8000>** with your server's InvenTree URL, and replace usertokendatastring with a valid token. Save it as a file with `.kicad_httplib` extension, as specified in the [preliminary KiCad docs](https://docs.kicad.org/master/en/eeschema/eeschema_advanced.html#http-libraries). To use it, add it as a symbol library inside KiCad.

**Please Note**: The config file does not contain any part or category information. It merely tells KiCad what API to expect, what token to use and where to find it.

```json
{
    "meta": {
        "version": 1.0
    },
    "name": "KiCad HTTP Library",
    "description": "A KiCad library sourced from a REST API",
    "source": {
        "type": "REST_API",
        "api_version": "v1",
        "root_url": "http://127.0.0.1:8000/plugin/kicad-library-plugin",
        "token": "usertokendatastring"
    }
}
```

## Add the HTTP library to KiCad

Inside KiCad's project manager, navigate to `Preferences -> Manage Symbol Libraries` and click on it. Add a GLobal Library by pressing the folder in the bottom left corner.
![image](/images/add_symbol_lib.png)

When choosing the `.kicad_httplib` file, KiCad will automatically detect that it is a HTTP lib file and only a Nickname needs to be set.

It's recommended to put a **#** as prefix to make sure it is at the top of the list. Otherwise one might end up scrolling a lot.

## Use in KiCad

Once everything has been configured properly, KiCad should be able to display all the categories and parts using the Symbol Picker.

Inside the schematic, one can either use the shortcut and press **A** or navigate to the ribbon at the top and press `Place -> Add Symbol`.

![image](/images/eeschema_open_chooser.png)

The Symbol Chooser should open up and display the parts sourced from InvenTree.

![image](/images/symbol_chooser.png)

## Importing Metadata from Previous Projects

Since KiCad does not offer a way to push information back to the server, InvenTree needs to have all that metadata such as footprints and symbols added manually. This can be very tedious, especially when there are thousands of parts.

This plugin's import tool uses KiCad's intermediate file which is created whenever there is a BOM export. This file contains all the project's data which is needed.

![image](/images/kicad_meta_data_import.png)
