KiCad 7.0.0 features custom font support in the schematic, PCB, and worksheet editors, as well as text box support was added in both the schematic and PCB editors. Also includes support for 3Dconnexion's SpaceMouse in the schematic, symbol library, PCB, and footprint editors and 3D viewer, and an option for Sentry crash reporting data collection for Windows users.

Plugin and Content Manager can now automatically check if an updated version of an installed package is available and prompt the user to update, and drag and drop handles have been added to several editors and viewers. Can now be packaged correctly as native Apple silicon processors (M1, M2, etc), meaning it no longer has to run in emulation mode under the latest Apple hardware, and a separate command line interface has been implemented to allow scripting of many of the editor outputs.

Also includes support for a simple rectangle and circle primitives in the schematic and symbol editors, as well as orthogonal dragging in the Schematic Editor. New Symbol Editor Pin Table features include the ability to filter pins to a unit, change unit of a pin from the table, create or remove pins in a group symbol by adding/removing the pin number, and see the number of grouped pins. A new ERC check warns when symbols are placed using an a incompatible grid, and a wire mode for 45 degree start and end has been added to help in drawing crisp schematics. Support has also been added for explicitly marking symbols in a schematic as Do Not Populate, and a new simulation model editor allows configuration of simulation model parameters in a GUI rather than spice text inserted on schematic. Can also now add connectivity to external databases via ODBC functionality across KiCad’s three main platforms, and can now display and search custom fields in the symbol chooser. Hyperlinks are now supported inside schematics, and PDF improvements include the ability to add bookmarks with useful information, the export of symbol information in schematics, and embedded schematic hyperlinks.

Board and Footprint Editors now include an optional check to determine if board design has footprints that have deviated from the library they are linked to, as well as a separate tab for ignored DRC tests. Two new DRC rule constraints have been added to custom rules, and custom rule severities can now be defined per custom rule. PCB Layout Tool enhancements include the addition of background bitmaps so that PCB traces and footprint layouts can be copied easily from some original reference PCB or footprint being reverse engineered, and it is now possible completely unroute a footprint. Traces can now be partially drawn and the board editor can complete the trace the rest of the way to the nearest ratsnest end, and selected items can in the board editor can attempt to automatically route traces between them. A new search panel and properties panel have been added, and the algorithm that placed footprints on the PCB was improved to result in a more compact layout. The STEP exporter also now uses the same PCB parsing engine as the rest of KiCad, which brings the addition relative 3d model paths to the footprint.

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