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Symbols had been my bugaboo ever since I started trying to teach myself KiCad. I'm now at v9.0.0 as I update my Linux systems with regularity.

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I? seem to remember a method in which one could copy existing symbols into a new one for modifications. But I'm apparently not able to do that. Plus my existing project symbols appear to be gone.

There is a method to do what you want:

1. Open the symbol editor
2. Highlight an existing symbol
3. Right-click on the name in the symbol list
4. Save Copy As...
5. Choose location
6. Edit copied symbol
7. Save

You can only save into your own libraries, as the system libraries are read-only (at least in Linux).

If your own libraries have disappeared in a KiCad update, you will need to re-add them:

In the symbol Editor:

1. Preferences > Manage Symbol Libraries
2. Global Libraries > Add Existing Library to Table (click folder icon below table)
3. The new library will be added at the bottom, but you can move it up to the top of the list, or alphabetical order, or however you choose.

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Regards,
Tony

I've not often seen symbols including the toggle...

Remove the toggle graphic, and put the words dim / bright (or high/low)
against the contact in the yellow box

You may find that the actual contacts are identified on the back of the
plastic as well, which you could include.


Andy



On Mon, 14 Apr 2025 10:48:31 -0700
"Dave Farrington via groups.io" <Daves.djet@...> wrote:

Without a doubt I am becoming somewhat more skilled at symbols, but of course all learning is relative.
The part I'm trying to document is this device from a 1973 Volvo 1800ES:

Just a toggle switch except for the two resistors mounded inside.

I had a fright when I recheck a bit of documentation that was inconsistent. The person showed the internal resistor bands and incorrectly said in one place the 39 ohm resistor was 30 ohms. Not what the bands told me. But I couldn't revise the 39 I had already drawn in the symbol. There should be a way.
Second, I was able to show the toggle in the opposite position and switch the internal contacts, which helps the story I'm trying to tell.
So how do I revise the "Shown as Dim" and "Shown as Bright" that I now realize should *NOT* be part of my symbol.

Short of redrawing my Symbols, do I have a solution?

Thanks,
Dave F.

If you just want to edit the symbol so it has the correct resistor
values, that is easily done in the symbol editor, but once you have done
that you will have to update all instances of it in the schematic
(right-click on one instance of it, and select "Update Symbol").

If you would like to be able to change the resistor values from the
schematic, that can be done by adding fields to the symbol (eg
BRIGHT_VALUE and DIM_VALUE, or VALUE1 and VALUE2 if you want to make it
so the "bright" toggle position isn't defined by the field names), and
making them visible in the symbol. You can edit the field values in
the schematic for every instance of the switch in the schematic.

Regards,

Robert.

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