Application: Eeschema
Version: (5.1.4-0), release build
Libraries:
wxWidgets 3.0.4
libcurl/7.54.0 LibreSSL/2.0.20 zlib/1.2.11 nghttp2/1.24.0
Platform: Mac OS X (Darwin 17.7.0 x86_64), 64 bit, Little endian, wxMac
Build Info:
wxWidgets: 3.0.4 (wchar_t,STL containers,compatible with 2.8)
Boost: 1.69.0
OpenCASCADE Community Edition: 6.9.1
Curl: 7.54.0
Compiler: Clang 9.0.0 with C++ ABI 1002
Build settings:
USE_WX_GRAPHICS_CONTEXT=ON
USE_WX_OVERLAY=ON
KICAD_SCRIPTING=ON
KICAD_SCRIPTING_MODULES=ON
KICAD_SCRIPTING_PYTHON3=OFF
KICAD_SCRIPTING_WXPYTHON=ON
KICAD_SCRIPTING_WXPYTHON_PHOENIX=OFF
KICAD_SCRIPTING_ACTION_MENU=ON
BUILD_GITHUB_PLUGIN=ON
KICAD_USE_OCE=ON
KICAD_USE_OCC=OFF
KICAD_SPICE=ON
I do initial footprint placement having eeschema opened on one desktop, pcbnew on another, then selecting a symbol in eeschema and swiping to go to the other desktop where the corresponding footprint is already highlighted in pcbnew and I can just hit 'm' to move it do a desired place.
HOWEVER, this often doesn't work right off the bat. Sometimes I just hear a dull 'bong' system sound, like I'd try to use some inactive option. A way to deal with that is to pan the view slightly (swiping two fingers on the touchpad). After that, the 'm' is properly recognized and acted upon (also, sometimes hitting 'm' multiple times unlocks it. But only sometimes).
In this whole situation, the window focus itself gets properly changed from eeschema to pcbnew, which I see because "Route" menu appears in the system menu bar. Also, the desired footprint is already highlighted. Yet, 'm' command (as well as others) is not recognized.
This sounds like a window focus issue which is handled by macOS (in this case). I'm not sure there is anything we can do about this.
@Devs, any other views on how to proceed?