1. Learn to carefully structure schematics as hierarchical sheets. 2. Use the replicate-layout plugin to duplicate schematic sheet layout across multiple instances. 3. Get a graphics tablet.
The two are linked. If you structure schematics suitably, you can deduplicate layout (component placement). Another tip is to have two large screens so you can simultaneously navigate both layout and schematic. When you click a component in either, the other is highlighted. This can be a big help during layout. Finally, be aware of right click | Select | Items in same hierarchical sheet.
Thanks for the tip. I was avoiding hierarchical schematics because my version of KiCAD doesn't seem to implement the concept very well. I often ended up with strange inconsistencies, so I gave up. I suppose this is better in newer KiCAD versions (?)
How I do placement now: deleting part of my schematics, then copying the remaining components to the PCB layout, then undoing to get my schematics back, delete another part of the schematics, etc.
Regarding a graphics tablet: I've thought about it, but then I miss the scroll-wheel which is absolutely necessary for zooming in/out. Are there tablets with scroll wheels?
5.1.x works fine, 5.99 is surely improved. Delete workflow unnecessary once you adopt the sheet-orientation. Also improves re-use, though you have to carefully manage .sch version/variant evolution outside of KiCad. Had an awesome scroll-wheel Wacom ~2010 and have sorely missed it since. You can emulate it with touch but it's not as precise. Rocker-switches for zoom in/out or mapping on-tablet buttons are another option.
