Difference between revisions of "Schematic Capture for publishing"

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(Created page with " == Rejected == * XCircuit. Not for Windows, GUI ugly as hell.")
 
 
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==Programs for drawing circuits==


===SIMetrix===
SIMetrix [http://www.simetrix.co.uk/], as of version 5.40b (Jan 2008):
'''Advantages:'''
*Nice looking output.
*Schematic editor with SPICE simulator.
*Free version with unlimited schematic drawing and editing.
**Hierarchical schematics
*Selection of colours for components, wires, etc. for easy identification.
*Zooming facility, auto-routing and snap-to-grid.
*Simple placement of components — select and click-to-place with mouse.
*Automatic repeat placement of last component.
*Can save a schematic as an SVG or other graphic file.
*Can save schematics in an ASCII or binary format — documentation for the ASCII format is provided with the installation.
*Free version for Windows or Linux may be used indefinitely; program may be freely shared (per SIMetrix 5.40b splash screen)
'''Disadvantages:'''
*Free version has limited simulation capability (not applicable for drawing schematics).
*Not open source
*Email registration required to receive download link (no password or user account needed)
=== [[KiCad]] ===
Having recently moved to SourceForge, [[KiCAD]] [http://kicad.sf.net KiCAD] is an open source suite of tools including schematic design.
It has some nice features:
* Snap to grid
* Component libraries with built-in editor
* Rotate components
* Moving a component moves attached traces when pressing CTRL while clicking the group to move.
* Outputs in SVG (which works with OOo's SVG import tool)
* Open source and actively maintained
But isn't perfect:
* Doesn't route around components
* SVG output includes page border, title, etc (can be cropped with something like InkScape)
* Part labels and values in SVG output are rendered as lines (thus the letter "M") is 4 line segments... making them very difficult to change later.
* Can't use Greek in labels, which means no Ω on resistor values.
===[[Qucs]]===
Qucs [http://qucs.sourceforge.net] (Quite Universal Circuit Simulator) is an open source ([[GPL]]) circuit simulator.  It is very easy to work with for drawing schematics.  It is close to being an ideal tool for drawing schematics for use in documentation, but lacks SVG support.




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* XCircuit. Not for Windows, GUI ugly as hell.
* XCircuit. Not for Windows, GUI ugly as hell.
* Dia. Not specifically for circuits.
* Inkscape. Generic drawing program.
* Klunky. WTH?
* PSTricks
* gnu Electric
* gEDA. Not for Windows

Latest revision as of 13:50, 8 October 2011

Programs for drawing circuits

SIMetrix

SIMetrix [1], as of version 5.40b (Jan 2008):

Advantages:

  • Nice looking output.
  • Schematic editor with SPICE simulator.
  • Free version with unlimited schematic drawing and editing.
    • Hierarchical schematics
  • Selection of colours for components, wires, etc. for easy identification.
  • Zooming facility, auto-routing and snap-to-grid.
  • Simple placement of components — select and click-to-place with mouse.
  • Automatic repeat placement of last component.
  • Can save a schematic as an SVG or other graphic file.
  • Can save schematics in an ASCII or binary format — documentation for the ASCII format is provided with the installation.
  • Free version for Windows or Linux may be used indefinitely; program may be freely shared (per SIMetrix 5.40b splash screen)

Disadvantages:

  • Free version has limited simulation capability (not applicable for drawing schematics).
  • Not open source
  • Email registration required to receive download link (no password or user account needed)


KiCad

Having recently moved to SourceForge, KiCAD KiCAD is an open source suite of tools including schematic design. It has some nice features:

  • Snap to grid
  • Component libraries with built-in editor
  • Rotate components
  • Moving a component moves attached traces when pressing CTRL while clicking the group to move.
  • Outputs in SVG (which works with OOo's SVG import tool)
  • Open source and actively maintained

But isn't perfect:

  • Doesn't route around components
  • SVG output includes page border, title, etc (can be cropped with something like InkScape)
  • Part labels and values in SVG output are rendered as lines (thus the letter "M") is 4 line segments... making them very difficult to change later.
  • Can't use Greek in labels, which means no Ω on resistor values.


Qucs

Qucs [2] (Quite Universal Circuit Simulator) is an open source (GPL) circuit simulator. It is very easy to work with for drawing schematics. It is close to being an ideal tool for drawing schematics for use in documentation, but lacks SVG support.


Rejected

  • XCircuit. Not for Windows, GUI ugly as hell.
  • Dia. Not specifically for circuits.
  • Inkscape. Generic drawing program.
  • Klunky. WTH?
  • PSTricks
  • gnu Electric
  • gEDA. Not for Windows
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