Schematic Drawing Software - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Legion
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2014, 07:43:28 pm
content: I'm looking for a good schematic drawing program that is NOT free. I'm not interested in KiCAD or Eagle.I'm not looking for circuit simulation or PCB layout. Just a clean, easy to use UI. My number one ask is that it doesn't break things down into parts. So if I want to put a resistor down I just want to select a resistor symbol, specify a resistance value and maybe a power rating and be done. Basically I want to avoid having a list of 10000 parts for a given component and just have a single button in a toolbox for each one. This only holds for basic components, I understand adding ICs would be a little more involved.

author: Weez
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2014, 08:20:13 pm
content: If you don't care about simulation, then maybe just use a CAD program?You might have to draw your own symbols, but you'll only have to do it once.Quite a few options out there...could even use Photoshop, but you'd have to set up actions to avoid monotonous drawing/labeling.I have an art program called ArtRage which lets you create "stencils" of whatever you want. I've been meaning to give it a go for schematics, just haven't gotten around to it.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2014, 08:27:40 pm
content: Vision is not free and doesn't support simulations and layout.

author: Legion
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2014, 08:39:41 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on February 28, 2014, 08:27:40 pmDo you have a link to their website? I'm not getting anything in Google.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 28, 2014, 08:42:48 pm
content: I am a little confused. You want something that is NOT free. You also want a program that has the simplest of symbols such that you will be limited on the end? I don't think such a beast exists. The closest you will get with your simple needs, I think, is TinyCad. The list is pretty accessible and it is very easy to use and get going, but wow, it has a big flaw, it is free!

author: Andy Watson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2014, 08:51:05 pm
content: Last time I used either Eagle or Kicad they both had the facility to disable and/or select their component libraries. Recently I've started to use a local, project specific library in Kicad to avoid the trauma of searching through endless lists of components.

author: Legion
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2014, 09:18:52 pm
content: Quote from: Lightages on February 28, 2014, 08:42:48 pmThe not free thing might have been over the top. I didn't enjoy using Eagle or KiCAD and figured other free offerings would be similar. Also thought most people would avoid recommending paid software even if it's good in favor of free software.So, free is ok, but I care more about being simple to use and polished than cost.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2014, 09:33:07 pm
content: I have a library of symbols I use by pasting into Windows Paint.It's freely available, but you could send me money to fix that.Tim

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2014, 09:37:23 pm
content: I fought with Eagle for a long time. It's like the developers were from another planet. I tried Diptrace and I'm never going back. Creating your own parts, schematic symbols and footprints is so easy it's almost trivial.

author: Rerouter
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2014, 09:38:30 pm
content: While free, ExpressPCB was one of the packages i started on, its not fancy, just polished, you can rip apart and change pins easily, and export the whole thing to BMP whenever you like, (or print to PDF with external software)Its component list is only about 500 long, with the connectors at the start, the passives and discrete active devices at the end, with the logic chips and op amps (and a few micros) packed in the middle so its easy to ignore,and to top it all off, there library uses the actual part names, so if you search for a 741, you will find the op amp with no fuss,I've now since moved to kicad, and i do miss the rip apart and remake of schematic items right on the page,

author: PeterZ
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2014, 09:49:49 pm
content: Hello! My first post here, hopefully helpful.I have been using the SPlan for quite some time and i love the simplicity and intuitive operation of that software:http://www.abacom-online.de/uk/html/splan.htmlThe price is very reasonable (~50EUR), there is a free demo version with saving/printing disabled.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2014, 10:02:40 pm
content: Fritzing has quite a simple take on schematic editing like that.

author: Legion
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2014, 10:13:28 pm
content: Quote from: rdl on February 28, 2014, 09:37:23 pmJust grabbed Diptrace a few minutes ago. I like it so far.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2014, 10:43:35 pm
content: Quote from: Legion on February 28, 2014, 08:39:41 pmOops, it was a typo, here is the linkhttp://office.microsoft.com/en-us/visio/Edit, some visio/electronics related linkshttp://www.rfcafe.com/business/software/visio-stencils/visio-stencils.htmhttp://www.rfcafe.com/business/software/visio-stencils/images/visio-stencils-sample-drawing.gifhttp://flylib.com/books/en/2.332.1.181/1/http://pitelspot.com/?p=700

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2014, 10:47:20 pm
content: Quote from: T3sl4co1l on February 28, 2014, 09:33:07 pmPaint is a bitmap program, not as useful as object oriented program where you can move, scale, delete, set output resolution, etc.

author: rollatorwieltje
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 28, 2014, 11:18:03 pm
content: I like LTSpice for quick schematics. The generic parts are under hotkeys, like R for resistor, D for diode etc.Diptrace is ok when you also want to do a PCB layout. It has some generic parts as well.

author: Rigby
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2014, 11:33:01 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on February 28, 2014, 10:47:20 pmtrue, but if that stuff isn't important, paint actually works kind of ok, I guess. people still draw schematics on paper.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 01, 2014, 01:38:44 am
content: true, but if that stuff isn't important, paint actually works kind of ok, I guess. people still draw schematics on paper.yup, on DaveCad even!

author: krish2487
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2014, 08:23:24 am
content: From what I can interpret from the OP's requirements, he wants a software that does schematic layout like a SLD.Autocad electrical springs to mind.For a free alternative you can have a look at Qelectrotech. It does a decent job. Just compile the binaries yourself to get the latest libraries for the components.

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2014, 09:10:51 am
content: I have used LT spice for schematics too.Not the most beautiful but it is very quick when you get the hang of it.

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2014, 10:22:25 am
content: The only one I don't curse at much when using is Orcad. Everything else gets shouted at if I'm doing a big schematic, either because they are too complex for my RF oriented brain or because they are too limited.