WANTED:Simple, cheap, schematic drawing software for Windows

cappy2112

If you can receommend something, please do.
I dont need to do board layouts or gerber plots or anything that exotic.
Just a good, easy to use program for drawing (and printing) schematics.

thanks

spippoli · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:55 am Post subject:

have a look at
http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/SchematicEditorPromo/schematicpubwebpage.html

JovianPyx · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 1:07 pm Post subject:

Go ahead, laugh if you want to...

Much to the astonishment of many, I use the Paintbrush program that comes with Windows. I created a document which has symbols on it that I use regularly. It makes neat schematics that can be saved in GIF format for small size.

I have posted my symbols image file as an attachment to this post.

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document containing basic part symbols

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blue hell · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:40 pm Post subject:

JovianPyx · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:05 pm Post subject:

blue hell · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:14 pm Post subject:

richardc64 · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:23 pm Post subject:

françois · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 11:09 am Post subject:

Hello,

I use Microsoft Visio, for which I designed a library of component symbols. This is clearly overkill, since Visio is expensive, not included in Microsoft Office (it is compatible of course, but you have to purchase it separately). Since I have it for professional work anyway, I use it.

But Visio is not only a drawing tool, it is more a graphical interface for database applications. As such, it can automatically number all components, edit their properties (e.g. value for a resistor, type for a transistor) and automatically generate a bill of materials. Including the costs if you wish.

Every component has connection points, and when two components are wired together the connecting lines are adjusted automatically (you can adjust them by hand if you want), including the little "jumps" when two lines cross. When a component is moved, the connecting lines are updated.

For the component symbols, I scanned a number of schematics from Elektor because I like their style, and I reproduced them. Attached is an example schemo.

There is a cheap alternative to Visio: Edraw Max. I got it for free from giveawayoftheday.com but it was only a one-day offer. However the full software should cost about 20.00€, which is admittedly more reasonable... and it is fully Visio-compatible!

Yours,

-- françois

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picsynth · Joined: Oct 16, 2008 Posts: 27 Location: New Zealand

I use this package - its easy to use and free:

http://www.expresspcb.com/ExpressPCBHtm/Free_schematic_software.htm