ProSchematic: Schematic drawing program

This schematic drawing program is an easy to use schematic capture tool.

I use it to create all the schematics and diagrams on this site..







Download FREE Trial here		 Note: unlike other expensive tools:
ProSchematic has :

* No limits on schematic size.
* No limits on number of pins.
* No limits on netlisting.
* No limits on library part creation.



CLICK image for larger view

pic programmer

Schematic capture: Main buttons

It displays all the main tools as large buttons at the top of the screen (these are the frequently used tools) and are easier to hit than most other tools with tiny cryptic symbols.  With smaller buttons below these (less frequently used tools).

Drawing a schematic diagram is a simple matter of selecting the library tool (looks like a book).  You choose a part and hit the select button and then place it in the schematic (click the left mouse button).  Click right to stop pasting parts (or hit escape)

Then select the wire tool to make connections between part pins.

Processes

In addition it has a process box (top left in the picture above) giving you easy access to the functions used in creating a schematic e.g. netlisting which also checks the schematic for various errors.  Other processes are bill of materials and auto connection dots.  

Attributes

The schematic drawing tool shows attribute data which is data associated with a part e.g. the part number R1 or its value 10k but you can also add your own attributes to any part.

A useful feature is the attribute display that shows all the data associated with the current part i.e. you don't have to select different menus to see data such as manufacturer part value (that you may have added) - it's there readily displayed.

If you click on the above diagram you'll see the attribute box (at lower left in the picture above) showing the details of Q1 - the currently selected item - it has a Decal of TO92.

Library

The library has a large selection of components but if a part does not exist then using library editor to create a new part is very simple.  The only difference between drawing in the schematic area and drawing a library part is that you can add a pin element all the other controls are identical to the main schematic editor.  

So if you can draw in the schematic area then you can easily create new parts.

PCB creation

ProSchematic generates a Tango netlist format which you can use to create a pcb.  All you have to do is fill in the 'Decal' attribute data and this value is used in generating the netlist  

For example with a resistor (R2 say) you might use a Decal value of RC07 and you would get a netlist output (a net connects R1 and R2):

NET_32 R1.1  R2.2

R1 RC07
R2 RC07

You can then import this into a pcb creation tool... well you might want a few more components though!

Layers

An unusual feature of the schematic drawing program is that it lets you use layers - normally this feature is used on graphic drawing programs. It's main use here is that you can create background elements that you leave in the background on a different layer and you then set that layer to 'unselectable'.  

This means you can work on any other part of the drawing without selecting the background.  It lets you create the following sort of layout diagrams (this one is from the 12F675 tutorial):


Example: Using layers with the schematic drawing program: ProSchematic

proschematic layer diagram


Here the solderless breadboard (and each hole) in the solderless breadboard is a schematic item and these are placed into layer 6 while all the other items are on layer 1 so - you can move wires around without affecting the background.




Download schematic drawing program FREE Trial here




Sign up for MicroZine (the free microcontroller ezine) and you can get the schematics from this site - in ProSchematic format : this gives you a head start in creating your own schematics.

End of schematic drawing program page.


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