ZBasic Forum

I am a ExpressPCB user as I have not needed to produce batches of PCBs and have been happy with their Mini-board service. However, I am getting to the point where I need something better. I have installed the open-source Kicad to see what it is all about. It is a full featured ECAD package. I am finding that there is a STEEP learning curve and would like to find someone that has used it to give me a helping hand from time to time.

I joined the Yahoo Kicad group which is fairly active. Any one here a Kicad user?

Any enlightenment will be appreciated.

Vic

Hands down, Sprint - Layout is the best PCB layout application you will ever encounter. It has all the advanced features and I found the learning curve to be a matter of minutes - YMMV. At about $50 (40 Euros) it's really a bargain.

• http://www.abacom-online.de/uk/html/sprint-layout.html

They have a demo version but I did not try it so I don't know what its limitations are.

I tried Kicad and uninstalled it after a few minutes under Windows and I never got it to run under Linux.

I have also just recently downloaded Kicad. I am also trying to learn it. I have found that some things I expected it to do, it just doesn't do (yet). Like being able to move a part and have the pins stay connected, or move a line/wire that has been previously drawn...

I looked at Sprint/Layout, but it is a stand alone program with no connection to their schematic entry program. That is unacceptable to me.

Vic,
Did you see the step-by-step tutorial?
It is located here:
C:\Program Files\KiCad\tutorial\Kicad_Tutorial_en.odt

The file is an "OpenOffice" file. I think I can save it in another format if you don't have OpenOffice installed on your computer.

I have not done it completely, but it looks good so far...
Tom

I joined the Yahoo Kicad group which is fairly active. Any one here a Kicad user?

Any enlightenment will be appreciated.

Vic

Tom,

The file is an "OpenOffice" file. I think I can save it in another format if you don't have OpenOffice installed on your computer.

Don't have Open Office. I saw the tutorial there but have no way to read it. If you could convert it to .PDF or even M$ Word or even a text file I would appreciate it. You could post the conversion here or send it to me direct. My e-mail address is in my signature block.

I concur about Sprint Layout not being associated with their schematic SW. At least I didn't see it mentioned on the Abacom site.

Thanks to all that responded.

Vic

Tom,

Don't have Open Office. I saw the tutorial there but have no way to read it. If you could convert it to .PDF or even M$ Word or even a text file I would appreciate it. You could post the conversion here or send it to me direct. My e-mail address is in my signature block.

I didn't see your e-mail address anywhere in this forum, but I sent you an e-mail to an address I found with Google.
Or send me an e-mail: westhoff at tidalwave dot net

OpenOffice.org has a free download. Last I checked it was about 118Mbytes, but it has a lot in it. Roughly equal to M$ office in functionality.
Tom

118MB download, risk new software conflicts?

Why don't they just produce a PDF file?

Tom,

my e-mail address is victorf ATSIGN windreader DOT com and should be in the signature block at the bottom of this post

What address did you send to?

Vic

I have started on my first schematic using Kicad. I am converting my ZX-24 application's schematic. I have even been able to create a couple of parts that I needed and that were not in the libraries. I should be moving on to the creation of my first board this week. There is a learning curve which is good as it keeps my brain nimble.

Vic

stevech wrote:118MB download, risk new software conflicts?

Why don't they just produce a PDF file?

How big do you think the complete M$ office suite is? I am not endorsing the use of OpenOffice, but it is free and is compatible with the equivalent M$ office programs.

As far as the pdf goes, I don't know why, except that Kicad is an open source project and maybe they want to keep everything open source in the spirit of things.

twesthoff wrote:

stevech wrote:118MB download, risk new software conflicts?

Why don't they just produce a PDF file?

How big do you think the complete M$ office suite is? I am not endorsing the use of OpenOffice, but it is free and is compatible with the equivalent M$ office programs.

As far as the pdf goes, I don't know why, except that Kicad is an open source project and maybe they want to keep everything open source in the spirit of things.

PDF is prudent. It avoids Microsoft's stuff.