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Schematic and PCB capture software recommendation

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AnalogKid

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For the next few weeks I will be without my beloved ViewDRAW. I'm looking for experience-based recommendations for a schematic drafting package. Requirements:

1. Local operation. No cloud-based libraries, website GUI, etc. Download and install; Cut internet cable; Use.

2. Prepackaged libraries always are a plus, but I'd like to be able to create my own as well.

3. No netlist export required at this time. This is for quickie-drafting an idea, such as a timer circuit to post on ETO. General-purpose netlist export is a plus, for use with PADS

4. Direct PDF and JPG or GIF output a plus.

5. Free is nice.

Thanks.

ak
 
LTspice.
 
Kicad fills 1 to 5, just for PDF use a system PDF Printer, or JPG etc there is Greenshot or screen capture.
Max..
 
I started with Eagle and loved it. KiCAD is good but I never cared for it much personally. Nowadays I'm partial to Altium Designer, it has just about every tool you could possibly wish for, but it's far from free. I only have access to it through work.
 
DipTrace has a free version.
 
Kicad gets my vote. It works on Windows and Linux platforms.
 
I work with EAGLE too. There are two different freeware versions. One is a "educational" licence and requieres and edu. e-mail, the Express licence has less features: **broken link removed**
 
I tend to agree; I tried to change the footprint on a .brd with Eagle without a schematic: 5 minutes. With Kicad: been busy for hours.
Never had that problem, initially I used one of the tutorials to run me through it, found it fairly easy to change or make a new footprint from an existing one.
Max.
 
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