Issue link: https://resources.mouser.com/i/1504775
5 A worksheet is a drawing template, typically containing a title block and frame, that is used as the template for schematic sheets and PCB drawings. Plotting is the process of creating manufacturing outputs from a design. These outputs may include machine-readable formats such as Gerber files or pick-and-place listings, as well as human-readable formats such as PDF drawings. Ngspice is a mixed-signal circuit simulator, originally based on Berkeley SPICE, that is integrated into KiCad's schematic editor. By using symbols with attached SPICE models, you can run circuit simulations on KiCad schematics and plot the results graphically. KiCad Components KiCad consists of a number of different software components, some of which are integrated together to facilitate the PCB design workflow, and some of which are standalone. In early versions of KiCad, there was very little integration between the software components. For example, the schematic editor (historically called Eeschema) and PCB editor (historically called PcbNew) were separate applications that had no direct link, and to create a PCB based on a schematic, users had to generate a netlist file in Eeschema and then read this netlist file in PcbNew. In modern versions of KiCad, the schematic and PCB editor are integrated into the KiCad project manager, and using netlist files is no longer required. Many tutorials still exist that refer to the old KiCad workflow of separate applications and netlist files, so be sure to check the version being used when looking at tutorials and other documentation. The main KiCad components are usually started from the launcher buttons in the KiCad project manager window. These components include: Component name Description Schematic Editor Create and edit schematics; simulate circuits with SPICE; generate BOM files Symbol Editor Create and edit schematic symbols and manage symbol libraries PCB Editor Create and edit PCBs; export 2D and 3D files; generate fabrication output files Footprint Editor Create and edit PCB component footprints and manage footprint libraries GerbView Gerber and drill file viewer Bitmap2Component Convert bitmap images to symbols or footprints PCB Calculator Calculator for components, track width, electrical spacing, color codes, etc. Page Layout Editor Create and edit worksheet files User Interface KiCad has a number of user interface behaviors that are common to all the different editor windows. Some of these behaviors are described in more detail in later chapters of this manual. Objects can be selected by clicking on them or by dragging a selection window around them. Dragging from left to right will result in a selection of any items that are completely within the window. Dragging from right to left will result in a selection of any items that touch the window. Pressing certain modifier keys while