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Documentation / Design

Schematics

Build and review a circuit, manage sheets, and hand a saved schematic to the PCB editor.

Editor Overview

The schematic defines components and their electrical connections. Open the intended schematic document before editing; in compatible workbench builds, sheets and the PCB appear as document tabs alongside a shared assistant.

Keep the project's .kicad_pro, .trace_sch files, and paired .xo drawing files together. Save intended editor work before asking for changes. See Projects and build and host availability for file and interface differences.

Placing Components

  1. Open the symbol browser using Place Symbols (A with default shortcuts).
  2. Select a symbol from an available library and place it on the intended sheet.
  3. Set the value, reference, exact part number, and footprint where known.
  4. Check the symbol's pin numbers and electrical types against the selected part's datasheet.

For AI assistance, use Ask to discuss a choice or Agent to request an edit. Select an available model before sending. A suggestion, search result, or generated preview is not an installed and placed part.

Search by name, function, or exact manufacturer part number. Check which library supplies the result and whether it is installed; a hosted catalog match does not establish local availability. Follow Components for package selection and footprint assignment.

Placeholder Symbols

A placeholder or unresolved library symbol needs review. Do not assume its pin mapping is correct or that it can be used for PCB handoff. Resolve the intended symbol and footprint, then inspect the actual connections.

Drawing Wires

Use Draw Wires (W with default shortcuts), start at a pin or existing wire endpoint, and place the path. Use Escape to leave the tool.

Connections require coincident endpoints, junctions, or matching labels with the correct scope; proximity on screen is not connectivity. Inspect crossings and dangling ends. To change presentation without deliberately changing the circuit, see Schematic drawing.

Hierarchical Sheets

Use hierarchical sheets to divide a circuit into readable sections.

  • Match each parent sheet pin to the corresponding child hierarchical label by name and direction.
  • Use local labels within a sheet; use global labels only when the connection should span sheets.
  • Identify the intended sheet when asking the assistant for an edit or redraw.
  • Check repeated sheet instances and references rather than assuming identical drawings have identical identities.

For example, a child input named FILT_IN needs a parent sheet pin named FILT_IN; that parent pin may connect to a differently named parent net such as OSC_OUT.

Annotation

Use Tools → Annotate Schematic in the Full interface to assign unique references such as R1, C1, and U1. Review references across the hierarchy, save, and check that references still match any existing PCB and BOM.

Electrical Rules Check

ERC reports issues covered by the configured electrical rules: conflicting pin types, missing drivers, dangling connections, and hierarchy mismatches. In the Full interface, open Inspect → Electrical Rules Checker.

ERC Walkthrough

  1. Click Run ERC.
  2. Select a finding to locate its pins, labels, or sheet.
  3. Determine whether the circuit or the rule needs correction.
  4. Make the intended correction, save, and rerun ERC.

A power flag declares a power driver to ERC; it does not create a physical supply. A clean ERC result does not verify values, operating conditions, behavior, or assembly safety. Ask “Run ERC and explain the remaining findings without editing” for a read-only review.

BOM Generation

Generate a BOM from the saved schematic and intended design variant. Review references, quantities, fitted status, values, exact part numbers, and footprints in the actual output. Pricing and stock are time-sensitive observations, not reserved inventory.

AI Symbol Creation

For a missing part, use the compatible native Component Editor, or the companion's chat review flow. Review the generated symbol and footprint before installation; installation is separate from placement.

Hand Off to the PCB

Save the schematic, resolve library and footprint issues, then review Update PCB from Schematic in the PCB editor. Check the proposed additions, removals, and net changes before applying them. Afterward inspect pad nets and references on the board.

If Editing or Review Does Not Finish

Check the active project and sheet, save status, library errors, and the specific tool result. After an uncertain edit, inspect disk and editor state before retrying; do not save an older buffer over newer files. Use the supported Local History recovery path when necessary.

For behavioral analysis in a compatible native schematic session, see Simulation. For board checks, continue to PCB Layout.