Looking for simple Schematic Editor

One word - Visio

Charlie

If you don't need netlists or PCB layout, then most any general CAD program would do - a cow-orker frequently uses AutoCad for schematics and wiring diagrams because he also uses it for mechanical drawing. I tend to use Protel (a professional electronic CAD program) for anything vaguely electrical, because I also use it for schematics leading to PC boards - but the electronics features are not needed for simple wiring diagrams.

All you really need is a drawing program that allows you to create symbols or blocks that you can re-use - so you don't have to re-draw a switch or resistor from scratch every time you need one. Many drafting programs will include a library of electrical/electronic symbols.

Another word: NO.[1]

I would look for something that supports *.DXF format.

AutoCAD has lots user groups and many ready-made libraries.

The CAD programs here have trial versions:

Because it felt so good when he stopped.

I don't think you can blame that mess entirely on Visio - the main problem is the author's failure to follow normal electronic drafting conventions.

If I really put my mind to it, I could probably do something just as bad with Protel. (but it would be hard work!)

You're missing an important point about Visio: When you move a component, Visio REPOSITIONS THE LINES connected to it (not wires--LINES; Visio has no concept of wires). This is NOT rubberbanding; it redraws the lines THROUGH components, leaving you with a lot of rework to do

--which you will have to do again when you move the next component, and AGAIN when you move the NEXT component, etc.

Visio is unsuitable for electrical drawings. Because it is unsuitable for the task, you waste too much time trying to use it.

To conclude: Choose a better tool.

Clean and straightforward. Bereft of the usual windows programmer moronocities. (and it's free!).

PSpice Student Version...

PSpice Schematics is excellent!

...Jim Thompson

Here's PSpice 9.2

Turbocad--

from 90 bucks to 300 in various flavors is FAR superior to Autocad and does everything Autocad does except all the legacy LISP programs. It comes with symbol libraries and can not only do nice 2-D drawings, it actual has a

Turbocad is far and away the best of the mechanical cad clones-- Cadalyst magazine hipped me out to it years ago and I have saved over 10k not upgrading that evil autocad.

Paul

bill snipped-for-privacy@agilent.com wrote:

In article , Paul Rako wrote: [...]

Turbocad is very good.

Intelicad was in the past also good but I haven't played with it in years. Intelicad had the lisp built in so you didn't strand your old macros.

Qcad wins on the performance/cost ratio, but it only works on DXF files. Qcad also seems to be able to handle a file on near infinite size without trouble.

I expect very soon there will be an OpenOffice cad program. The OO Draw program speaks in terms of DXF files and seems to be able to handle most or all DXF constructs.