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TinyCAD v4 Documentation

website·Indexed 32 days ago

https://docs.tinycad.net/v3

Documentation for TinyCAD v4, a schematic capture tool available as a desktop and web application. Covers core features including symbol and library management, netlist generation, Bill of Materials (BOM), Design Rules Check (DRC), and exports for SPICE and VHDL. Includes guides on importing symbols from KiCAD, managing multiple-sheet drawings, and using the Netlist Editor.

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What's inside TinyCAD

  1. Overview of TinyCAD Symbol Libraries

    v4
    A symbol library in TinyCAD is a collection of schematic symbols stored in a .tclib file. Each symbol represents an electronic component (e.g., resistor, IC, transistor) as a standardized graphic with defined electrical connection points, including pin names, numbers, and electrical types (input, output, power, passive). Libraries ensure consistency across designs, enable reuse, and provide the necessary data for netlist generation and PCB layout export.

  2. Overview of TinyCAD Web

    v4
    TinyCAD Web is a browser-based version of TinyCAD that requires no installation and is compatible with Windows, Mac, Chromebooks, and Linux. It uses the same file formats as the desktop version: .dsn for drawings and .tclib for libraries.

  3. Organize libraries using folders in TinyCAD Desktop

    v4
    Library folders allow you to group installed libraries in the My Libraries panel. This feature is exclusively available in the TinyCAD desktop app; it is not supported in the browser version. Folder structures and library assignments are saved and persist between sessions.

  4. Choose between TinyCAD v4 Desktop and Online versions

    v4

    TinyCAD v4 is available in two formats depending on the user's environment and requirements:

    1. Desktop App: Best for users who need to work offline or require guaranteed constant access to the software. Requires installation on the local machine.
    2. Online App: Best for users who cannot install software (e.g., in restricted work or education environments) or prefer to run the tool directly in a web browser without installation.

  5. Use Wires for electrical connectivity in TinyCAD

    v4
    Wires are the electrically active connections in a TinyCAD schematic. They must be used instead of annotation lines if you require connectivity for Design Rule Checking (DRC), netlisting, SPICE/PCB export, or cross-sheet linking. Wires define electrical nets and are used by TinyCAD for rule checking and generated outputs.

  6. Use Labels to create electrical connectivity in TinyCAD

    v4
    Labels in TinyCAD act as electrically active net names. Any wires assigned the same label text are treated as connected, regardless of whether a physical wire exists between them. Labels are used to connect distant points on a single sheet, reduce visual clutter in dense schematics, link hierarchical symbol pins to internal nets, and connect nets across different sheets in the same drawing.

  7. Understand how symbols work in TinyCAD

    v4
    Symbols in TinyCAD are reusable graphics combined with attributes, stored in library files (.tclib). They are constructed using standard toolbar objects (lines, polylines, rectangles, ellipses, arcs, and text). Note that any special-function objects (like wires or power items) used within a symbol are treated as simple annotation and lose their functional behavior. Only pins define electrical connection points.

  8. Use Rulers for positional reference in TinyCAD

    v4
    Rulers in TinyCAD provide a positional reference around the drawing area, making it easier to accurately place components and elements within the workspace.

  9. Use no-connect markers to document unused pins

    v4
    No-connect markers are used to indicate that a symbol pin is intentionally left unconnected. This reduces ambiguity during schematic reviews and prevents the Design Rule Checker (DRC) from triggering warnings or errors for pins left open by design. Common use cases include unused logic inputs, spare op-amp channels, or unused connector pins.

  10. TinyCAD v4 Availability and Versioning

    v4
    TinyCAD v4 is available as both a desktop application and a browser-based online application. While the two versions are largely similar, there are a small number of feature differences between them.

  11. Use Annotation objects for visual documentation

    v4

    Annotation objects are used to group blocks, highlight areas, and add explanatory notes. These objects are not electrical and are ignored by netlisting and design rule checks (DRC). Supported shapes include:

    • Text
    • Lines
    • Rectangles
    • Ellipses
    • Arcs
    • Polygons

  12. Generate TinyCAD documentation HTML

    v3
    The help file is generated from the GitHub wiki pages using Node.js and the Limedocs Wiki Converter. After cloning the wiki repository, navigate to the directory in a command prompt and run the lwc command.
    lwc --title TinyCAD --css lwc.css .