Drawing schematics on a computer?

[Radio Fixer]

Nope, I don't appreciate the humour in that post.

Gary

[pwdrive]

Gary, you said that the way I drew the resistor symbols in the drawing I posted was cumbersome, I don't find it any bother to draw and use them that way, others might, let's leave it at that.

Lawrence.

[Terry]

I don't bother with symbols library, far too organised and not needed by the way I work.  I have countless previously drawn diagrams and I just grab a section that has the elements needed for something new.  Quick paste onto a clean sheet and away we go.  

Mine is not a 'library' as such, just a collection of symbols that I downloaded 6 years ago. In the interim, any symbol that I've drawn from scratch or modified is copied onto the original sheet and saved. So, a similar system to yours but I don't need to remember which diagram I used a particular symbol on!

[Yorkie]

The symbols too, will be really useful, but I'm note sure how to import them into a Paint drawing. If I click on 'copy' (a symbol), I can click on paste in MS Word, and there it is on the screen. Same with 'Publisher'  but If I've got Paint open, (a new drawing say), and copy a symbol then click on 'paste' nothing happens.


What's the process of importing symbols into Paint please?

I'm not sure I understand this, David.

I just open my symbol sheet in Paint, then open another instance of Paint for the new drawing. Then I just select the symbol(s) I want and copy and paste to the new drawing.

Incidentally, I use + C and + V for copy and paste - it's much quicker.

I fear it's me Terry, who doesn't understand!

I can find my way around Paint using the drawing tools to cobble together a circuit - I usually draw a cap or box style resistor or whatever, place it in the circuit, then when I want another, I use the 'select' function and copy the item, the rotate it as required and place it where I want it, using the cursor to move it around. But clearly it's a lot less cumbersome to be able to dip into a library of symbols, and copy, paste and if need be, resize them to suit. But if say I'm starting a new drawing, and want to import symbols from a saved file (such as the one you posted earlier), if I open that file then try to copy a symbol and paste it into Paint, Paint asks me if I want to save the drawing - it doesn't let me post the symbol.

However, if I copy the symbol from the library and have a blank page open in MS Word or Publisher, I can just paste the symbol onto the page, but it's Paint where I want it!

There's something I'm not doing in Paint which I need to do  - which perhaps to most users will be blindingly obvious, but which eludes me

The main problem I have is that I draw perhaps  one pic a month so as I only use it occasionally, I don't spend enough time on it to become properly efficient to be able to raise my game.

The fact that I can bimble along in Paint, tends to deter me from trying to become proficient in other programs.

Lots of tutorials online, but with so many other demands on my time, it's something of a distraction.

Good job we rarely have the TV on!

Interesting thread - I think it confirms once again that members use whatever they feel comfortable with and have become adept at using over the years. 

What I really need is something entitled 'Circuit Drawing for the Hard of Thinking'

[Terry]

I can find my way around Paint using the drawing tools to cobble together a circuit - I usually draw a cap or box style resistor or whatever, place it in the circuit, then when I want another, I use the 'select' function and copy the item, the rotate it as required and place it where I want it, using the cursor to move it around. But clearly it's a lot less cumbersome to be able to dip into a library of symbols, and copy, paste and if need be, resize them to suit. But if say I'm starting a new drawing, and want to import symbols from a saved file (such as the one you posted earlier), if I open that file then try to copy a symbol and paste it into Paint, Paint asks me if I want to save the drawing - it doesn't let me post the symbol.

Aha! I think you've told me what your problem is!

No doubt you are used to opening multiple documents in Word or Excel but Paint isn't as clever as that - it can only work on one  drawing at a time.

Presumably, after you've copied the symbol you want you try to create or open a new drawing so Paint very helpfully offers to save the first one before it closes it and then open a new one for you!

However, although you can only ever have one drawing open in one instance of Paint, you can have as many instances of Paint open at the same time as your PC has memory for, each with its own single drawing.

Try this: open Paint and open the symbol file. Now open Paint a second time. Unlike some programs it won't complain and will just open up again with a blank sheet for your new drawing. Now you can switch back the original, copy the symbol you want and switch back to the new version of Paint and paste the symbol.

I hope I've explained that clearly and it resolves your problem.

[JohnBS]

This simple program is from a now-defunct company, and is easy to use. The library of parts is reasonable, but you can't add new components as the program is no longer supported!  Snapping etc is excellent, and you can move blocks around with the wires automatically stretching.  You can export a graphics file (I think it's bmp or similar options)

http://my.ece.ucsb.edu/York/Bobsclass/2C..._maker.htm

John

[Terry]

Unfortunately, it won't install under Win 7 ...

(64 bit)

[Mark Hennessy]

Unfortunately, it won't install under Win 7 ...

(64 bit)

Could you try an XP virtual machine?

https://zeltser.com/windows-xp-mode-for-...alization/

We do this a fair bit at work, and extremely useful it is, too

[Terry]

That link says it needs Windows 7 Professional but I'm running Home Premium Edition ...

[ppppenguin]

If there's a package you have to use and it won't instal under your OS then download VirtualBox and instal a copy of a suitable OS in a virtual machine. This is a fair bit of faffing around so only worth it if you really want that package.