Loading files
"""
Dynamic Symbol Loader for KiCad Schematics
Loads symbols from .kicad_sym library files and injects them into schematics
on-the-fly using TEXT MANIPULATION (not sexpdata) to preserve file formatting.
This enables access to all ~10,000+ KiCad symbols dynamically.
"""
import logging
import os
import re
import uuid
from pathlib import Path
from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Tuple
logger = logging.getLogger("kicad_interface")
class DynamicSymbolLoader:
"""
Dynamically loads symbols from KiCad library files and injects them into schematics.
Uses raw text manipulation instead of sexpdata to avoid corrupting the KiCad file format.
Key rules for KiCad 9 .kicad_sch format:
- Top-level symbols in lib_symbols must have library prefix: (symbol "Device:R" ...)
- Sub-symbols must NOT have library prefix: (symbol "R_0_1" ...), (symbol "R_1_1" ...)
- Parent symbols must appear BEFORE child symbols that use (extends ...)
"""
def __init__(self, project_path: Optional[Path] = None):
self.symbol_cache = {} # Cache: "lib:symbol" -> raw text block
self.project_path = project_path # Project directory for project-specific libraries
def find_kicad_symbol_libraries(self) -> List[Path]:
"""Find all KiCad symbol library directories"""
possible_paths = [
Path("/usr/share/kicad/symbols"),
Path("/usr/local/share/kicad/symbols"),
Path("C:/Program Files/KiCad/9.0/share/kicad/symbols"),
Path("C:/Program Files/KiCad/8.0/share/kicad/symbols"),
Path("/Applications/KiCad/KiCad.app/Contents/SharedSupport/symbols"),
Path.home() / ".local" / "share" / "kicad" / "10.0" / "symbols",
Path.home() / ".local" / "share" / "kicad" / "9.0" / "symbols",
Path.home() / "Documents" / "KiCad" / "10.0" / "3rdparty" / "symbols",
Path.home() / "Documents" / "KiCad" / "9.0" / "3rdparty" / "symbols",
]
for env_var in [
"KICAD10_SYMBOL_DIR",
"KICAD9_SYMBOL_DIR",
"KICAD8_SYMBOL_DIR",
"KICAD_SYMBOL_DIR",
]:
if env_var in os.environ:
possible_paths.insert(0, Path(os.environ[env_var]))
return [p for p in possible_paths if p.exists() and p.is_dir()]
def find_library_file(self, library_name: str) -> Optional[Path]:
"""Find the .kicad_sym file for a given library name.
Search order:
1. Project-specific sym-lib-table (if project_path is set)
2. Global KiCad symbol library directories
"""
# 1. Check project-specific sym-lib-table
if self.project_path:
project_table = Path(self.project_path) / "sym-lib-table"
if project_table.exists():
resolved = self._resolve_library_from_table(project_table, library_name)
if resolved:
logger.info(f"Found '{library_name}' in project sym-lib-table: {resolved}")
return resolved
# 2. Fall back to global KiCad symbol directories
for lib_dir in self.find_kicad_symbol_libraries():
lib_file = lib_dir / f"{library_name}.kicad_sym"
if lib_file.exists():
return lib_file
logger.warning(f"Library file not found: {library_name}.kicad_sym")
return None
def _resolve_library_from_table(self, table_path: Path, library_name: str) -> Optional[Path]:
"""Parse a sym-lib-table file and return the resolved path for the given library nickname."""
try:
with open(table_path, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
content = f.read()
lib_pattern = (
r'\(lib\s+\(name\s+"?([^"\)\s]+)"?\)\s*\(type\s+[^)]+\)\s*\(uri\s+"?([^"\)\s]+)"?'
)
for match in re.finditer(lib_pattern, content, re.IGNORECASE):
nickname = match.group(1)
if nickname != library_name:
continue
uri = match.group(2)
resolved = self._resolve_sym_uri(uri)
if resolved and Path(resolved).exists():
return Path(resolved)
except Exception as e:
logger.warning(f"Could not parse sym-lib-table {table_path}: {e}")
return None
def _resolve_sym_uri(self, uri: str) -> Optional[str]:
"""Resolve environment variables in a sym-lib-table URI."""
env_map = {
"KICAD10_SYMBOL_DIR": [
"/usr/share/kicad/symbols",
"C:/Program Files/KiCad/10.0/share/kicad/symbols",
"/Applications/KiCad/KiCad.app/Contents/SharedSupport/symbols",
],
"KICAD9_SYMBOL_DIR": [
"C:/Program Files/KiCad/9.0/share/kicad/symbols",
"/usr/share/kicad/symbols",
"/Applications/KiCad/KiCad.app/Contents/SharedSupport/symbols",
],
"KICAD8_SYMBOL_DIR": [
"C:/Program Files/KiCad/8.0/share/kicad/symbols",
],
"KIPRJMOD": [str(self.project_path)] if self.project_path else [],
}
result = uri
for var, candidates in env_map.items():
if f"${{{var}}}" in result:
for candidate in candidates:
candidate_path = result.replace(f"${{{var}}}", candidate)
if Path(candidate_path).exists():
return candidate_path
# Fallback: try OS env
if var in os.environ:
return result.replace(f"${{{var}}}", os.environ[var])
return result
def _extract_symbol_block(self, text: str, symbol_name: str) -> Optional[str]:
"""
Extract a complete symbol block from a library or schematic file by matching
parentheses depth. Returns the raw text of the symbol definition.
"""
lines = text.split("\n")
start = None
for i, line in enumerate(lines):
stripped = line.strip()
# Match exact symbol name (not sub-symbols like Name_0_1)
if stripped.startswith(f'(symbol "{symbol_name}"') and not re.match(
r'.*_\d+_\d+"', stripped
):
start = i
break
if start is None:
return None
depth = 0
end = None
for i in range(start, len(lines)):
for ch in lines[i]:
if ch == "(":
depth += 1
elif ch == ")":
depth -= 1
if depth == 0:
end = i
break
if end is not None:
break
if end is None:
return None
return "\n".join(lines[start : end + 1])
def _iter_top_level_items(self, symbol_block: str) -> list:
"""
Extract each top-level s-expression item from inside a symbol block.
Starts after the first line (symbol header) and stops before the final
closing parenthesis. Returns a list of raw text strings.
"""
lines = symbol_block.split("\n")
items = []
i = 1 # skip first line: (symbol "Name" ...)
n = len(lines)
while i < n:
line = lines[i]
stripped = line.strip()
if not stripped:
i += 1
continue
# The final closing paren of the symbol itself
if stripped == ")" and i == n - 1:
break
if not stripped.startswith("("):
i += 1
continue
# Collect a balanced s-expression starting here
depth = 0
item_start = i
while i < n:
for ch in lines[i]:
if ch == "(":
depth += 1
elif ch == ")":
depth -= 1
i += 1
if depth == 0:
break
items.append("\n".join(lines[item_start:i]))
return items
def _inline_extends_symbol(self, lib_content: str, symbol_name: str, child_block: str) -> str:
"""
Fully inline a child symbol that uses (extends "ParentName") by merging
the parent's pins / graphics into the child definition.
KiCad 9 does NOT support (extends ...) inside a schematic's lib_symbols
section. This method produces a self-contained, fully-resolved symbol
block – exactly what KiCad itself writes when saving a schematic.
Algorithm:
1. Extract the parent block from the library text.
2. Take every top-level item from the parent (pin_names, properties,
sub-symbols, …).
3. For each property, use the child's override if one exists; otherwise
keep the parent's value.
4. Rename parent sub-symbols (ParentName_0_1 → ChildName_0_1).
5. Append any child-only properties that do not exist in the parent.
6. Return the merged block named after the child – no (extends …) left.
"""
extends_match = re.search(r'\(extends "([^"]+)"\)', child_block)
if not extends_match:
return child_block
parent_name = extends_match.group(1)
parent_block = self._extract_symbol_block(lib_content, parent_name)
if not parent_block:
logger.warning(
f"Cannot resolve parent '{parent_name}' for '{symbol_name}' "
"- stripping extends clause (symbol may be incomplete)"
)
return re.sub(r"\s*\(extends \"[^\"]+\"\)\n?", "", child_block)
# Collect child property overrides: prop_name -> raw block text
child_props: dict = {}
for item in self._iter_top_level_items(child_block):
m = re.match(r'[\s\t]*\(property "([^"]+)"', item)
if m:
child_props[m.group(1)] = item
# Walk parent items, applying child overrides
body_lines = []
parent_prop_names: set = set()
for item in self._iter_top_level_items(parent_block):
prop_match = re.match(r'[\s\t]*\(property "([^"]+)"', item)
sub_match = re.search(r'\(symbol "' + re.escape(parent_name) + r'_\d+_\d+"', item)
if prop_match:
pname = prop_match.group(1)
parent_prop_names.add(pname)
body_lines.append(child_props[pname] if pname in child_props else item)
elif sub_match:
# Rename ParentName_0_1 → ChildName_0_1
body_lines.append(item.replace(f'"{parent_name}_', f'"{symbol_name}_'))
elif re.match(r"[\s\t]*\(extends ", item):
pass # drop extends clause
else:
body_lines.append(item) # pin_names, in_bom, on_board …
# Append child-only properties absent from parent
for pname, pblock in child_props.items():
if pname not in parent_prop_names:
body_lines.append(pblock)
first_line = parent_block.split("\n")[0].replace(f'"{parent_name}"', f'"{symbol_name}"')
last_line = parent_block.split("\n")[-1]
return first_line + "\n" + "\n".join(body_lines) + "\n" + last_line
def extract_symbol_from_library(self, library_name: str, symbol_name: str) -> Optional[str]:
"""
Extract a symbol definition from a KiCad .kicad_sym library file.
Returns the raw text block, ready to be injected into a schematic.
The returned block has:
- Top-level name prefixed with library: (symbol "Library:Name" ...)
- Sub-symbol names WITHOUT prefix: (symbol "Name_0_1" ...)
"""
cache_key = f"{library_name}:{symbol_name}"
if cache_key in self.symbol_cache:
return self.symbol_cache[cache_key]
lib_path = self.find_library_file(library_name)
if not lib_path:
return None
with open(lib_path, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
lib_content = f.read()
block = self._extract_symbol_block(lib_content, symbol_name)
if block is None:
logger.warning(f"Symbol '{symbol_name}' not found in {library_name}.kicad_sym")
return None
# If the symbol uses (extends "ParentName"), inline the parent content
# so that the result is a fully self-contained definition.
# (extends ...) is only valid in .kicad_sym files; KiCad 9 refuses to
# load a schematic whose lib_symbols section contains it.
if re.search(r'\(extends "([^"]+)"\)', block):
parent_name = re.search(r'\(extends "([^"]+)"\)', block).group(1)
logger.info(f"Symbol {symbol_name} extends {parent_name}, inlining parent content")
block = self._inline_extends_symbol(lib_content, symbol_name, block)
# Prefix top-level symbol name with library
full_name = f"{library_name}:{symbol_name}"
block = block.replace(
f'(symbol "{symbol_name}"',
f'(symbol "{full_name}"',
1, # Only first occurrence (top-level)
)
# Sub-symbols like "Name_0_1" keep their short names (already correct from library)
result = block
self.symbol_cache[cache_key] = result
logger.info(f"Extracted symbol {full_name} ({len(result)} chars)")
return result
def inject_symbol_into_schematic(
self, schematic_path: Path, library_name: str, symbol_name: str
) -> bool:
"""
Inject a symbol definition into a schematic's lib_symbols section.
Uses text manipulation to preserve file formatting.
"""
full_name = f"{library_name}:{symbol_name}"
with open(schematic_path, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
content = f.read()
# Check if symbol already exists
if f'(symbol "{full_name}"' in content:
logger.info(f"Symbol {full_name} already exists in schematic")
return True
# Extract symbol from library
symbol_block = self.extract_symbol_from_library(library_name, symbol_name)
if not symbol_block:
raise ValueError(f"Symbol '{symbol_name}' not found in library '{library_name}'")
# Indent the block to match lib_symbols indentation (4 spaces for top-level)
indented_lines = []
for line in symbol_block.split("\n"):
# Add 4-space indent for the content inside lib_symbols
indented_lines.append(" " + line if line.strip() else line)
indented_block = "\n".join(indented_lines)
# Find the end of lib_symbols section using string search (format-independent,
# works even when sexpdata.dumps() has compacted the file to a single line)
lib_sym_start = content.find("(lib_symbols")
if lib_sym_start == -1:
raise ValueError("No lib_symbols section found in schematic")
depth = 0
lib_sym_end = lib_sym_start
for i in range(lib_sym_start, len(content)):
if content[i] == "(":
depth += 1
elif content[i] == ")":
depth -= 1
if depth == 0:
lib_sym_end = i
break
else:
raise ValueError("No lib_symbols section found in schematic")
# Insert the symbol block just before the closing ) of lib_symbols
content = content[:lib_sym_end] + "\n " + indented_block + "\n " + content[lib_sym_end:]
with open(schematic_path, "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
f.write(content)
# Handle both Path objects and strings
sch_name = schematic_path.name if hasattr(schematic_path, "name") else str(schematic_path)
logger.info(f"Injected symbol {full_name} into {sch_name}")
return True
def create_component_instance(
self,
schematic_path: Path,
library_name: str,
symbol_name: str,
reference: str,
value: str = "",
footprint: str = "",
x: float = 0,
y: float = 0,
) -> bool:
"""
Add a component instance to the schematic.
This creates the (symbol ...) block with lib_id reference.
"""
full_lib_id = f"{library_name}:{symbol_name}"
new_uuid = str(uuid.uuid4())
instance_block = f""" (symbol (lib_id "{full_lib_id}") (at {x} {y} 0) (unit 1)
(in_bom yes) (on_board yes) (dnp no)
(uuid "{new_uuid}")
(property "Reference" "{reference}" (at {x} {y - 2.54} 0)
(effects (font (size 1.27 1.27)))
)
(property "Value" "{value or symbol_name}" (at {x} {y + 2.54} 0)
(effects (font (size 1.27 1.27)))
)
(property "Footprint" "{footprint}" (at {x} {y} 0)
(effects (font (size 1.27 1.27)) (hide yes))
)
(property "Datasheet" "~" (at {x} {y} 0)
(effects (font (size 1.27 1.27)) (hide yes))
)
(instances
(project "project"
(path "/"
(reference "{reference}")
(unit 1)
)
)
)
)"""
with open(schematic_path, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
content = f.read()
# Insert before (sheet_instances using direct string search.
# This works for both pretty-printed and sexpdata-compacted single-line files.
insert_marker = "(sheet_instances"
insert_at = content.rfind(insert_marker)
if insert_at == -1:
raise ValueError("Could not find insertion point in schematic")
content = content[:insert_at] + instance_block + "\n " + content[insert_at:]
with open(schematic_path, "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
f.write(content)
logger.info(f"Added component instance {reference} ({full_lib_id}) at ({x}, {y})")
return True
def load_symbol_dynamically(
self, schematic_path: Path, library_name: str, symbol_name: str
) -> str:
"""
Complete workflow: inject symbol definition and create a template instance.
Returns a template reference name.
"""
logger.info(f"Loading symbol dynamically: {library_name}:{symbol_name}")
# Step 1: Inject symbol definition into lib_symbols
self.inject_symbol_into_schematic(schematic_path, library_name, symbol_name)
# Step 2: Create an offscreen template instance
lib_clean = library_name.replace("-", "_").replace(".", "_")
sym_clean = symbol_name.replace("-", "_").replace(".", "_")
template_ref = f"_TEMPLATE_{lib_clean}_{sym_clean}"
self.create_component_instance(
schematic_path,
library_name,
symbol_name,
reference=template_ref,
value=symbol_name,
x=-200,
y=-200,
)
logger.info(f"Symbol loaded. Template reference: {template_ref}")
return template_ref
def add_component(
self,
schematic_path: Path,
library_name: str,
symbol_name: str,
reference: str,
value: str = "",
footprint: str = "",
x: float = 0,
y: float = 0,
project_path: Optional[Path] = None,
) -> bool:
"""
High-level: ensure symbol definition exists in schematic, then add an instance.
This is the main entry point for adding components.
Args:
project_path: Optional project directory. When set, project-specific
sym-lib-table is also searched for the library file.
"""
if project_path:
self.project_path = project_path
# Ensure symbol definition is in lib_symbols
self.inject_symbol_into_schematic(schematic_path, library_name, symbol_name)
# Add the component instance
return self.create_component_instance(
schematic_path,
library_name,
symbol_name,
reference=reference,
value=value,
footprint=footprint,
x=x,
y=y,
)
if __name__ == "__main__":
logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)
loader = DynamicSymbolLoader()
print("\n=== Testing Dynamic Symbol Loader (Text-based) ===\n")
print("1. Finding KiCad symbol library directories...")
lib_dirs = loader.find_kicad_symbol_libraries()
print(f" Found {len(lib_dirs)} directories")
print("\n2. Extracting symbols...")
for lib, sym in [
("Device", "R"),
("Device", "C"),
("Device", "LED"),
("Device", "Q_NMOS"),
]:
block = loader.extract_symbol_from_library(lib, sym)
if block:
print(f" OK: {lib}:{sym} ({len(block)} chars)")
else:
print(f" FAIL: {lib}:{sym}")
print("\n3. Testing extends resolution...")
block = loader.extract_symbol_from_library("Regulator_Switching", "LM2596S-5")
if block and "LM2596S-12" in block:
print(f" OK: LM2596S-5 includes parent LM2596S-12 ({len(block)} chars)")
else:
print(f" FAIL: extends not resolved")
print("\nAll tests passed!")
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