Express SCH info - Download links - Custom components file - Sch File Index

[EL34]

Here's the link to the sch file library index
http://el34world.com/charts/SchFiles.php

I see this asked all the time and so I set up this sticky post.
If you want to open the .sch files here on the forum, you have to Download one of the programs below

Download link for ExpressPCB/ExpressSch
https://www.expresspcb.com/pcb-cad-software/

or

Jschem is a java based program that works on any platform
It can import .sch files
Jschem creates .jsch files
Download link for Jschem
http://jschem.bplaced.net/

Custom tube amp components for Express SCH
Here's is a zip file with all my .sch tube amp symbols
My sch components collection

And another component file
http://el34world.com/charts/SchFiles/complib.zip

More info further down the page about adding custom components



My first tip is that Jschem can import .sch files and export them in several formats like (PDF, JPG, GIF, PNG)
There's no need to do this in ExpressSch.
Use the pull down menu to expose all the different file types that Jschem can save your .sch file as.
Save your file as .gif or .png
.jpg is for photo images, the quality is not very good for line drawing type images. jpg leaves lots of little artifacts around the lines.



Here's two ways I do it in ExpressSch

ExpressSch can only export as Bitmap .bmp files
.bmp are drawing files, but they are way larger than .gif files
But you can open a .bmp file in your favorite drawing program and then save it as a .gif file
I use paint shop pro to do this


Method #1
Open the .sch file in ExpressSch
Go to the File menu and pick Export Schematic image
Export the sch drawing as a Bitmap file



Open the .bmp file in your drawing program ( I use Paint shop pro)
Edit the file, crop it down, etc
Save the file as a .gif file in your drawing program.


Method #2
You can capture screen shots on PC's
This is handy if you just want to grab a quick shot of anything displayed on your screen.
You can grab just a small section of a drawing, like just one tube, zoom in very close on something, etc
Whatever you capture gets put onto the Windows clipboard as temp storage.
Then your drawing program can access the windows clipboard to get that data.
The images in this post are all screen shots.

Position the drawing or whatever you want to copy on your screen so you can see it.
Hit the PrtSc or Print Screen button on your keyboard (upper right on most windows keyboards)
You may have to hit shift or function to get the Print Screen button to capture.

Open your favorite drawing program
Find the Paste as new Image function, (most likely in the edit menu.)
I use Paint shop pro, but I am sure most drawing programs are able to do this.
Modify the image, crop it, etc and then save it as a .gif or .png

[EL34]

Here's my component file.
Custom sch components

Download this zip file.
Unzip it into your ExpressPCB folder.
The next time you open Express Sch, click on the components manager button and then tick the custom components box to see all the new symbols.
 
If the SchComponents_Custom folder does not exist, it will be created when you unzip it.
If you already have a SchComponents_Custom folder, just add the files into your folder
 
Put all the component files in this folder.




Click on the picture of the desktop or navigate to your desktop with the up arrow at the top of the box.
Click Save after you have chosen your desktop as the save location.

[EL34]

The file will download to your desktop.
Click Close after it is done downloading.

[EL34]

Go to your desktop and then right click your mouse on the SchComponents_Custom.zip file icon.
A dialog box will open.
Choose Extract all

[EL34]

A dialog box will open.
Click Next

[EL34]

The dialog box on the left opens first.
Hit the Browse button.
Browse down to the ExpressPCB folder using the image on the right as your guide.
The ExpressPCB folder should be highlighted just like in the picture.
Press the Next button.

[EL34]

The SchComponents_Custom folder is now extracted under the ExpressPCB folder.
If you did not have the folder, it is created there.
Uncheck the Show extracted files box
Click Finish.
 
If you already had the SchComponents_Custom folder, you will want to extract the zip folder and then move all the files inside into your SchComponents_Custom folder.
 
The next time you start the Express SCh program, there will be a bunch of new custom components. 

[EL34]

Here's the link to the sch file library index
http://el34world.com/charts/SchFiles.php

I see this asked all the time and so I set up this sticky post.
If you want to open the .sch files here on the forum, you have to Download one of the programs below

Download link for ExpressPCB/ExpressSch
http://www.expresspcb.com/expresspcbhtm/Download.htm

or

Jschem is a java based program that works on any platform
Jschem can import .sch files
Download link for Jschem
http://dhost.info/jschem/

Custom tube amp components for Express SCH
Here's is a zip file with all my .sch tube amp symbols
My .sch components collection

See this post about adding custom components
http://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=590.0

Unzip the file and copy all the files inside to the SchComponents_Custom folder after you have installed Express PCB/SCH





My first tip is that Jschem can import .sch files and export them in several formats like (PDF, JPG, GIF, PNG)
There's no need to do this in ExpressSch.
Use the pull down menu to expose all the different file types that Jschem can save your .sch file as.
Save your file as .gif or .png
.jpg is for photo images, the quality is not very good for line drawing type images. jpg leaves lots of little artifacts around the lines.



Here's two ways I do it in ExpressSch

ExpressSch can only export as Bitmap .bmp files
.bmp are drawing files, but they are way larger than .gif files
But you can open a .bmp file in your favorite drawing program and then save it as a .gif file
I use paint shop pro to do this


Method #1
Open the .sch file in ExpressSch
Go to the File menu and pick Export Schematic image
Export the sch drawing as a Bitmap file



Open the .bmp file in your drawing program ( I use Paint shop pro)
Edit the file, crop it down, etc
Save the file as a .gif file in your drawing program.


Method #2
You can capture screen shots on PC's
This is handy if you just want to grab a quick shot of anything displayed on your screen.
You can grab just a small section of a drawing, like just one tube, zoom in very close on something, etc
Whatever you capture gets put onto the Windows clipboard as temp storage.
Then your drawing program can access the windows clipboard to get that data.
The images in this post are all screen shots.

Position the drawing or whatever you want to copy on your screen so you can see it.
Hit the PrtSc or Print Screen button on your keyboard (upper right on most windows keyboards)
You may have to hit shift or function to get the Print Screen button to capture.

Open your favorite drawing program
Find the Paste as new Image function, (most likely in the edit menu.)
I use Paint shop pro, but I am sure most drawing programs are able to do this.
Modify the image, crop it, etc and then save it as a .gif or .png