Opening older Schema and downloading older KiCAD

[retiredfeline]

KiCad 5.1.0 was released 2019-03-14
KiCad 5.1.12 was released 2021-11-10

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So probably 5.1 is the version that generated it.

BTW you should be able to migrate it using 7.0.9 (two dots) but you should open the project with the project manager.

[ML9104]

Yes, open with project manager. Directly opening *.sch files won’t work.
BTW, upgrade to 7.0.11 first.

[paulvdh]

@ML9104

Yes, open with project manager. Directly opening *.sch files won’t work.

I just verified that it works for me. I made a copy of a KiCad V5 schematic (and it’s -cache) file, right clicked on it and opened it with the schematic editor for KiCad V8.0.5. It creates the -rescue.kicad_sym and even a sym-lib-table pointing to the rescue library.

But this behavior may be different when attempting to open it in KiCad V7.

[ML9104]

Post the file here. Then we can try.

[paulvdh]

I copied the schematic and the -cache files to my desktop (file dates from 2020-11-27), then opened them with the schematic editor, which created the three other files. Note it did not create a whole project!.

clock.zip (28.1 KB)

[fsonnichsen]

OK–I installed 8.0.5.
By “project manager” I assume you all mean the main panel that opens when you click the KiCAD 8.0 icon.
I opened my pro file from there, then tried to open the schematic but KiCAD is complaining that this is a foreign file. Per ML9104s suggestion I am attaching my file. I note that when I opened it the dates were from 2018–so maybe I am too far backlevel.

Th
BASIC - Copy.zip (55.0 KB)
anks all
Fritz

[fsonnichsen]

And one other thought–is there some metadata in the files that might five the version of KiCAD that was used? I see, in the schematic file: update=22/05/2015 07:44:53 version=1
I would be surprised if the files are that old however.

thanks
fritz

[paulvdh]

PIC18_DEV_basic.sch is a file in some binary format, It’s not from KiCad.

paul@cezanne:~/downloads/BASIC - Copy$ strings PIC18_DEV_basic.sch
J2nZQH
er{EXx’
qj0Y
PE{3
VkX ?b :%< O8 E Pnu^ KP~T ;C9' wEDA 0])5l`
bE7>qn
s(zn
,B:H
dBfuU
…

[BobZ]

Thanks for this discussion.

I am taking heed and opening ->re-saving some work which I did using older versions…

@fsonnichsen

that might five

???

[dsa-t]

Maybe your sch and pcb files were encrypted and/or compressed somehow?

There’s some resemblance of a header, but it’s not KiCad nor Eagle files.

[ML9104]

Certainly not KiCAD files, neither .sch nor .pcb.
The files are either from a different program or encrypted.
Sorry, can’t help further.

[dsa-t]

Analyze file format online recognizes the .sch file as “ExpressSCH schematic”.

[dsa-t]

And they open just fine in ExpressPCB Classic

[ML9104]

@dsa-t

Analyze file format online recognizes the .sch file as “ExpressSCH schematic”.

Cool link! Bookmarked.

[fsonnichsen]

OK and thanks–dsa-t. You beat me to it but I downloaded ExpressPCB and rendered the files as you have shown.
I guess what was confusing me, was that in the process of opening up the files with KiCAD it generated and labeled a “pro” file as such–so when I started investigating I just assumed it was KiCAD. not!.
Jeezz–been a long time since I used Express (KiCAD is superior!) but thinking back there was a team that asked me to give them some files in Express mode and I must have used it.
So-I will now look for my slightly later files in KiCAD for this project and see if they convert.

BobZ had a good approach though–I do this with some of my FreeCAD files and I have PDFs for Soldiworks (which I no longer have access too)

Sorry for all the bother–I know it takes you guys time and I always appreciate your help.
Maybe I am just getting too old for this—Naahhhh!

Fritz

[ML9104]

Good that you got it fixed.
Let me take the opportunity to praise the KiCAD data files:
they’re all text/ASCII, which is a fantastic value in itself. They’ll all be readable in a hundred years, whereas the proprietary stuff will all be dead and gone.
I love Open Source, and I especially love Open Data!

[paulvdh]

If you can’t find an ai to to the boring stuff, then maybe the following link works:

"Reverse" engineering from my gerber

i have lost a schematic (very old software), i have only a gerber file. list of components (in a4 paper) design to place component in paper in kicad i have import gerb to pcb, good, no drll, no silk. it is possible to make kicad automatically assign the track to the component pin when this is placed on top, in case of wrong placement the created scheme will be wrong. for example if a chip is put upside down the scheme will use the chip upside down, no check rules i replace a th…

Although, I’m guessing that is one of those “free” programs that keeps your data hostage instead. Sometimes you can pay for the Gerbers, or you only get them when ordering PCB’s from the same company. But the PCB is easy enough, just using PCB Editor / Place / Add Reference Image is a good enough help to reproduce a simple PCB like this.

[retiredfeline]

@fsonnichsen

the process of opening up the files with KiCAD it generated and labeled a “pro” file as

When you open a schematic and there isn’t a project file in the same directory KiCad creates a basic one.

@fsonnichsen

Maybe I am just getting too old for this

I figure that first I’ll forget what “circuit” is, then I’ll forget what “printed” is, and finally I’ll forget what “board” is.

[paulvdh]

@retiredfeline

When you open a schematic and there isn’t a project file in the same directory KiCad creates a basic one.

A few posts back:

Opening older Schema and downloading older KiCAD

I copied the schematic and the -cache files to my desktop (file dates from 2020-11-27), then opened them with the schematic editor, which created the three other files. Note it did not create a whole project!. [image] clock.zip (28.1 KB)