KICAD File Parser (.NET 8.0 based)

Simple .NET based parser for KICAD files. Currently supported formats are:

• project
• pcbnew
• kicad_mod
• fp-lib-table
• eeschema
• kicad_sym
• sym-lib-table

How to use

Project

Add nuget package to your project:

dotnet add package MSDMarkwort.Kicad.Parser.Project

or via Visual Studio Package Manager.

Example with file on disk

var parser = new KicadProjectParser(); var parserResult = parser.Parse("myproject.kicad_pro");

if(parser.Success) { var project = parser.Result;

//... }

Eeschema

Add nuget package to your project:

dotnet add package MSDMarkwort.Kicad.Parser.EESchema

or via Visual Studio Package Manager.

Example with file on disk

var parser = new EESchemaParser();
var parserResult = parser.Parse("myproject.kicad_sch");

if(parser.Success)
{
    var eeschema = parser.Result;
    var title = eeschema.TitleBlock.Title;
    
   //... 
}

Example using streams

var stream = new MemoryStream(...)
var parser = new PcbNewParser();
var parserResult = parser.Parse(stream);

if(parser.Success)
{
    var pcb = parser.Result;
    var title = eeschema.TitleBlock.Title;
    
   //... 
}

Symbol libary & symbols

With the Eeschema library it is also possible to load the symbol library table file and symbol files.

var parser = new SymLibTableParser();
var parserResult = parser.Parse("sym-lib-table");

if(parser.Success)
{
    var symLib = parser.Result;
    var version = symLib.Version;
    
   //... 
}

var parser = new SymLibParser();
var parserResult = parser.Parse("mysymbol.kicad_sym");

if(parser.Success)
{
    var symbol = parser.Result;
    var version = symbol.Version;
    
   //... 
}

Pcbnew

Add nuget package to your project:

dotnet add package MSDMarkwort.Kicad.Parser.PcbNew

Example with file on disk

var parser = new PcbNewParser();
var parserResult = parser.Parse("myproject.kicad_pcb");

if(parser.Success)
{
    var pcb = parser.Result;
    var title = pcb.TitleBlock.Title;
    
   //... 
}

Example using streams

var stream = new MemoryStream(...)
var parser = new PcbNewParser();
var parserResult = parser.Parse(stream);

if(parser.Success)
{
    var pcb = parser.Result;
    var title = pcb.TitleBlock.Title;
    
   //... 
}

Footprint libary & footprints

With the Pcbnew library it is also possible to load the fottprint library table file and footprint files.

var parser = new FootprintLibTableParser();
var parserResult = parser.Parse("fp-lib-table");

if(parser.Success)
{
    var footprintLib = parser.Result;
    var version = footprintLib.Version;
    
   //... 
}

var parser = new FootprintLibParser();
var parserResult = parser.Parse("mysymbol.kicad_mod");

if(parser.Success)
{
    var footprint = parser.Result;
    var version = footprint.Version;
    
   //... 
}

FAQ

The parser result property Success is false

In this case parsing was not successful. May be due to a bug in this libray or an unsupported file.

What is the minimum version of Kicad files that can be parsed?

Minimum file version of kicad_sch, kicad_pcb, kicad_sym & kicad_mod is 20200829 which should be Kicad 6.0.

What does the Warning property of the parser result mean?

A warning is generated if,

• a property is missing
• a property has the wrong type.
• file version is too old

Any warning except the version warning is interesstant to me. Please let me know.

Will Kicad legacy versions be supported?

No.

Will there be writers in the future

Yes.

Are enums currently supported?

No, but that is planned.