Vector graphics component - search

[nighthunter85]

Hi friends. I need to make a PCB library conversion tool, but i want to check/edit graphically the converted library symbols. My qestion is, is there any component that handles zoomable vector graphics and grouping of basic vector shapes with the ability to edit them?

[jamie]

Thats a big request.

[circular]

Hello @nighthunter85 and welcome to the forum.

Maybe you can build on LazPaint vector shapes. The Vector Edit program is a simple editor of vector shapes. Even though they cannot be grouped within a layer, it is possible in theory to have multiple layers and so to group them like this.

[gidesa]

Hello,
there is the Simple Graph component for Delphi, ported to Lazarus with EvsSimpleGraph name:
https://github.com/taazz/EvsSimpleGraph

[MarkMLl]

Quite frankly, IMO the way to tackle this is to research existing work ("prior art"), dig out any existing projects, and build on those using their language of choice.

One will find it far easier to learn a new programming language, particularly with the fairly strong type checking etc. that most languages have by now inherited from Pascal, than to try to disentangle the algorithms and replicate the code that several people have worked on for months or years.

MarkMLl

[zamtmn]

https://github.com/zamtmn/zcad
his is not a separate component, but you can use the engine separately. in addition, this program has similar functionality as the goal of its development

[nighthunter85]

Quite frankly, IMO the way to tackle this is to research existing work ("prior art"), dig out any existing projects, and build on those using their language of choice.

One will find it far easier to learn a new programming language, particularly with the fairly strong type checking etc. that most languages have by now inherited from Pascal, than to try to disentangle the algorithms and replicate the code that several people have worked on for months or years.

MarkMLl

Can you please direct me to a easier language for this type? As an older embedded programmer i did not programmed graphical/editing UIs. I try to use what i know and i tought that in so many years the that also older languages are used and extended, there should be some codebase/library for my purpose, so i must not reinvent the wheel.

[MarkMLl]

Can you please direct me to a easier language for this type? As an older embedded programmer i did not programmed graphical/editing UIs. I try to use what i know and i tought that in so many years the that also older languages are used and extended, there should be some codebase/library for my purpose, so i must not reinvent the wheel.

No, because you've given us no information whatsoever about what you're trying to do.

What are you working with- KiCad? Eagle? Something open? Something closed? What research have you done already?

MarkMLl

[marcov]

I have a simple kicad 5 loader.

[zamtmn]

I can add that writing such a program is quite a difficult task. And the existing open source ones have (at the time when I was interested in this) various disadvantages. But now I would not start such a project from scratch, but would join the existing one

[MarkMLl]

I agree, and regrettably I have to say that that's even if the other- possibly incomplete- work done on it is in C++ or Python.

By and large, if one person has "an itch" for a particular filter or feature there will be more people who will agree that it's a good idea, and one will get absolutely no credit- or cooperation- if one suggests using a language with which they are unfamiliar (or which they deride as obsolete).

MarkMLl

[nighthunter85]

Hi friends, the ZCAD project looks great.
But to my problem: it is an old DOS based EDA software in wich ive drawn many projects. Now as im getting older and older i would like to convert my very old libraries and designs to new EDA packages just for demonstrational purposes and to still hold my brain cells busy (Kidad and eagle are well documented, and also converters are available so dont worry im not reinventing kicad<->eagle conversion, but the target platform will be kicad library format).
A little idea to convert old libs developed to a hobby longterm project. (The goal here is to make a working graphical viewer/converter for the libraries by myself (to learn some UI progamming).

Btw. im also (yes it was my era of computing) DOS fan, and im collecting every piece of EDA/engineering software for DOS (even the smaller not well knows ones) to show the younger generation. How this industry segment progressed.

[MarkMLl]

For a one-off like that I can definitely sympathise with the idea of selecting whatever language you feel comfortable with.

When I worked at Lowbrow there was a not-quite-PC set up with (IIRC) a 68K coprocessor board to run circuit design design software. as far as CAD in general was concerned, that was back in the days of PAFEC, BOXER, DOGS and so on.

MarkMLl

[avra]

You didn't identify your DOS PCB design software. If I had to guess it would be P-CAD. Maybe you're lucky and your problem is already solved?

https://kicad-info.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/original/3X/e/f/efc38db9efcd317febdc6ad5f74e73e26f22754e.png

[zamtmn]

Hi friends, the ZCAD project looks great.

you can try zcad for your own purposes, both inside (preferably) and both using the engine
https://forum.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php/topic,16665.0.html