KiCad BOM Plugins For Excel
Overview
Welcome to the ultimate resource for KiCad BOM plugins for Excel, the indispensable tools for electronic designers and engineers seeking streamlined Bill of Materials (BOM) management. KiCad BOM plugins, including KiCost, KiBOM, and the recommended HTML BOM Plugin, enhance your workflow by offering capabilities such as loading HTML, adding custom fields, referencing CSV/Excel, and highlighting components. These plugins bridge the gap between KiCad's powerful PCB design environment and the versatile data handling features of Excel, making them valuable for generating BOMs tailored for quick HTML viewing, CSV output with intelligent component grouping, or ungrouped CSVs ideal for Pick&Place referencing. On this page, we'll dive into the essence of what KiCad BOM is, explore the synergy between KiCad BOM and Excel plugins, unpack common use cases, and answer frequently asked questions, ensuring you have a comprehensive understanding of how these plugins can optimize your electronic project documentation.
KiCad BOM Overview
KiCad BOM tool is a configurable Bill of Materials (BoM) generation tool specifically designed for use with KiCad EDA (Electronic Design Automation). It is a software service that facilitates the creation and management of BoMs for electronic projects designed in KiCad. The tool is written in Python and offers the versatility of being used without the need for additional external libraries or plugins.
The KiCad BOM intelligently groups components based on multiple factors such as value and footprint, ensuring an organized and efficient BoM structure. It supports the generation of BoM files in various output formats, including CSV, which can be tailored to meet the specific needs of different PCB assemblers.
Users can configure the KiCad BOM options on a per-project basis using a configuration file, typically named \"bom.ini\", which is located in the project directory. This file is created the first time the KiBoM script is run and allows users to set a wide range of options for the BoM generation process, such as component grouping, exclusion of components, and output file naming. The KiCad BOM tool can be easily installed through methods like PIP, direct download, or git clone, and is licensed under the MIT license.
KiCad BOM Plugins for Excel
Interactive HTML BOM Plugin
The Interactive HTML BOM plugin is recommended for users who need to export custom fields from KiCad. This plugin facilitates a more personalized approach to BOM management, allowing for a tailored export of data.
KiCost and KiBOM Plugins
KiCost and KiBOM are two plugins known for their extensive features. These plugins enhance the functionality of KiCad's BOM management system by providing additional capabilities for handling electronic components and bill of materials data.
Exporting BOM from KiCad Through PCBnew
The recommended method to obtain a BOM from KiCad is via PCBnew. Once the BOM is generated from PCBnew, it can be loaded into a spreadsheet application such as Excel. To ensure compatibility, users may need to modify field names when using the BOM with Excel.
Creating and Modifying BOM Plugins
Users have the flexibility to create their own BOM plugins for KiCad or modify existing ones. This level of customization allows users to tailor the BOM export process to their specific workflow requirements.
KiCad Excel Plugin - KiBOM
The KiCad Excel plugin, developed by @SchrodingersGat, is known as KiBOM. This plugin is capable of generating .csv and .xml files for use with Excel. However, users should be aware of the existing bug in the .xslx export feature.
Common Use Cases
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Use case 1: Exporting a detailed BOM from Eeschema for advanced assembly requirements, including mounting information and soldering profilesK
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Use case 2: Generating a simple BOM from Pcbnew for quick reference or small-scale production, which is then edited in a spreadsheet editorK
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Use case 3: Utilizing the KiBOM plugin to create .csv files for compatibility with various spreadsheet editors or to prepare for converting to .xlsx through LibreOfficeK
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Use case 4: Implementing a custom BOM plugin like the one for JLCPCB to meet specific fabrication and assembly service provider requirementsK
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Use case 5: Using the Interactive HTML BOM Plugin for both assembly assistance and diagnostics by providing an interactive BOM that can be further simplified for ExcelK
Frequently Asked Questions
Can KiCad BOM plugins export data directly to Excel?
KiCad BOM plugins can export a CSV file which can be imported into Excel.
What are the two main methods for generating a BOM in KiCad?
The two main methods are exporting from PCBnew, which creates a CSV file, and using eeschema, which utilizes a plugin system for BOM generation.
Can I customize the fields exported by a KiCad BOM plugin?
Yes, BOM plugins in KiCad can export custom fields and field labels can be tweaked to suit specific needs.
Are there plugins for KiCad that can group components by value in the BOM?
Yes, there are plugins available that can group components by value in the BOM.
What is the recommended plugin for neatness and simplicity when working with KiCad BOMs for Excel?
The Interactive HTML BOM Plugin is recommended for its neatness and it can also create a simpler BOM for use with Excel.
Conclusion
In conclusion, KiBOM serves as an effective plugin for KiCad, enabling the generation of BOMs as .csv or .xml files, with the capability to convert these files to .xlsx using LibreOffice command line utilities or directly with the xlsxwriter module. While exporting a BOM from Pcbnew is straightforward, it offers limited information such as value, footprint, and reference. On the other hand, Eeschema allows for a more detailed BOM, including extra fields like mounting information and soldering profiles, making it the recommended option by experts like Lion Circuits. However, for an even more streamlined process, consider using Sourcetable to import your KiCad BOM data directly into a spreadsheet. Sign up for Sourcetable to get started and simplify your BOM management without the need for additional plugins.
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