KatieCAD 1.1.7

A feature update for KatieCAD, the open-source electrical CAD for switchgear construction, distribution boards and building installation.

What's new

• External references (XREF)
  Insert another drawing (.cadjson, also DXF or DWG) like a block, without copying it. Blocks › External references (XREF)… or the command XREF opens a window with all references: attach, switch on/off, update, change the path or remove. References are display-only, object snap works, hidden layers of the source stay out, and changes in the source file show up automatically. Great for floor plans that several drawings share.
• Terminals as a rectangle
  In the terminal dialog you can now choose between the circle and a rectangle with the number in the middle. Terminals placed side by side sit flush and form a terminal strip like in a real schematic. Both appearances can be mixed; old drawings stay as they are.
• Spanish title blocks
  New title block templates in Spanish (A4, A3 and A2–A0). The Spanish field names (for example DIBUJADO, REVISADO, PAGINA, FORMATO) are filled in automatically, just like the German and English ones.
• Safer with files from others
  A security review hardened how KatieCAD handles foreign files: manipulated projects, drawings, pictures and fonts can no longer reach files outside the project or use up the memory, and exports no longer run as Excel formulas.
• Smaller improvements
  The AppImage build checks the downloaded appimagetool by checksum.

Highlights

• Projects with several sheets, title blocks and automatic fields
• Wires, pins and junctions; wires are traced across sheets
• Cross references chained across sheets and devices with electrical mask
• Terminals, cables and a coordinate field in A4 or A3
• Symbol library with standard symbols, plus your own blocks (with variants) and a block browser
• Documentation generator: cover sheet, table of contents, device list, terminal plan, cable plan, PLC list and more, with CSV, Excel and PDF output
• General 2D CAD: drawing and editing tools, object snap, layers (with import and template), dimensions, layout view with viewports, DXF and DWG import/export, external references, PDF and image import, PDF export with layers
• Building floor plans with walls, doors, windows, openings, rooms and cable ducts
• Simple 3D modelling with control cabinet blocks, work planes, object snap and 3D views in layout viewports
• German, English and Spanish user interface, switchable at runtime
• User guides in German and English (docs/)

Downloads

System	File
Windows	KatieCAD-Setup_v1.1.7.exe
macOS (Apple Silicon)	KatieCAD-macOS-arm_64_v1.1.7.dmg
Linux (Debian/Ubuntu)	KatieCAD-Linux-x86_64_v1.1.7.deb
Linux (other)	KatieCAD-Linux-x86_64_v1.1.7.tar.xz

Notes

• The programs are not code-signed. Windows may show a SmartScreen warning (More info > Run anyway); on macOS use right-click > Open on first start.
• Existing projects open as before.
• DWG files in the older R2007 format are read with limitations; if something looks wrong, save the file as DXF or as a newer DWG from the source program.
• From this version on KatieCAD is licensed under the BSD 3-Clause License (earlier versions were released under the MIT License).

Bug reports and ideas are welcome under Issues.

KatieCAD 1.1.6

A feature update for KatieCAD, the open-source electrical CAD for switchgear construction, distribution boards and building installation.

What's new

• DWG export without extra software
  Export your drawing or the whole project as DWG, built in and without an external converter (the ODA File Converter is no longer used). The project export writes all sheets side by side into one DXF or DWG file. Elements the DWG format cannot take over directly are written as lines and arcs, and KatieCAD reports what was affected.
• One Import and one Export
  File › Import… reads DWG, DXF, PDF and images and recognises the format by the file extension; File › Export… writes DXF or DWG. When you import into a drawing that already has content, KatieCAD asks whether to open the file as a new drawing or insert it into the current one. Files whose content lies only in a layout are now imported too.
• Cable ducts in 2D and 3D
  New Cable duct and Join ducts tools with width and height, alignment (centre, left, right), hatch and automatic fittings (coupler, elbow, tee). Great for cabinet views and building plans.
• Wall openings and a new "Building" toolbar
  Wall openings work like windows, just without glazing. Wall, door, window, opening, room and the duct tools now live in their own toolbar that you can place freely.
• Standard lettering (ISO)
  Built-in single-stroke fonts "ISO" and "ISO kursiv" after ISO 3098 / DIN 6776, nothing to install. In the DXF export you can choose between editable text and plain lines. Generated documents can use their own font.
• Grid colour and a steadier grid
  Choose the grid colour next to the background colour (with presets and a reset). The grid is now counted from the origin, so major lines no longer jump with zoom and pan.
• Faster with large drawings
  Elements outside the view and sub-pixel elements are skipped for big drawings; zooming into a large imported drawing is proved to be considerably faster in our test. Settings › Show drawing speed displays the redraw times. Zoom Extents now also works for very large drawings.
• Smaller improvements and fixes
  Toolbars keep their order and can be dragged between each other, selected hatches keep their layer colour, the Project menu entry is now called Print project…, and importing DXF files no longer fails with an error.

Highlights

• Projects with several sheets, title blocks and automatic fields
• Wires, pins and junctions; wires are traced across sheets
• Cross references chained across sheets and devices with electrical mask
• Terminals, cables and a coordinate field in A4 or A3
• Symbol library with about 50 standard symbols, plus your own blocks (with variants) and a block browser
• Documentation generator: cover sheet, table of contents, device list, terminal plan, cable plan, PLC list and more, with CSV, Excel and PDF output
• General 2D CAD: drawing and editing tools, object snap, layers (with import and template), dimensions, layout view with viewports, DXF and DWG import/export, PDF and image import, PDF export with layers
• Building floor plans with walls, doors, windows, openings, rooms and cable ducts
• Simple 3D modelling with control cabinet blocks, work planes, object snap and 3D views in layout viewports
• German, English and Spanish user interface, switchable at runtime
• User guides in German and English (docs/)

Downloads

System	File
Windows	KatieCAD-Setup_v1.1.6.exe
macOS (Apple Silicon)	KatieCAD-macOS-arm_64_v1.1.6.dmg
Linux (Debian/Ubuntu)	KatieCAD-Linux-x86_64_v1.1.6.deb
Linux (other)	KatieCAD-Linux-x86_64_v1.1.6.tar.xz

Notes

• The programs are not code-signed. Windows may show a SmartScreen warning (More info > Run anyway); on macOS use right-click > Open on first start.
• Existing projects open as before.
• DWG files in the older R2007 format are read with limitations; if something looks wrong, save the file as DXF or as a newer DWG from the source program.
• Licensed under the MIT License.

Bug reports and ideas are welcome under Issues.

KatieCAD 1.1.5

A feature update for KatieCAD, the open-source electrical CAD for switchgear construction, distribution boards and building installation.

What's new

• Reorganised menus
  New Settings menu (replaces the Language tab) with language, colour scheme, font management and the background colours for model and layout. Edit is grouped into submenus (with Copy and Manipulator at the top), Insert › Dimension is a submenu of its own, and the redundant single-line entry was removed from the Project menu.
• Background presets in the colour dialog
  The background colour dialog now offers the same presets as the toolbar field, for both model and layout.
• Exploded blocks keep their attributes
  When you explode a block, its attributes stay attributes (the current value becomes the default), so the result can be edited and turned into a block again.
• Object snap and Ortho when dragging line ends
  While you drag the end point of a line by its grip, Ortho and object snap work, including the intersection snap with other lines. A line can now be shortened or extended exactly to a crossing.
• Menus on multi-monitor setups (Windows)
  Drop-down menus now open on the monitor where KatieCAD is running instead of on the main screen.

Highlights

• Projects with several sheets, title blocks and automatic fields
• Wires, pins and junctions; wires are traced across sheets
• Cross references chained across sheets and devices with electrical mask
• Terminals, cables and a coordinate field in A4 or A3
• Symbol library with about 50 standard symbols, plus your own blocks (with variants) and a block browser
• Documentation generator: cover sheet, table of contents, device list, terminal plan, cable plan, PLC list and more, with CSV, Excel and PDF output
• General 2D CAD: drawing and editing tools, object snap, layers (with import and template), dimensions, layout view with viewports, DXF import/export, DWG import, PDF and image import, PDF export with layers
• Building floor plans with walls, doors, windows and rooms
• Simple 3D modelling with control cabinet blocks, work planes, object snap and 3D views in layout viewports
• German, English and Spanish user interface, switchable at runtime
• User guides in German and English (docs/)

Downloads

System	File
Windows	KatieCAD-Setup_v1.1.5.exe
macOS (Apple Silicon)	KatieCAD-macOS-arm_64_v1.1.5.dmg
Linux (Debian/Ubuntu)	KatieCAD-Linux-x86_64_v1.1.5.deb
Linux (other)	KatieCAD-Linux-x86_64_v1.1.5.tar.xz

Notes

• The programs are not code-signed. Windows may show a SmartScreen warning (More info > Run anyway); on macOS use right-click > Open on first start.
• Existing projects open as before.
• Licensed under the MIT License.

Bug reports and ideas are welcome under Issues.

KatieCAD 1.1.4

A feature update for KatieCAD, the open-source electrical CAD for switchgear construction, distribution boards and building installation.

What's new

• Spanish user interface
  Language › Español: menus, dialogs, messages, the F1 shortcut overview, dates and title blocks are available in German, English and Spanish. The choice is remembered, and the Windows installer speaks Spanish too. Many thanks to AnabasaSoft for the initial translation!
• Block variants
  One block or device can hold several variants, e.g. a socket in four orientations with suitably placed function texts. Add them with Blocks › Add variant to block…, choose the variant when inserting or by double-clicking the device.
• Texts in blocks are never upside down
  If a block is rotated so that a text would end up upside down, it is turned back and stays readable. Vertical texts (90° / 270°) remain possible.
• Layers: import and template
  In the layer dialog: Import from file… copies layers (colour and weight) from another drawing or project, Save as template uses your layers for every new drawing. Inserting a block now creates missing layers.
• Stretch for walls
  Walls can be stretched with ST like polylines; doors and windows inside the window go along.
• Better wall joining
  "Join walls" now works on existing angles and connected rooms. ESC while drawing a wall or room discards it and keeps the tool active.
• Title block tags in English
  TITLE1, TITLE2, TITLE3 (the German TITEL1..3 still work).

Highlights

• Projects with several sheets, title blocks and automatic fields
• Wires, pins and junctions; wires are traced across sheets
• Cross references chained across sheets and devices with electrical mask
• Terminals, cables and a coordinate field in A4 or A3
• Symbol library with about 50 standard symbols, plus your own blocks (with variants) and a block browser
• Documentation generator: cover sheet, table of contents, device list, terminal plan, cable plan, PLC list and more, with CSV, Excel and PDF output
• General 2D CAD: drawing and editing tools, object snap, layers, dimensions, layout view with viewports, DXF import/export, DWG import, PDF and image import, PDF export with layers
• Building floor plans with walls, doors, windows and rooms
• Simple 3D modelling with control cabinet blocks, work planes, object snap and 3D views in layout viewports
• German, English and Spanish user interface, switchable at runtime
• User guides in German and English (docs/)

Downloads

System	File
Windows	KatieCAD-Setup_v1.1.4.exe
macOS (Apple Silicon)	KatieCAD-macOS-arm_64_v1.1.4.dmg
Linux (Debian/Ubuntu)	KatieCAD-Linux-x86_64_v1.1.4.deb
Linux (other)	KatieCAD-Linux-x86_64_v1.1.4.tar.xz

Notes

• The programs are not code-signed. Windows may show a SmartScreen warning (More info > Run anyway); on macOS use right-click > Open on first start.
• Existing projects open as before.
• Licensed under the MIT License.

Bug reports and ideas are welcome under Issues.

KatieCAD 1.1.3

A new update for KatieCAD, the open-source electrical CAD for switchgear construction, distribution boards and building installation.

What's new

• Floor plans: walls, doors, windows and rooms Insert › Wall / Door in wall / Window in wall: adjustable wall thickness and line position, mitred corners, common outline where walls meet (T junctions, crossings), object snap on all wall edges. Doors and windows are objects of their own (grips, hinge side, opening direction); door models: single leaf, double door, double door with one larger leaf, roller shutter. Walls can be joined and closed, and hatched (diagonal, cross or solid; door openings stay free). Rooms (ROOM) calculate the area in m² automatically.
• Single-pole representation Tick Single-pole representation in the dialog of a device, block, terminal or cable to draw the same device a second time single-pole without duplicates in lists, net, checks or numbering. New option Project › Evaluate single-pole representation too (also in the documentation dialog): single-pole symbols are then evaluated like normal ones, so projects drawn purely single-pole produce lists as well. Own devices get a number of poles field; a generator for a separate single-pole symbol library is included (tools/make_symbols_einpolig.py).
• Stretch in 3D Edit › Stretch (ST) now also works on 3D bodies and cabinets: pick the base point on the side to move, then click the target or just type the distance (200 moves towards the mouse, -200 reverses).
• Exact distances and more snap points in 3D While dragging an axis arrow you can type the exact distance (e.g. 300). Moving and placing now also snap to the edge midpoints of the moving body.
• Copy 3D objects to another sheet Ctrl+C / Ctrl+X / Ctrl+V work between sheets in the 3D view; the copy hangs on the mouse with object snap.
• Hide cabinet doors per viewport Right-click a viewport › 3D view in this viewport › Hide cabinet doors: the same cabinet appears with and without door in different layouts. Saved with the project, also in the PDF.
• Dimensions Double-click opens the full properties again (displayed text, measured value, arrow size); end piece arrow or diagonal tick, adjustable decimal places (0–6) and font.
• F1: overview of all shortcuts and commands Scrollable, with search field (also Help › Keyboard shortcuts and commands).
• Mask texts keep their position Moved texts (IND, MAN, TYP, PER, number of poles) stay where you put them when you create a device.
• Fixes Switching sheets with the 3D view open no longer fails; pasting 3D bodies in the 2D view; hatch and gaps for doors and windows in all wall segments and overlapping walls; Ortho when dragging wall and polyline grips; "Join walls" no longer gets stuck.

Highlights

• Projects with several sheets, title blocks and automatic fields
• Wires, pins and junctions; wires are traced across sheets
• Cross references chained across sheets and devices with electrical mask
• Terminals, cables and a coordinate field in A4 or A3
• Symbol library with about 50 standard symbols, plus your own blocks with a block browser
• Documentation generator: cover sheet, table of contents, device list, terminal plan, cable plan, PLC list and more, with CSV, Excel and PDF output
• General 2D CAD: drawing and editing tools, object snap, layers, dimensions, layout view with viewports, DXF import/export, DWG import, PDF and image import, PDF export with layers
• Building floor plans with walls, doors, windows and rooms
• Simple 3D modelling with control cabinet blocks, work planes, object snap, stretch, hidden edges and 3D views in layout viewports
• German and English user interface, switchable at runtime
• User guides in both languages (docs/)

Downloads

System	File
Windows	KatieCAD-Setup_v1.1.3.exe
macOS (Apple Silicon)	KatieCAD-macOS-arm_64_v1.1.3.dmg
Linux (Debian/Ubuntu)	KatieCAD-Linux-x86_64_v1.1.3.deb
Linux (other)	KatieCAD-Linux-x86_64_v1.1.3.tar.xz

Notes

• The programs are not code-signed. Windows may show a SmartScreen warning (More info > Run anyway); on macOS use right-click > Open on first start.
• Linux AppImage: make it executable first (chmod +x KatieCAD-*.AppImage), then start it.
• Existing projects open as before. Single-pole symbols are not evaluated unless the project option is ticked.
• Not every part of a 3D body follows when stretching: small parts away from the moved side stay in place; bodies on work planes, spheres, merged bodies and bodies with cut-outs cannot be stretched.
• Licensed under the MIT License.

Bug reports and ideas are welcome under Issues.

KatieCAD 1.1.2

A feature update for KatieCAD, the open-source electrical CAD for switchgear construction, distribution boards and building installation.

What's new

• Hidden edges in 3D, layout and PDF
  Hide hidden edges (3D bar) shows bodies like a solid model: edges behind a body disappear, cabinets read unambiguously. A cabinet without a door is open at the front (also without a mounting plate, also rotated). The setting exists per layout viewport, is stored with the project and applies to the PDF.
• Merge 3D bodies
  3D › Merge bodies (also right-click, 3DVERSCHMELZEN) unites several bodies into one by boolean union: overlaps and inner edges disappear, holes are kept. Merged bodies can be merged again with further bodies.
• Colour schemes
  View › Colour scheme: Violet (default), Black and Light for menus, bars, side bars and dialogs, switched live and remembered. The About window uses the matching banner.
• Drawing background as a program setting
  The background of model and layout is no longer saved in the drawing or project file, so opening someone else's file no longer changes your view.
• Program-style dialogs and menu bar
  Message boxes now follow the colour scheme. The own menu bar (formerly Linux only) is now also used on Windows; Linux sub-menus now open. macOS keeps its native menu bar.
• Safer File › New and save questions
  New always asks first. In a project it closes the whole project after asking to save its changes. All "save changes?" questions now name the project and sheet and say what "No" does.
• View cube and "Hidden" button in the layout
  A selected 3D viewport shows a view cube with rotation arrows and a Hidden button. Turning a viewport snaps onto Front/Top/Side within 4°, so dimensions are true lengths.
• Move and copy from point to point in 3D
  Pick a base point (e.g. a cabinet corner) and a target point; both snap to corners, edge midpoints and centres, with a live preview. Also in the right-click menu and via V / M / CO.
• Object snap in the layout on viewport content
  Tools in the layout now snap to points inside viewports (2D: all snap kinds, 3D: corners, midpoints, centres) without activating the viewport.
• Dimensions in the layout show model values
  A dimension inside a viewport shows the model value (paper distance ÷ viewport scale) instead of paper millimetres.
• Change dimension text
  Double-click a dimension (or MASSTEXT): enter any text, e.g. 150; <> stands for the measured value.
• Right-click in the layout over a viewport
  Dimensions and texts on a viewport now get their own menu, including move/copy with base point.
• Manufacturer field MAN
  New in the device mask, terminals and cables; Manufacturer column in the device list; the parts list keeps the same type from different manufacturers apart. Readable column titles in the lists (ID, Type designation, Rating).
• Minimum window size
  The main window can no longer be made so small that it becomes unusable.
• Windows installer with the KatieCAD banner and a Linux AppImage (single file, no folder, no installation).

Highlights

• Projects with several sheets, title blocks and automatic fields
• Wires, pins and junctions; wires are traced across sheets
• Cross references chained across sheets and devices with electrical mask
• Terminals, cables and a coordinate field in A4 or A3
• Symbol library with about 50 standard symbols, plus your own blocks with a block browser
• Documentation generator: cover sheet, table of contents, device list, terminal plan, cable plan, PLC list and more, with CSV, Excel and PDF output
• General 2D CAD: drawing and editing tools, object snap, layers, dimensions, layout view with viewports, DXF import/export, DWG import, PDF and image import, PDF export with layers
• Simple 3D modelling with control cabinet blocks, work planes, object snap, hidden edges and 3D views in layout viewports
• German and English user interface, switchable at runtime
• User guides in both languages (docs/)

Downloads

System	File
Windows	KatieCAD-Setup_v1.1.2.exe
macOS (Apple Silicon)	KatieCAD-macOS-arm_64_v1.1.2.dmg
Linux (Debian/Ubuntu)	KatieCAD-Linux-x86_64_v1.1.2.deb
Linux (other)	KatieCAD-Linux-x86_64_v1.1.2.tar.xz

Notes

• The programs are not code-signed. Windows may show a SmartScreen warning (More info > Run anyway); on macOS use right-click > Open on first start.
• Linux AppImage: make it executable first (chmod +x KatieCAD-*.AppImage), then start it.
• Existing projects open as before; the drawing background is now a program setting.
• Merged 3D bodies can no longer be edited part by part (Ctrl+Z restores the single bodies).
• Dimensions in a viewport only show true lengths in an axis-aligned, non-perspective view.
• Licensed under the MIT License.

Bug reports and ideas are welcome under Issues.

KatieCAD 1.1.1

A feature update for KatieCAD, the open-source electrical CAD for switchgear construction, distribution boards and building installation.

What's new

• Align at two points (ALIGN / AL)
  Works like in AutoCAD: pick source and destination points to move, rotate and optionally scale objects, with a live preview. The former edge commands stay available (AUSLINKS, AUSRECHTS, …).
• "By layer" for colour and line weight
  A check box in the colour dialog and a "By layer" entry in the weight list (toolbar, properties window, properties palette). Objects now really follow the layer colour and weight.
• Your own fonts
  View › Manage fonts… lets you pick any installed TrueType/OpenType font for texts. Text boxes use the real character widths of the font, and the fonts are embedded in the PDF. Fonts used in a drawing are switched on automatically when it is opened.
• Copy in 3D
  Right-click a control cabinet or any 3D body › Copy: the copy follows the mouse with object snap and is placed with a click.
• Excel export
  Project › Export lists as Excel file… writes the chosen lists into one .xlsx with one sheet per list (no extra library needed).
• New symbols
  The symbol library has been heavily revised.
  New category 11 Installation: sockets (1-pole, 2-pole, with protective contact, CEE 4- and 5-pole) and a luminaire, plus emergency stop (1- and 2-channel).
• Better object snap
  Intersection now also finds intersections of lines, rectangle and polyline edges with circles and arcs, and of circles/arcs with each other.
• Find and replace in the selection
  New scope Selection only – searches and replaces only in the selected objects.
• Scrollable attribute dialog
  Devices with many pins (e.g. a 16-channel PLC module) no longer make the "Edit attributes" window taller than the screen; OK/Cancel stay visible.
• New banner in the About window.

Highlights

• Projects with several sheets, title blocks and automatic fields
• Wires, pins and junctions; wires are traced across sheets
• Cross references chained across sheets and devices with electrical mask
• Terminals, cables and a coordinate field in A4 or A3
• Symbol library with about 50 standard symbols, plus your own blocks with a block browser
• Documentation generator: cover sheet, table of contents, device list, terminal plan, cable plan, PLC list and more, with CSV, Excel and PDF output
• General 2D CAD: drawing and editing tools, object snap, layers, dimensions, layout view with viewports, DXF import/export, DWG import, PDF and image import, PDF export with layers
• Simple 3D modelling with control cabinet blocks, work planes, object snap and 3D views in layout viewports
• German and English user interface, switchable at runtime
• User guides in both languages (docs/)

Downloads

System	File
Windows	KatieCAD-Setup_v1.1.1.exe
macOS (Apple Silicon)	KatieCAD-macOS-arm_64_v1.1.1.dmg
Linux (Debian/Ubuntu)	KatieCAD-Linux-x86_64_v1.1.1.deb
Linux (other)	KatieCAD-Linux-x86_64_v1.1.1.tar.xz

Notes

• The programs are not code-signed. Windows may show a SmartScreen warning (More info > Run anyway); on macOS use right-click > Open on first start.
• Existing projects open as before.
• Extra fonts must be installed on the computer; fonts with CFF outlines or an embedding restriction appear in Helvetica in the PDF.
• Licensed under the MIT License.

Bug reports and ideas are welcome under Issues.

KatieCAD 1.1.0

The next revision of KatieCAD: an open-source electrical CAD for switchgear construction, distribution boards and building installation, with a full 2D CAD and simple 3D functions underneath.

What's new

• Simple 3D modelling
  A wireframe 3D view right in the main window, built for placing and arranging objects: orbit, pan, zoom, view cube, perspective. Pick any face as a work plane and draw circles, rectangles, lines and polylines on it, pull shapes up or down, cut bores and pockets, round edges. Boxes, cylinders, cones, pyramids and spheres can be created directly and resized afterwards. Text lies on the chosen face, dimensions and the new Measure (DI) work in 3D, and a 3D view can be placed in layout viewports and in the PDF.
• Precise 3D drawing
  Type coordinates, radii, width,height or length<angle into the input line, just like in 2D. Object snap with visible markers and Ortho apply in 3D, also when placing and moving objects, so bodies line up exactly. A manipulator moves objects along one axis and can be placed freely.
• Control cabinet blocks
  A parametric Control cabinet block (3D menu, CABINET) with 11 common standard sizes. Choose mounting plate on/off, an optional door with handle and lock (hinged left or right), side panels and a plinth of 100, 150 or 200 mm, or enter your own dimensions.
• New colour picker
  A dialog in the KatieCAD design with three tabs: RAL Classic palette (type the number, e.g. 5015), colour field with hue 0–360, saturation and value, and the AutoCAD Color Index (ACI 1–255). Hex and RGB values are always available, and DXF export uses the most similar ACI colour.
• More 2D tools
  Fillet and chamfer, offset, align, ellipse and spline, angle and chain dimensions, change length, quick select (QS), match properties, measure and find and replace across the whole project. A line now has an editable length in its properties, a rectangle has width and height.
• More reports and PLC support
  New reports: connection list, parts list (with parts catalogue), cross reference list, potential overview, connector overview, label list and revision overview, all as CSV. A new PLC symbol category and an I/O list, plus a function text that appears in the device list and the terminal diagram. Project › Number devices automatically.
• Cross references
  Marking a cross reference as "Handover / external" lets you reuse the same text any number of times, with no L1.1, L2.1 needed.
• Toolbars with icons
  Drawing tools in purple, electrical tools in red, with tooltips. The toolbars for tools, electrical and 3D can be docked separately at the top, bottom or right, and a ☰ button at the bottom left of the status bar toggles the sidebar.
• Bold text in the text dialog, the properties palette and the PDF.

Highlights

• Projects with several sheets, title blocks and automatic fields
• Wires, pins and junctions; wires are traced across sheets
• Cross references chained across sheets and devices with electrical mask
• Terminals, cables and a coordinate field in A4 or A3
• Symbol library with about 40 standard symbols, plus your own blocks with a block browser
• Documentation generator: cover sheet, table of contents, device list, terminal plan, cable plan, PLC list and more, with CSV and PDF output
• General 2D CAD: drawing and editing tools, object snap, layers, dimensions, layout view with viewports, DXF import/export, DWG import, PDF and image import, PDF export with layers
• German and English user interface, switchable at runtime
• User guides in both languages (docs/)

Downloads

System	File
Windows	KatieCAD-Setup_v1.1.0.exe
macOS (Apple Silicon)	KatieCAD-macOS-arm_64_v1.1.0.dmg
Linux (Debian/Ubuntu)	KatieCAD-Linux-x86_64_v1.1.0.deb
Linux (other)	KatieCAD-Linux-x86_64_v1.1.0.tar.xz

Notes

• The programs are not code-signed. Windows may show a SmartScreen warning (More info > Run anyway); on macOS use right-click > Open on first start.
• Existing projects open as before. 3D objects are saved with the project.
• The 3D view is a wireframe for placing and arranging objects, without hidden-line removal or hollow bodies.
• RAL colour values are screen approximations.
• Licensed under the MIT License.

Bug reports and ideas are welcome under Issues.

KatieCAD 1.0.3

The next revision of KatieCAD: an open-source electrical CAD for switchgear construction, distribution boards and building installation, with a full 2D CAD underneath.

What's new

• Cross references as a chain
  The same name can now run over several sheets: an outgoing arrow points to the incoming one on the next sheet, an incoming one to the outgoing one on the previous sheet. Plain L1 is enough, no more L1.1, L1.2. Identifier and target note stand side by side on one line, and both texts have adjustable heights and can be moved by grip.
• Automatic electrical layers
  New objects no longer land on layer 0: devices go to E_DEVICES, wires, junctions and cross references to E_LINES, cables to E_CABLE, terminals to E_CLAMPS and single pins to E_PIN. The layers are created on demand.
• Hatch like AutoCAD
  With nothing selected, just click into an enclosed area. Crossing lines, circles, rectangles and polylines are recognised, and you can hatch several areas in a row.
• Stretch with preselection
  Objects picked with a crossing window beforehand are stretched right away, no second window needed.
• DIN A3 support
  Coordinate field presets for A4 and A3, and the generated documentation (cover sheet, table of contents, lists) is available in A4 or A3.
• Freely movable texts
  Terminals, masks, cables, pins and device blocks get yellow grips for their texts (per instance). Right-click › Reset text positions puts them back.
• Better print output
  Coordinate field labels stay inside their strip and are slightly smaller so the PDF matches the screen, and the terminal number is larger (1.75 mm).
• Sheet list
  Select several sheets (Ctrl/Shift + click) and move or delete them together.
• Own menu bar on Linux
  Open menus no longer stay on screen when you switch to another application. Windows and macOS keep their native menus.
• Usability
  New shortcut Ctrl+B opens the block list. "Trim" and "Break" moved to the Edit menu. The built-in title block was removed (identical to "Example A3"). "Create documentation" now shows errors in a window instead of silently doing nothing.

Highlights

• Projects with several sheets, title blocks and automatic fields
• Wires, pins and junctions (T-pieces, corners, crossings with or without dot); wires are traced across sheets
• Cross references and devices with electrical mask (designation, type, function, main and auxiliary contacts)
• Terminals, cables and a coordinate field
• Symbol library with about 40 standard symbols, plus your own blocks with a block browser
• Documentation generator: cover sheet, table of contents, device list, terminal plan and cable plan, with CSV and PDF output
• General 2D CAD: drawing and editing tools, object snap, layers, dimensions, layout view with viewports, DXF import/export, DWG import, PDF and image import, PDF export with layers
• German and English user interface, switchable at runtime
• User guides in both languages (docs/)

Downloads

System	File
Windows	KatieCAD-Setup_v1.0.3.exe
macOS (Apple Silicon)	KatieCAD-macOS-arm_64_v1.0.3.dmg
Linux (Debian/Ubuntu)	KatieCAD-Linux-x86_64_v1.0.3.deb
Linux (other)	KatieCAD-Linux-x86_64_v1.0.3.tar.xz

Notes

• The programs are not code-signed. Windows may show a SmartScreen warning (More info > Run anyway); on macOS use right-click > Open on first start.
• Existing projects open as before; the new layers and cross-reference chain only apply to newly placed objects and to cross references with the same name.
• KatieCAD is under active development; further checks and reports will follow.
• Licensed under the MIT License.

Bug reports and ideas are welcome under Issues.

KatieCAD 1.0.2

The second revision of KatieCAD: an open-source electrical CAD for switchgear construction, distribution boards and building installation, with a full 2D CAD underneath.

What's new

• Installation location per sheet
  Every sheet now has its own installation location (Sheet properties, F2). It is filled into the title block (<EINBAUORT> / <PLACE>), inherited by all objects on the sheet and used to tell identical designations apart in all lists.
• Redesigned terminal diagram
  New column order with the terminal number between the upper and lower connection, a new bridge column with graphics, collapsed potentials for PE and N, one terminal strip per sheet, and sheet names like "Terminal diagram +1 -X1".
• PDF import with layers
  Import a PDF page as real vector geometry (lines, circles, text, fills). Layers written by AutoCAD or BricsCAD become KatieCAD layers, and layers hidden in the PDF stay hidden. Scale factor selectable, no extra licence burden (pypdf, MIT stays MIT).
• PDF export with layers
  KatieCAD layers are now written as PDF layers, so they can be toggled in Acrobat, Bluebeam and others, and re-imported.
• Image import
  Insert PNG, JPG, BMP, GIF or TIFF images. They are stored inside the drawing and appear in PDF output.
• Dimensioning
  Radius and diameter dimensions, dimension text now centred below the line, and dimensions snap correctly to their objects.
• Improved project check
  Terminals that share the same installation location or strip are no longer reported as duplicates.
• Table of contents
  Each sheet has a type and a description (Sheet properties), so schematics, rack views and other sheet kinds can be told apart.
• Usability
  "Insert block/device" now sits above "Create block", the block browser shows the symbol library only once, the hatch dialog has a selection box for lines or solid fill, and the About window is more compact, with a Log button that opens the log file.

Highlights

• Projects with several sheets, title blocks and automatic fields
• Wires, pins and junctions (T-pieces, corners, crossings with or without dot); wires are traced across sheets
• Cross references and devices with electrical mask (designation, type, function, main and auxiliary contacts)
• Terminals, cables and a coordinate field
• Symbol library with about 40 standard symbols, plus your own blocks with a block browser
• Documentation generator: cover sheet, table of contents, device list, terminal plan and cable plan, with CSV and PDF output
• General 2D CAD: drawing and editing tools, object snap, layers, dimensions, layout view with viewports, DXF import/export, DWG import, PDF and image import
• German and English user interface, switchable at runtime
• User guides in both languages (docs/)

Downloads

System	File
Windows	KatieCAD-Setup_v1.0.2.exe
macOS (Apple Silicon)	KatieCAD-macOS-arm_64_v1.0.2.dmg
Linux (Debian/Ubuntu)	KatieCAD-Linux-x86_64_v1.0.2.deb
Linux (other)	KatieCAD-Linux-x86_64_v1.0.2.tar.xz

Notes

• The programs are not code-signed. Windows may show a SmartScreen warning (More info > Run anyway); on macOS use right-click > Open on first start.
• KatieCAD is under active development; further checks and reports will follow.
• Licensed under the MIT License.

Bug reports and ideas are welcome under Issues.