quick_start_guide

Quick Start Guide

Get QElectroTech running and create your first electrical diagram in 10 minutes.

Step 1: Download & Install

Windows

1. Visit qelectrotech.org/downloads
2. Download the Windows installer (.exe or .msi)
3. Run the installer and follow the setup wizard
4. Launch QElectroTech from your Start menu or desktop

macOS

1. Visit qelectrotech.org/downloads
2. Download the macOS package (.dmg)
3. Open the .dmg file
4. Drag QElectroTech to the Applications folder
5. Launch from Applications or Launchpad

Linux

Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install qelectrotech

Fedora/RHEL:

sudo dnf install qelectrotech

Arch Linux:

sudo pacman -S qelectrotech

Or use AppImage/Flatpak:

• Download from qelectrotech.org/downloads

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Step 2: Launch & Create Your First Project

1. Open QElectroTech — The application will launch with a welcome screen
2. Click Fichier → Nouveau (File → New, Ctrl+N)
3. QElectroTech opens a new project with one blank sheet (folio), ready for work. The sheet's size, title block and grid are set later in its properties (Édition → Propriétés du folio, Ctrl+L)

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Step 3: Get Familiar with the Interface

Your workspace has several key areas:

• Left side: Drawing canvas (where you create diagrams)
• Right side: Elements panel (symbols and components)
• Top: Toolbar with tools (select, wire, text, etc.)
• Bottom: Status bar showing cursor position and tool info

Key Toolbar Buttons

• Mode Selection (arrow) — select and move items
• Mode Visualisation (hand) — pan without selecting anything
• Ajouter (Add) toolbar — text field, picture, line, rectangle, ellipse, arc, polyline and other drawing tools
• Zoom controls — enlarge/shrink view

There is no wire tool: wires are drawn straight from a symbol's terminal (Step 5).

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Step 4: Add Your First Element

1. Look at the Elements panel on the right
2. Search for an element:
   • Type "switch" in the search box, or
   • Browse categories like "03_Control" or "10_Electrical"
3. Double-click the element (or drag it onto the canvas). After a double-click it follows the pointer: click to place it, Escape to cancel. Press A to place the same element again
4. Add more elements to build your circuit:
   • Add a power source (battery or AC symbol)
   • Add a switch
   • Add a lamp or load
   • Arrange them roughly in a line

Tip: Select an element and press Space to rotate it 90°; double-click it for its properties.

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Step 5: Draw Wires to Connect Elements

1. Press the mouse button on a terminal (the short line at a connection point of an element)
2. Drag to the next element's terminal, keeping the button down
3. Release on that terminal: the wire is drawn and routed automatically

Connection Tips:

• Wires connect at terminals only
• Release anywhere else and no wire is created
• To change a wire's route afterwards, select it and drag the handles on its segments

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Step 6: Add Labels & Text

Label a Wire (e.g., signal name, voltage)

1. Double-click on the wire — this opens its Properties dialog (checked directly: double-click calls editProperty(), the same dialog a right-click → Properties gives you, not an inline text box)
2. Find the label/formula field in that dialog and type your label
3. Confirm the dialog

Label an Element (e.g., reference number)

1. Double-click on an element — same as above, this opens its Properties dialog, not an inline edit
2. Set the reference in the dialog's label field
3. Confirm the dialog

Add Free Text

1. Click the Text tool in the toolbar
2. Click on the canvas where you want text
3. Type your text
4. Click elsewhere to finish

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Step 7: Save Your Work

1. Click File → Save (or press Ctrl+S)
2. Choose a location on your computer
3. Enter a filename (e.g., "my_first_circuit")
4. QElectroTech saves your project as a .qet file
5. Your file is saved and can be reopened anytime

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Your First Circuit Complete! 🎉

You now have a basic electrical diagram showing:

• ✅ Elements (components)
• ✅ Wires (connections)
• ✅ Labels (identification)

Next Steps

Learn More:

• Explore the User Manual for all features
• See Tips & Tricks for advanced techniques
• Browse Features to see what else QET can do

Create More:

• Add more sheets (pages) to your project via Projet → Ajouter un folio (Project → Add a sheet)
• Create multi-page electrical schematics
• Export to PDF, PNG, or SVG

Customize:

• Change wire colors and styles (right-click wire → properties)
• Adjust element properties
• Line items up with Édition → Aligner (see Aligning items)

Share & Collaborate:

• Export diagrams as PDF or PNG to share
• Save .qet files to share with colleagues
• Use version control (Git) for team projects

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Common First-Time Tasks

"How do I undo a mistake?"

Press Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac) to undo. Repeat to undo multiple steps.

"How do I zoom in/out?"

• Zoom in/out: Scroll wheel, or your platform's standard zoom keys (usually Ctrl+Plus/Ctrl+Minus — not the bare +/- keys)
• Reset zoom: Press Ctrl+0 (or Cmd+0 on Mac)

"How do I rotate an element?"

Right-click the element and choose Rotate, or select it and press Space — R isn't bound to anything in the diagram editor, checked directly against the shortcut registry.

"How do I delete something?"

Select it and press Delete, or right-click and choose Delete.

"How do I find a specific component?"

Use the Search box in the Elements panel on the right. Type the component name or number.

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Getting Help

• FAQ — Quick answers to common questions
• User Manual — Complete feature documentation
• Forum — Ask the community (very responsive!)
• GitHub Issues — Report bugs

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Ready to Learn More?

You've learned the basics! Now explore:

• User Manual — Deep dive into features
• Tips & Tricks — Power-user workflows
• Creating Custom Elements — Build your own symbols