feat: add export_sch_pdf tool (kicad-cli, schematic PDF)

New MCP tool `export_sch_pdf` wrapping `kicad-cli sch export pdf`: exposes
the full option set (drawing-sheet override, theme, B&W,
exclude-drawing-sheet, default-font, the PDF property-popup /
hierarchical-link / metadata excludes, no-background-color, and page
selection). schematicPath is required and validated.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

python/kicad_interface.py

@@ -600,6 +600,7 @@ class KiCADInterface:
             "export_gerber_single": self._handle_export_gerber_single,
             "export_3d_cli": self._handle_export_3d_cli,
             "export_sch_bom": self._handle_export_sch_bom,
+            "export_sch_pdf": self._handle_export_sch_pdf,
             "generate_netlist": self._handle_generate_netlist,
             "sync_schematic_to_board": self._handle_sync_schematic_to_board,
             "list_schematic_libraries": self._handle_list_schematic_libraries,
@@ -5667,6 +5668,87 @@ class KiCADInterface:
             logger.error(f"Error exporting schematic BOM: {e}")
             return {"success": False, "message": str(e)}
 
+    def _handle_export_sch_pdf(self, params: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        """Export a schematic to PDF via kicad-cli (`sch export pdf`).
+
+        Exposes the full option set: drawing-sheet override, theme, B&W,
+        exclude-drawing-sheet, default-font, the PDF popup/link/metadata
+        excludes, no-background-color, and page selection. schematicPath is
+        required.
+        """
+        import subprocess
+
+        logger.info("Exporting schematic PDF via kicad-cli")
+        try:
+            schematic_path = params.get("schematicPath")
+            output_path = params.get("outputPath")
+
+            if not schematic_path:
+                return {"success": False, "message": "schematicPath is required"}
+            if not os.path.exists(schematic_path):
+                return {"success": False, "message": f"Schematic not found: {schematic_path}"}
+            if not output_path:
+                return {"success": False, "message": "outputPath is required"}
+
+            kicad_cli = self._find_kicad_cli_static()
+            if not kicad_cli:
+                return {"success": False, "message": "kicad-cli not found in PATH"}
+
+            output_path = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(output_path))
+            parent = os.path.dirname(output_path)
+            if parent:
+                os.makedirs(parent, exist_ok=True)
+
+            cmd = [kicad_cli, "sch", "export", "pdf", "--output", output_path]
+
+            if params.get("drawingSheet"):
+                cmd += ["--drawing-sheet", params["drawingSheet"]]
+            for kv in params.get("defineVar", []) or []:
+                cmd += ["--define-var", kv]
+
+            value_map = {
+                "theme": "--theme",
+                "defaultFont": "--default-font",
+                "pages": "--pages",
+            }
+            for key, flag in value_map.items():
+                val = params.get(key)
+                if val is not None and val != "":
+                    cmd += [flag, str(val)]
+
+            flag_map = {
+                "blackAndWhite": "--black-and-white",
+                "excludeDrawingSheet": "--exclude-drawing-sheet",
+                "excludePdfPropertyPopups": "--exclude-pdf-property-popups",
+                "excludePdfHierarchicalLinks": "--exclude-pdf-hierarchical-links",
+                "excludePdfMetadata": "--exclude-pdf-metadata",
+                "noBackgroundColor": "--no-background-color",
+            }
+            for key, flag in flag_map.items():
+                if params.get(key):
+                    cmd.append(flag)
+
+            cmd.append(schematic_path)
+
+            logger.info(f"Running: {' '.join(cmd)}")
+            result = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=180)
+
+            if result.returncode != 0:
+                return {
+                    "success": False,
+                    "message": f"kicad-cli failed (exit {result.returncode}): "
+                    f"{result.stderr.strip()}",
+                }
+            return {"success": True, "outputPath": output_path}
+
+        except FileNotFoundError:
+            return {"success": False, "message": "kicad-cli not found in PATH"}
+        except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
+            return {"success": False, "message": "kicad-cli timed out after 180 seconds"}
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error(f"Error exporting schematic PDF: {e}")
+            return {"success": False, "message": str(e)}
+
     def _handle_generate_netlist(self, params: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         """Generate netlist from schematic and return structured JSON.
 

src/tools/export.ts

@@ -1106,5 +1106,58 @@ export function registerExportTools(server: McpServer, callKicadScript: CommandF
     },
   );
 
+  // ------------------------------------------------------
+  // Export Schematic PDF Tool (kicad-cli, full option set)
+  // ------------------------------------------------------
+  server.tool(
+    "export_sch_pdf",
+    "Export a schematic to PDF via kicad-cli (`sch export pdf`), exposing the full option set (drawing-sheet override, theme, black-and-white, exclude-drawing-sheet, default-font, the PDF property-popup / hierarchical-link / metadata excludes, no-background-color, and page selection). schematicPath is REQUIRED.",
+    {
+      schematicPath: z.string().describe("Path to the .kicad_sch (required)"),
+      outputPath: z.string().describe("Output PDF file path"),
+      drawingSheet: z.string().optional().describe("Path to a drawing sheet override"),
+      defineVar: z
+        .array(z.string())
+        .optional()
+        .describe("Project variable overrides as 'KEY=VALUE' strings"),
+      theme: z.string().optional().describe("Color theme to use (default: schematic settings)"),
+      blackAndWhite: z.boolean().optional().describe("Black and white only"),
+      excludeDrawingSheet: z.boolean().optional().describe("No drawing sheet"),
+      defaultFont: z.string().optional().describe("Default font name"),
+      excludePdfPropertyPopups: z
+        .boolean()
+        .optional()
+        .describe("Do not generate property popups in PDF"),
+      excludePdfHierarchicalLinks: z
+        .boolean()
+        .optional()
+        .describe("Do not generate clickable links for hierarchical elements in PDF"),
+      excludePdfMetadata: z
+        .boolean()
+        .optional()
+        .describe("Do not generate PDF metadata from AUTHOR and SUBJECT variables"),
+      noBackgroundColor: z
+        .boolean()
+        .optional()
+        .describe("Avoid setting a background color (regardless of theme)"),
+      pages: z
+        .string()
+        .optional()
+        .describe("Comma list of page numbers to print (blank = all pages)"),
+    },
+    async (args) => {
+      logger.debug(`Exporting schematic PDF to: ${args.outputPath}`);
+      const result = await callKicadScript("export_sch_pdf", args);
+      return {
+        content: [
+          {
+            type: "text",
+            text: JSON.stringify(result),
+          },
+        ],
+      };
+    },
+  );
+
   logger.info("Export tools registered");
 }

src/tools/registry.ts

@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ export const toolCategories: ToolCategory[] = [
       "export_gerber_single",
       "export_3d_cli",
       "export_sch_bom",
+      "export_sch_pdf",
       "export_pdf",
       "export_svg",
       "export_3d",