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kicad-mcp-server/docs/DATASHEET_TOOLS_GUIDE.md
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Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-03-29 13:05:50 +01:00

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# Datasheet Management Tools
**Added in:** v2.2.0-alpha
Two tools for managing component datasheets using LCSC part numbers. Datasheet URLs are constructed directly from LCSC numbers -- no API key or network requests required.
---
## Tools Reference
### `enrich_datasheets`
Scans a KiCAD schematic and fills in missing Datasheet URLs for components that have an LCSC part number set.
**How it works:**
For every placed symbol that has:
- An LCSC property set (e.g., `(property "LCSC" "C123456")`)
- An empty or missing Datasheet field
The tool sets the Datasheet field to: `https://www.lcsc.com/datasheet/C123456.pdf`
The URL is then visible in KiCAD's footprint browser, symbol properties dialog, and any tool that reads the standard Datasheet field.
**Parameters:**
| Parameter | Type | Required | Default | Description |
| ---------------- | ------- | -------- | ------- | --------------------------------------- |
| `schematic_path` | string | Yes | -- | Path to the .kicad_sch file to enrich |
| `dry_run` | boolean | No | false | Preview changes without writing to disk |
**Returns:**
- Number of components updated
- Number already set (skipped)
- Number without LCSC number
- Details of each updated component (reference, LCSC number, URL)
**Example:**
```
Enrich datasheets for all components in ~/Projects/MyBoard/MyBoard.kicad_sch
```
Use `dry_run=true` to preview what would change:
```
Preview datasheet enrichment for ~/Projects/MyBoard/MyBoard.kicad_sch with dry run enabled.
```
---
### `get_datasheet_url`
Get the LCSC datasheet URL for a single component by LCSC number.
**Parameters:**
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
| --------- | ------ | -------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `lcsc` | string | Yes | LCSC part number, with or without "C" prefix (e.g., "C179739" or "179739") |
**Returns:**
- Datasheet PDF URL
- Product page URL
**Example:**
```
Get the datasheet URL for LCSC part C179739.
```
---
## Workflow
### Adding Datasheets to a Design
1. **Add components with LCSC numbers** -- When placing components from JLCPCB libraries or manually setting the LCSC property, each component gets an LCSC part number
2. **Run enrich_datasheets** -- Scans all components and fills in any missing Datasheet URLs
3. **Verify in KiCAD** -- Open the schematic in KiCAD and check that Datasheet fields are populated. Double-clicking a component shows the URL in its properties
### Integration with JLCPCB Workflow
These tools complement the JLCPCB integration:
1. Use `search_jlcpcb_parts` to find components
2. Place components with LCSC numbers from the search results
3. Run `enrich_datasheets` to auto-populate datasheet URLs
4. Use `export_bom` to generate a BOM with datasheet links
---
## Notes
- The datasheet URL format (`https://www.lcsc.com/datasheet/<LCSC#>.pdf`) works for the vast majority of LCSC parts
- No network request is made -- the URL is constructed from the part number alone
- Components without an LCSC property are skipped silently
- Components that already have a Datasheet URL set are not overwritten
---
## Source Files
- TypeScript tool definitions: `src/tools/datasheet.ts`
- Python implementation: `python/commands/datasheet_manager.py`