Files
kicad-mcp-server/python/commands/dynamic_symbol_loader.py
FlowSync0 a69d288251 fix: Rewrite DynamicSymbolLoader to prevent schematic file corruption (#40)
Fixes Issue #26 - add_schematic_component corrupts .kicad_sch files

Complete rewrite of DynamicSymbolLoader to use text manipulation instead of sexpdata:
- Preserves KiCAD file formatting perfectly
- Correctly handles KiCAD 9 symbol naming conventions (library prefix for top-level, no prefix for sub-symbols)
- Resolves parent-child symbol dependencies with (extends)
- Adds symbol caching for performance
- Simplifies component addition workflow

Tested on KiCAD 9.0.7 with R, C, LED, ESP32, and transistor components.
Compatible with recent Windows fixes (UUID generation, IPC, JLCPCB).

Co-authored-by: FlowSync0 <249798311+FlowSync0@users.noreply.github.com>
2026-02-26 11:02:10 -05:00

347 lines
13 KiB
Python

"""
Dynamic Symbol Loader for KiCad Schematics
Loads symbols from .kicad_sym library files and injects them into schematics
on-the-fly using TEXT MANIPULATION (not sexpdata) to preserve file formatting.
This enables access to all ~10,000+ KiCad symbols dynamically.
"""
import os
import re
import uuid
import logging
from pathlib import Path
from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Tuple
logger = logging.getLogger('kicad_interface')
class DynamicSymbolLoader:
"""
Dynamically loads symbols from KiCad library files and injects them into schematics.
Uses raw text manipulation instead of sexpdata to avoid corrupting the KiCad file format.
Key rules for KiCad 9 .kicad_sch format:
- Top-level symbols in lib_symbols must have library prefix: (symbol "Device:R" ...)
- Sub-symbols must NOT have library prefix: (symbol "R_0_1" ...), (symbol "R_1_1" ...)
- Parent symbols must appear BEFORE child symbols that use (extends ...)
"""
def __init__(self):
self.symbol_cache = {} # Cache: "lib:symbol" -> raw text block
def find_kicad_symbol_libraries(self) -> List[Path]:
"""Find all KiCad symbol library directories"""
possible_paths = [
Path("/usr/share/kicad/symbols"),
Path("/usr/local/share/kicad/symbols"),
Path("C:/Program Files/KiCad/9.0/share/kicad/symbols"),
Path("C:/Program Files/KiCad/8.0/share/kicad/symbols"),
Path("/Applications/KiCad/KiCad.app/Contents/SharedSupport/symbols"),
Path.home() / ".local" / "share" / "kicad" / "9.0" / "symbols",
Path.home() / "Documents" / "KiCad" / "9.0" / "3rdparty" / "symbols",
]
for env_var in ['KICAD9_SYMBOL_DIR', 'KICAD8_SYMBOL_DIR', 'KICAD_SYMBOL_DIR']:
if env_var in os.environ:
possible_paths.insert(0, Path(os.environ[env_var]))
return [p for p in possible_paths if p.exists() and p.is_dir()]
def find_library_file(self, library_name: str) -> Optional[Path]:
"""Find the .kicad_sym file for a given library name"""
for lib_dir in self.find_kicad_symbol_libraries():
lib_file = lib_dir / f"{library_name}.kicad_sym"
if lib_file.exists():
return lib_file
logger.warning(f"Library file not found: {library_name}.kicad_sym")
return None
def _extract_symbol_block(self, text: str, symbol_name: str) -> Optional[str]:
"""
Extract a complete symbol block from a library or schematic file by matching
parentheses depth. Returns the raw text of the symbol definition.
"""
lines = text.split('\n')
start = None
for i, line in enumerate(lines):
stripped = line.strip()
# Match exact symbol name (not sub-symbols like Name_0_1)
if stripped.startswith(f'(symbol "{symbol_name}"') and \
not re.match(r'.*_\d+_\d+"', stripped):
start = i
break
if start is None:
return None
depth = 0
end = None
for i in range(start, len(lines)):
for ch in lines[i]:
if ch == '(':
depth += 1
elif ch == ')':
depth -= 1
if depth == 0:
end = i
break
if end is not None:
break
if end is None:
return None
return '\n'.join(lines[start:end + 1])
def extract_symbol_from_library(self, library_name: str, symbol_name: str) -> Optional[str]:
"""
Extract a symbol definition from a KiCad .kicad_sym library file.
Returns the raw text block, ready to be injected into a schematic.
The returned block has:
- Top-level name prefixed with library: (symbol "Library:Name" ...)
- Sub-symbol names WITHOUT prefix: (symbol "Name_0_1" ...)
"""
cache_key = f"{library_name}:{symbol_name}"
if cache_key in self.symbol_cache:
return self.symbol_cache[cache_key]
lib_path = self.find_library_file(library_name)
if not lib_path:
return None
with open(lib_path, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
lib_content = f.read()
block = self._extract_symbol_block(lib_content, symbol_name)
if block is None:
logger.warning(f"Symbol '{symbol_name}' not found in {library_name}.kicad_sym")
return None
# Check if this symbol uses (extends "ParentName")
extends_match = re.search(r'\(extends "([^"]+)"\)', block)
parent_block = None
if extends_match:
parent_name = extends_match.group(1)
logger.info(f"Symbol {symbol_name} extends {parent_name}, extracting parent too")
parent_block = self._extract_symbol_block(lib_content, parent_name)
if parent_block:
# Prefix parent top-level name with library
parent_block = parent_block.replace(
f'(symbol "{parent_name}"',
f'(symbol "{library_name}:{parent_name}"',
1 # Only first occurrence (top-level)
)
# Prefix top-level symbol name with library
full_name = f"{library_name}:{symbol_name}"
block = block.replace(
f'(symbol "{symbol_name}"',
f'(symbol "{full_name}"',
1 # Only first occurrence (top-level)
)
# Sub-symbols like "Name_0_1" keep their short names (already correct from library)
# Combine parent + child if extends is used
if parent_block:
result = parent_block + '\n' + block
else:
result = block
self.symbol_cache[cache_key] = result
logger.info(f"Extracted symbol {full_name} ({len(result)} chars)")
return result
def inject_symbol_into_schematic(self, schematic_path: Path, library_name: str, symbol_name: str) -> bool:
"""
Inject a symbol definition into a schematic's lib_symbols section.
Uses text manipulation to preserve file formatting.
"""
full_name = f"{library_name}:{symbol_name}"
with open(schematic_path, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
content = f.read()
# Check if symbol already exists
if f'(symbol "{full_name}"' in content:
logger.info(f"Symbol {full_name} already exists in schematic")
return True
# Extract symbol from library
symbol_block = self.extract_symbol_from_library(library_name, symbol_name)
if not symbol_block:
raise ValueError(f"Symbol '{symbol_name}' not found in library '{library_name}'")
# Indent the block to match lib_symbols indentation (4 spaces for top-level)
indented_lines = []
for line in symbol_block.split('\n'):
# Add 4-space indent for the content inside lib_symbols
indented_lines.append(' ' + line if line.strip() else line)
indented_block = '\n'.join(indented_lines)
# Find the end of lib_symbols section to insert before closing )
lines = content.split('\n')
lib_sym_start = None
lib_sym_end = None
depth = 0
for i, line in enumerate(lines):
if '(lib_symbols' in line and lib_sym_start is None:
lib_sym_start = i
depth = 0
for ch in line:
if ch == '(':
depth += 1
elif ch == ')':
depth -= 1
continue
if lib_sym_start is not None and lib_sym_end is None:
for ch in line:
if ch == '(':
depth += 1
elif ch == ')':
depth -= 1
if depth == 0:
lib_sym_end = i
break
if lib_sym_end is not None:
break
if lib_sym_end is None:
raise ValueError("No lib_symbols section found in schematic")
# Insert the symbol block just before the closing ) of lib_symbols
lines.insert(lib_sym_end, indented_block)
with open(schematic_path, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as f:
f.write('\n'.join(lines))
logger.info(f"Injected symbol {full_name} into {schematic_path.name}")
return True
def create_component_instance(self, schematic_path: Path, library_name: str,
symbol_name: str, reference: str,
value: str = "", x: float = 0, y: float = 0) -> bool:
"""
Add a component instance to the schematic.
This creates the (symbol ...) block with lib_id reference.
"""
full_lib_id = f"{library_name}:{symbol_name}"
new_uuid = str(uuid.uuid4())
instance_block = f''' (symbol (lib_id "{full_lib_id}") (at {x} {y} 0) (unit 1)
(in_bom yes) (on_board yes) (dnp no)
(uuid "{new_uuid}")
(property "Reference" "{reference}" (at {x} {y - 2.54} 0)
(effects (font (size 1.27 1.27)))
)
(property "Value" "{value or symbol_name}" (at {x} {y + 2.54} 0)
(effects (font (size 1.27 1.27)))
)
(property "Footprint" "" (at {x} {y} 0)
(effects (font (size 1.27 1.27)) (hide yes))
)
(property "Datasheet" "~" (at {x} {y} 0)
(effects (font (size 1.27 1.27)) (hide yes))
)
)'''
with open(schematic_path, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
content = f.read()
# Insert before (sheet_instances or at end before final )
lines = content.split('\n')
insert_pos = None
for i, line in enumerate(lines):
if '(sheet_instances' in line:
insert_pos = i
break
if insert_pos is None:
# Insert before the last closing parenthesis
for i in range(len(lines) - 1, -1, -1):
if lines[i].strip() == ')':
insert_pos = i
break
if insert_pos is None:
raise ValueError("Could not find insertion point in schematic")
lines.insert(insert_pos, instance_block)
with open(schematic_path, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as f:
f.write('\n'.join(lines))
logger.info(f"Added component instance {reference} ({full_lib_id}) at ({x}, {y})")
return True
def load_symbol_dynamically(self, schematic_path: Path, library_name: str, symbol_name: str) -> str:
"""
Complete workflow: inject symbol definition and create a template instance.
Returns a template reference name.
"""
logger.info(f"Loading symbol dynamically: {library_name}:{symbol_name}")
# Step 1: Inject symbol definition into lib_symbols
self.inject_symbol_into_schematic(schematic_path, library_name, symbol_name)
# Step 2: Create an offscreen template instance
lib_clean = library_name.replace('-', '_').replace('.', '_')
sym_clean = symbol_name.replace('-', '_').replace('.', '_')
template_ref = f"_TEMPLATE_{lib_clean}_{sym_clean}"
self.create_component_instance(
schematic_path, library_name, symbol_name,
reference=template_ref, value=symbol_name,
x=-200, y=-200
)
logger.info(f"Symbol loaded. Template reference: {template_ref}")
return template_ref
def add_component(self, schematic_path: Path, library_name: str, symbol_name: str,
reference: str, value: str = "", x: float = 0, y: float = 0) -> bool:
"""
High-level: ensure symbol definition exists in schematic, then add an instance.
This is the main entry point for adding components.
"""
# Ensure symbol definition is in lib_symbols
self.inject_symbol_into_schematic(schematic_path, library_name, symbol_name)
# Add the component instance
return self.create_component_instance(
schematic_path, library_name, symbol_name,
reference=reference, value=value, x=x, y=y
)
if __name__ == '__main__':
logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)
loader = DynamicSymbolLoader()
print("\n=== Testing Dynamic Symbol Loader (Text-based) ===\n")
print("1. Finding KiCad symbol library directories...")
lib_dirs = loader.find_kicad_symbol_libraries()
print(f" Found {len(lib_dirs)} directories")
print("\n2. Extracting symbols...")
for lib, sym in [('Device', 'R'), ('Device', 'C'), ('Device', 'LED'), ('Device', 'Q_NMOS')]:
block = loader.extract_symbol_from_library(lib, sym)
if block:
print(f" OK: {lib}:{sym} ({len(block)} chars)")
else:
print(f" FAIL: {lib}:{sym}")
print("\n3. Testing extends resolution...")
block = loader.extract_symbol_from_library('Regulator_Switching', 'LM2596S-5')
if block and 'LM2596S-12' in block:
print(f" OK: LM2596S-5 includes parent LM2596S-12 ({len(block)} chars)")
else:
print(f" FAIL: extends not resolved")
print("\nAll tests passed!")