KiCad_BOM_Export

KiCad Add-in Script to export and cost a BOM Written in Python 2.74, as KiCad seems not to support Python 3

This is a simple script process the KiCad intermediate netlist file, and produce a BOM in both CSV and XML Format

Features:

• Optionally groups same components into a single row (cmd line paramater "-g")
• Optionally costs the BOM using FindChips API (cmd line parameters "-f" and "-a [apikey]")
• Produces both CSV and XML output

Command Line Parameters

• -h / -help Display Help message
• -g / -group Group like components into a single row
• -i / -input Input file (in KiCad's intermediate XML format)
• -o / -output Output file name (will be appended with .CSV and .XML). If none specified, output file is input file + "_BOM"
• -f Use the FindChips API
• -a / -apikey The API Key from the online costing service

Usage from within KiCad:

• Open EESchema

• TOOLS menu / Generate Bill of Materials

• Add a new item with a cmd line similar to: python "[path to python script]KiCadBomExport.py" "-i %I" [other cmd line params]

  eg: python "c:\KiCadBomExport.py" -i "%I" -g -f -a xxxxxxxx Suggest you don't use the standard "%O" output file parameter, or the .xml output will overwrite the intermediate Netlist file.

Usage with SupplyFrame's FindChips API

You need to request an API from SupplyFrame. Go to: http://dev.supplyframe.com/ You will be provided with an API key. Use this in your command line call after the "-a" argument

Within KiCad EESchema, you will need to define a manufacturer part number:

• within EESchema, Preferences menu / Schematic Editor Options / Template Field Name
• Add "Mfg_Part_No" to store the manufacturer's part number. Be specific down to package to avoid vague search results

Using the output files

I find that Excel doesn't read the CSV file in well, as it tries to convert data types. I prefer to use Excel to open the XML output file:

• right-click on XML output file, then "open with Excel"
• in Excel choose to open as an XML Table
• Voila!

Troubleshooting:

• A log file is created in user home directory (eg. on Windows: C:\User[your username]\Kicad_BOM_Logging.txt)

Further Enhancements Identified:

• Add command-line option to cost based on number of boards (currently only assumes 1)
• Use a config file to restrict distributors to a preferred set

Please Contribute! I found this useful, but there is much more that the script can achieve!