---
name: "xschem"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "xschem"
version: "3.4.4-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/xschem"
---

# xschem(1)

schematic capture and netlisting EDA tool

## NAME

xschem - schematic capture and netlisting EDA tool

## SYNPOSIS

```

xschem [options] [inputfile]
```

## DECSRIPTION

**Xschem** **is a schematic capture program, it allows creation of** **hierarchical representation of circuits with a top down approach.**

## OPTIONS

- **-h, --help**

  **Print help and exit.**

- **-b, --detach**

  **Detach xschem from console (no output and no input from console)**

- **-n, --netlist**

  **Do a netlist of the given schematic cell.**

- **-v, --version**

  **Print version information and exit.**

- **-V, --vhdl**

  **Set netlist type to VHDL.**

- **-S, --simulate**

  **Run a simulation of the current schematc file (spice/Verilog/VHDL, depending on the netlist type chosen).**

- **-w, --verilog**

  **Set netlist type to Verilog.**

- **--tcl \<tcl\_script\>**

  **Execute specified tcl instructions before any other action, this can be used to change xschemrc variables.**

- **--preinit \<file\>**

  **Execute specified tcl instructions before any other action and before loading xschemrc.**

- **--command \<tcl\_cmd\>**

  **Execute specified tcl commands after completing startup.**

- **--script \<file\>**

  **Execute specified tcl file as a command script (perhaps with xschem  commands).**

- **--diff \<file\>**

  **Show differences with given file.**

- **--tcp-port \<number\>**

  **Listen to specified tcp port for client connections. (number \>=1024).**

- **-i, --no\_rcload**

  **Do not load any xschemrc file.**

- **-o, --netlist\_path**

  **Set output for netlist.**

- **-N, --netlist\_filename**

  **Set name (only name, not path) of top level netlist file.**

- **-t, --tedax**

  **Set netlist type to tEDAx.**

- **-s, --spice**

  **Set netlist type to SPICE.**

- **-y, --symbol**

  **Set netlist type to symbol global property edit.**

- **-x, --no\_x**

  **Dont use X (only command mode).**

- **-z, --rainbow**

  **Use a raibow-looking layer color table.**

- **-W, --waves**

  **Show simulation waveforms.**

- **-f, --flat\_netlist**

  **Set flat netlist (for spice format only).**

- **-r, --no\_readline**

  **Start without the tclreadline package ( this is necessary if stdin and stdout are to be redirected for example to /dev/null).**

- **-c, --color\_ps**

  **Set color postscript.**

- **--plotfile \<file\>**

  **Use \<file\> as output for plot export (png, svg, postscript/pdf)**

- **--rcfile \<file\>**

  **Use \<file\> as a rc file for startup instead of the default xschemrc.**

- **-p, --postscript, --pdf**

  **Export pdf schematic.**

- **--png**

  **Export png schematic.**

- **--svg**

  **Export svg schematic.**

- **-q, --quit**

  **Quit after doing things (no interactive mode).**

- **-l file, --log file**

  **Set a log file.**

- **-d n, --debug n**

  **Set debug level: 1, 2, 3,...: C program debug, -1, -2, -3...: TCL frontend debug.**

## FILES

- **/usr/share/xschem/xschemrc**

  **default configuration.**

- **~/.xschem/xschemrc**

  **user configuration; if exists overrides settings from default configuration;** **may be partial: settings not overridden will remain as set from the system** **config.**

- **./xschemrc**

  **local/per-project configuration; if exists overrides settings from** **the user configuration and default configuration.**

- **/usr/share/xschem/systemlib**

  **builtin essentials, such as font and missing symbol graphics.**

- **/usr/share/xschem/utile**

  **TODO.**

-