"ElectroSymbols" is an archive containing a library of objects that can be used to draw electronic circuit diagrams, such as filters, amplifiers, signal generators, digital counters and so on.
Some time ago, I needed such symbols to render simple circuits as figures in a book on electrophysiological methods *). Since I couldn't find a suitable set in the Mac ftp archives, I decided to draw my own. After finishing the symbols needed for the book, I could not resist the temptation to make it more complete, and useful for electronics in general.
The file contains the most common symbols such as:
- basic components such as resistors, capacitors and inductances.
- semiconductors, such as diodes, Zeners, transistors, FETs, TRIAC and UJT.
- transformers, batteries, current and voltage sources.
- meters, loudspeakers and lamps.
- op-amp, gates, flip-flops and a few other digital components.
- ground symbols, connectors, switches and relays.
- symbols used in block diagrams, such as sine generator and oscilloscope.
- basic signals, such as sine, square, triangle and pulse(s).
- video signals, such as frame, line, sync.
Although drawing programs can rotate an object, some of the symbols are included both in horizontal and vertical position to save time. For some symbols, more than one alternative is represented, such as the rectangular vs the zigzag resistor symbol. The presence of some strange symbols, that bear resemblance to electrodes used in electrophysiological measurements, reveal the original purpose of this symbol set.
The file "ElectroLibrary" is an object library in Claris Draw Library format. Claris Draw is the successor of MacDraw Pro. For those who did not upgrade, I included an older version, called "ElectroLibrary.MDP", in MacDraw Pro Library format. If you have neither Claris Draw nor its predecessor, try to find someone who has, and convert the desired symbols into PICT form. Unfortunately, however, this will be a tedious task, whereas some precision and information on line thickness and position is likely to get lost. To get an impression of how the symbols look, I included a sample PICT file.
ElectroSymbols is freeware, but not in the public domain.
Users are free to use and modify ElectroLibrary to suit their own purposes, provided the name of the original author, F. Bretschneider of Utrecht University, is not removed from the file. Enhancing ElectroLibrary by the addition of components and re-uploading to any Mac ftp archive is welcomed.
Contents of "ElectroSymbols.cpt":
ElectroLibrary object library for use with Claris Draw (1.0),
ElectroLibrary.MDP object library for use with MacDraw Pro (1.5),
ElectroSymbols read-me this text,
ElectroSymbols.PICT an example, showing a few of the symbols in PICT format.
You may contact the author at the following address:
Dr Franklin Bretschneider
Neuroethology Group
Utrecht University
Padualaan 8
NL-5384 CH Utrecht
The Netherlands
E-mail: bref@neuretp.biol.ruu.nl
*) F. Bretschneider: "Electrophysiological Methods and Instrumentation."
Utrecht University, Utrecht, 1995. ISBN 90-74005-02-0.
