d73bc42362
Adds a "Value calculator" tool (Tools menu) that decodes/encodes the value of common components and generates a clean SVG picture you can attach to a part — handy for assortments imported with blank thumbnails and sparse data. Calculator tabs (bidirectional decode <-> encode), each drawing the part to the selected package with a collapsible appearance panel and an "attach to part" action (optionally as the master picture): - Resistor: 4/5/6-band colour code - Capacitor: value <-> 3-digit code <-> tolerance - SMD resistor: value <-> 3-digit / 4-digit / EIA-96 code - Inductor: colour-band code - SMD inductor: value <-> uH code Bulk "Generate component images" parts-table action: - Classifies each selected part (resistor / capacitor / inductor / diode / LED, THT or SMD) with ComponentValueGuesser and detects value, voltage, tolerance, power, ppm, pitch, diameter, colour, SMD package and marking from the name, description and parameters. - Renders a preview per part, lets you tweak appearance, and attaches the images in one go; can also write matching KiCad symbol/footprint/reference-prefix EDA fields. Backend: ComponentValueGuesser (classification + detection + EDA suggestion), GeneratedImageAttachmentHelper (stores the SVG through the existing attachment pipeline, so it is sanitised on save), two POST endpoints on PartController (generate_image, set_eda) guarded by `edit` + CSRF, a new `@tools.value_calculator` permission, a Tools-tree entry and docs. All drawing is client-side in a Stimulus controller; the un-sanitised live preview escapes part-derived text and validates colours as defence-in-depth. Tests: unit tests for ComponentValueGuesser and functional tests for the endpoints, including permission and CSRF enforcement and the persisted side effects.
4.9 KiB
| layout | title | parent |
|---|---|---|
| default | Component image generator | Usage |
Component image generator
Part-DB can draw schematic-style pictures of passive components (resistors, SMD resistors and ceramic capacitors) from their value, and attach them to your parts. This is handy when you import a bulk assortment (for example a resistor or capacitor kit) that arrives with no pictures and only a value in the name — instead of blank thumbnails you get a clean, consistent illustration for every part.
There are two ways to use it:
- the Value calculator tool, to draw a single component interactively, and
- the Generate component images bulk action, to illustrate a whole selection of parts at once.
Both produce a lightweight, transparent SVG that is attached as the part's picture (so it stays crisp at any size). The images are illustrations, not photographs — they show the colour-band code, capacitor code, or SMD marking together with dimension callouts.
Value calculator
Open Tools → Value calculator (requires the Value calculator permission). It has three tabs:
- Resistor – enter a resistance (or pick the colour bands) and get a 4/5/6-band axial resistor. The tolerance, power rating and temperature coefficient (ppm) are reflected in the bands and body size.
- SMD resistor – enter a resistance and package (0402, 0603, 0805 …) to get a chip resistor with the 3-digit, 4-digit or EIA-96 marking.
- Capacitor – enter a capacitance to get a radial disc (or MLCC blob) ceramic capacitor with the printed code, optional voltage line and tolerance letter.
Every field is linked: editing the value updates the code (and vice-versa), and the picture redraws live. You can change the body colour, size, lead length and other appearance options.
Attaching to a part
When a part has no picture, its info page shows a Generate image button in the picture area. This opens the calculator in a dialog, pre-filled from the part's value. Click Attach and the drawing is saved as the part's picture without leaving the page.
Bulk "Generate component images"
To illustrate many parts at once, select them in any parts table and choose Actions → Generate component images.
Part-DB classifies each selected part as a resistor, SMD resistor or capacitor, reads its value and other properties, and shows a review table with a live preview for every part. You can adjust any value before writing, then:
- Attach pictures – saves the generated image as each checked part's picture, or
- Write KiCad settings – writes the suggested KiCad symbol / footprint / reference prefix to each checked part (see EDA / KiCad integration).
Only parts without a picture are listed by default. If some of your selection already have a picture, a notice offers to re-generate / overwrite them (see Overwriting).
What is auto-detected — and how to get the best results
Each property is read from the part's parameters first, then from its name and description. A part is only listed if it has no picture yet and a value can be read from it. To improve detection, add any of the following (a plain CSV import usually only fills the name/description, so putting the value in the name is the most reliable option):
| Property | Add a parameter named… | …or write in the name / description |
|---|---|---|
| Value (required) | Resistance / Capacitance (unit Ω or F) |
10nF, 0.1µF, 4n7 · 4k7, 470R, 10k, 1M |
| Rated voltage (capacitors) | Voltage |
50V, 100V |
| Tolerance | Tolerance |
±5%, 1%, 0.1% |
| Power (through-hole resistors) | — | 0.25W, 1/4W, 1W |
| Temp. coefficient (resistors) | — | 50ppm, ±25 ppm/°C |
| Lead pitch (capacitors) | Pitch / RM / Lead spacing |
pitch 5mm, RM5 |
| Body diameter (capacitors) | Diameter |
⌀5mm |
| SMD size (resistors) | the assigned footprint | 0402, 0603, 0805, 1206, … |
| Body colour | — | blue body, beige, green, … |
How the properties are drawn depends on the component type, matching real-world conventions:
- Capacitor – tolerance shows as the letter after the code (
104K= ±10%); voltage as a printed line. - Through-hole resistor – tolerance and temperature coefficient are colour bands; power sets the body size.
- SMD resistor – tolerance is expressed by the marking system (4-digit for 1 %, 3-digit for looser); power/voltage are not printed on a chip, so its size comes from the package instead.
Overwriting existing pictures
By default, parts that already have a picture are skipped. Use the Re-generate / overwrite button to include them anyway. When you then attach a picture to such a part, the new image becomes the part's preview and replaces any previously generated image — manually uploaded photos are kept.