Copy block to Word -- new user

[TimFox]

As in my previous post, I am still a new user.  I have successfully created a two-tube schematic in KiCad Eeschema and printed it on "A" paper.
Before I retired, I used OrCad Capture to create schematics.  In that package, I could define a rectangular block, right-click and copy to clipboard, and then paste the clipboard into Word for documentation (although I might need to adjust the aspect ratio of the resulting figure in Word).
So far, in KiCad, I found that I could copy the entire drawing (including blank space, border, and title block) into Word, but I only want roughly 1/4 of the drawing (without title and border) in the Word memo.
I tried block copy by holding Shift and left-click, but I can't move that block out of KiCad.
Is there a method to do what I want here?  Either clipboard the block into Word or edit the resulting figure in Word?

[tox3]

I think that the only option would be to take screenshot.
On windows you can use print screen button on your keyboard and cut out necessary part in Paint or any other image editing software.
Also on windows you can use snipping tool and select area that you want to document and copy it to Word.

[TimFox]

Thanks.  I tried that, entering it into Visio, and then using the crop tool to extract the relevant block.  I then copied the block and pasted into Word.  That worked, after I converted the Visio element to a Microsoft Picture to enable conversion to greyscale.  However, I seem to have lost resolution in this process, and the result is fuzzier than when printed directly to paper.

[PlainName]

Don't know about Kicad but surely you can past the entire thing into Word and then crop it to show the bit you want.

[Warhawk]

Hi Tim, I would use one of the following procedures:

Easiest
In KiCad Eschema, go to File->Export->Drawing to Clipboard
In word, ctrl+v (paste) operation. This inserts the complete page to your word document. Then, use the in-built feature in MS Word to crop the picture.
The drawback is that the file preserves areas outside the crop selection and the *.docx file is bigger in size. You could alternatively use the compress picture
feature but it reduces the resolution too.

Better
Paste the picture to MS paint and crop it there. After you finish the operation, you press ctrl+a (select all), ctrl+c (copy) and paste it to your word document (ctrl+v).

Best
Use vectors. Both above mentioned methods convert the schematic in bitmaps. The resolution is limited and size is big.
In KiCad, Eschema, go to File->Plot->Select SVG
Download Inkscape (opensource, free) and convert the SVG to EMF
Insert it in word

I could not get this running with Word 2010. I just get black rectangle. MS should burn in hell. Maybe workaround through Visio would work but MS products
are often not compatible even between each other.

I hope this helps,
Jiri

[golden_labels]

Does it have to be Word? Plotting to SVG and then embedding in a document works in LibreOffice Writer (tested on 6.3.5). Perhaps you could even try exporting it to .docx and seeing how Word reacts to that.

[PlainName]

I could not get this running with Word 2010. I just get black rectangle.

Strange. I have Word 2010 so just tried this and, as you can see from the capture, it worked perfectly. In fact, as a non-Kicad user I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I could run off this example!

[pierreraymondrondelle]

You have an excellent tool named FastStone Capture ( www.Faststone.org ), with area selection, resize, crop, panelization, basic image editing, ....
Even recording very long pages in a single image.
Have a look on it

[kripton2035]

just tried plot to svg (or pdf) then paste everywhere and it works fine.

[Warhawk]

just tried plot to svg (or pdf) then paste everywhere and it works fine.

Can you confirm that the final app does not convert it into bitmap? It often happens? (e.g. opening the svg in edge and copy and paste to word results in bitmap in word[ and no, paste special does not work]).

[Warhawk]

I could not get this running with Word 2010. I just get black rectangle.

Strange. I have Word 2010 so just tried this and, as you can see from the capture, it worked perfectly. In fact, as a non-Kicad user I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I could run off this example!

I mean I could not get the last example working. The one with vector graphic. Are you sure that your content in word is in vectors? Word 2010 does not support the SVG file format. This feature is available in office 2016 and later (at least what I read on the internet). 

[kripton2035]

if you paste it in any program except word (2016 mac) it works fine ...

[PlainName]

Are you sure that your content in word is in vectors?

No, I just exported to clipbaord, paste, crop, snap, upload

[PlainName]

You have an excellent tool named FastStone Capture

Nice tool, but it's only going to be the resolution of your desktop. For a small area that wouldn't be too good when it's printed.

[pierreraymondrondelle]

Nice tool, but it's only going to be the resolution of your desktop.

use F11 in firefox and some other programs or the dedicated full screen key or command then Ctrl-mouse_wheel for expanding the information to be saved then grab it with FastStone Capture.

When you have no other mean to deal with an information, the hard copy is the sole possibility. FastStone Capture is well ahead its competitors since it allows to capture and process the usefull area only.
The outputs are jpeg, png, pdf, ...Give it a try.

[Doctorandus_P]

For quick pictures a screengrabber works well.
For better quality renderings, indeed use the SVG or other export and post process in a decent program.

[PlainName]

Give it a try

No point. I use Winsnap, and also have Greenshot and a bunch of others. They can all do more or less the same as each other, and the same as FastOne.

[poeschlr]

You can also use the plot dialog to export the schematic as vector graphic (example svg or pdf)

[TimFox]

I appreciate all of the suggestions.  What I finally found to work best for me, with the programs I have, is:
1. Start with a single page, eliminating superflous components in the KiCad .sch file.
2. In KiCad, plot the page to a .dxf (Autocad) file, deselecting border and title block, selecting black & white.
3. Open a blank drawing in Visio and insert the .dxf file into Visio (as a CAD file).
4. Export the Visio file as .emf (picture file).
5. Insert the .emf file into Word as a picture.
It than can be stretched or contracted in Word to the desired size.

[poeschlr]

I am reasonably certain this falls under https://xkcd.com/763/