Download the Windows installer from qelectrotech.org/downloads
- Look for: qelectrotech-0.100-setup.exe or similar
Run the installer:
- Double-click the .exe file
- Click "Next" through the setup wizard
- Choose installation location (default is fine)
- Click "Install"
Launch QElectroTech:
- After installation, "Launch QET" checkbox appears → click it
- Or find in Start Menu → search "QElectroTech"
- Or double-click desktop shortcut (if created)

First Run:

Application launches with welcome screen
File → New Project to start
See Quick Start Guide for first diagram

Option 2: Portable Version

No installation required; run from USB or folder.

Download the portable ZIP from downloads page
Extract the ZIP file to a folder
Run QElectroTech.exe directly from the folder
No registry changes; safe to run from USB

Option 3: Microsoft Store

If available in your region.

Open Microsoft Store
Search for "QElectroTech"
Click "Install"
Launch from Start Menu or App Grid

macOS

Option 1: DMG Package (Recommended)

Standard macOS installation method.

Download the macOS package from qelectrotech.org/downloads
- Look for: qelectrotech-0.100.dmg or similar
Mount the DMG:
- Double-click the .dmg file
- A window opens showing the application
Install:
- Drag QElectroTech icon to the Applications folder
- (Or double-click to run directly from DMG)
Launch:
- Open Applications folder
- Double-click QElectroTech
- (May ask to confirm first launch; click "Open")
Easier access:
- Drag QElectroTech from Applications to Dock for quick access
- Or use Launchpad to launch

First Run:

Application launches with welcome screen
File → New Project to start

Option 2: Homebrew

If you have Homebrew installed.

brew install qelectrotech
qelectrotech

Option 3: AppImage

Portable version; no installation needed.

Download .AppImage file from downloads page
Make executable:
```
chmod +x QElectroTech-*.AppImage
```
Run:
```
./QElectroTech-*.AppImage
```

Linux

Option 1: Package Manager (Easiest)

Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install qelectrotech
qelectrotech

Fedora/RHEL:

sudo dnf install qelectrotech
qelectrotech

Arch Linux:

sudo pacman -S qelectrotech
qelectrotech

Other distributions:

Search your package manager for "qelectrotech"
Or use Flatpak/Snap (below)

Option 2: Flatpak

Universal Linux package; works on most distributions.

Install Flatpak (if not already installed):

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install flatpak

# Fedora
sudo dnf install flatpak

Install QElectroTech:

flatpak install org.qelectrotech.QElectroTech

Run:

flatpak run org.qelectrotech.QElectroTech

Or launch from your applications menu

Option 3: Snap

If you have Snap installed:

sudo snap install qelectrotech
qelectrotech

Option 4: AppImage

No installation required; portable executable.

Download .AppImage from qelectrotech.org/downloads
Make executable:
```
chmod +x QElectroTech-*.AppImage
```
Run:
```
./QElectroTech-*.AppImage
```
Or double-click in file manager

Option 5: Build from Source

For developers or if no packages available:

See Building QET for detailed compile instructions.

First Run: Getting Started

After Installation

Launch QElectroTech
- Windows: Start Menu → QElectroTech
- macOS: Applications → QElectroTech
- Linux: Applications menu or qelectrotech command
First screen appears:
- Welcome dialog or blank window
- Ready to create your first project
Create your first project:
- File → New Project
- Choose page size (A4 is fine)
- Click OK
- Blank diagram appears
Start drawing:
- Elements panel on right: search for "switch"
- Drag element onto canvas
- Add more elements
- Draw wires to connect them
- Double-click to add labels
Save your work:
- File → Save (Ctrl+S)
- Choose location and filename
- Saves as .qet format

Next Steps

Quick Start Guide — 10-minute tutorial
User Manual — Complete feature reference
FAQ — Common questions
Forum — Ask the community

Troubleshooting

"Application won't start"

Windows:

Try running as Administrator
Ensure .NET Framework is installed
Check Windows Updates

macOS:

Confirm "Open" when first launching
Check that app downloaded fully
Try emptying Trash and reinstalling

Linux:

Ensure all dependencies installed: sudo apt install libqt5gui5 libqt5svg5
Try: qelectrotech --version to verify installation
Check file permissions

"Missing dependencies"

Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt install libqt5gui5 libqt5svg5 qt5-image-formats-plugins

Fedora:

sudo dnf install qt5-qtbase qt5-qtsvg

"Slow or laggy"

Ensure 1GB+ RAM available
Close other applications
Disable visual effects if needed
Update your graphics drivers

"Can't save files"

Ensure write permissions on folder
Try saving to Documents folder
Check disk space available

Still having issues?

FAQ — Check common questions
Forum — Ask the community
GitHub Issues — Report bugs

Keeping QElectroTech Updated

Check for Updates

Windows/macOS:

Help → Check for Updates (if available)
Or download latest from website

Linux:

Package manager handles updates automatically
Or: sudo apt upgrade qelectrotech

Update to Latest

Windows:

Download latest installer and run it

macOS:

Download latest DMG and replace application

Linux (apt):

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade qelectrotech

Flatpak:

flatpak update org.qelectrotech.QElectroTech

Snap:

sudo snap refresh qelectrotech

Portable vs. Installed

When to Use Portable

✅ Running from USB drive
✅ No admin rights on computer
✅ Temporary installation
✅ Trying before full install
✅ Multiple versions

When to Use Installer

✅ Permanent installation
✅ Want Start Menu shortcuts
✅ Integration with system
✅ Easier updates
✅ Normal usage

Uninstalling QElectroTech

Windows

Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a Program
Find QElectroTech → Click Uninstall
Follow prompts

macOS

Open Applications folder
Drag QElectroTech to Trash
Empty Trash
Optional: Remove preferences:
```
rm -rf ~/.config/qelectrotech
```

Linux (apt)

sudo apt remove qelectrotech
sudo apt autoremove  # Optional: remove dependencies

Flatpak

flatpak uninstall org.qelectrotech.QElectroTech

Snap

sudo snap remove qelectrotech

Need Help?

Quick Start Guide — Get started quickly
FAQ — Common installation questions
Forum — Ask the community
Community — Find support channels

Download Now

Ready to get started?

→ Download QElectroTech

Or choose your platform above for detailed instructions!

Getting Started

Home

🌐 Languages — English · Français · Deutsch

Downloads

Quick Start Guide

User Manual

FAQ

Tips & Tricks

Guides

Conductors — wire properties, what feeds which export, and cables

Wire & cable catalogue — cable types, IEC 60757 core colours, assigning a core to a conductor

Printing and exporting — paper, PDF, images, and what each path does differently

Linking elements — master, slave, terminal

PLC modules — I/O tables and linking a wire to a specific point

Using the element editor — drawing tools, saving, checks

Preferences reference — what each settings page does

Keyboard-only control — mouseless QET, and the one real gap

Mouse modifiers — what Shift, Ctrl and Alt change while you drag

Managing collections — folders, writability, building your own shortlist

Templates — reusable multi-element blocks, and why clicking one does nothing

Search & Replace — bulk property changes

Building a nomenclature query — the BOM/summary table builder

Linking wires across pages — folio reports

Variables & formulas — %f, %{label}, sequences

Auto-numbering — schemes, sequences, freezing

Terminal strips — strips, levels, bridges

Title block templates — the .titleblock format

Importing EPLAN parts (.edz) — EPLAN Data Portal

DXF import & export — two unrelated features, one format

The project database — the in-memory SQLite cache

File formats

Elements XML

attribute
uuid
names
- name
informations
description
- line
- polygon
- rect
- ellipse / circle
- arc
- text
- dynamic_text
- terminal
kindInformations
elementInformations

Project XML

Development

Building from Source

Contributing Code

Automating QET — CLI, XML formats, external tools

CLI Reference — command line usage

JavaScript Scripting — --run, geometry editing, undo

Development Roadmap

Vision — proposal, under discussion

Developer Tools

About

Features

History

Community

License

Contributing to this Wiki

Home tools