Edit Schematic Component
edit_schematic_componentUpdate KiCAD schematic component properties: change footprint, value, reference, reposition labels, and add/remove custom BOM attributes like MPN or supplier part numbers.
Instructions
Update properties of a placed symbol in a KiCAD schematic (.kicad_sch) in-place.
Use this tool to: • assign or update the footprint, value, or reference designator, • reposition field labels (Reference / Value text), • add, update, or remove ARBITRARY CUSTOM PROPERTIES used by BOM and sourcing workflows: MPN, Manufacturer, Manufacturer_PN, Distributor, DigiKey, DigiKey_PN, Mouser_PN, LCSC, JLCPCB_PN, Voltage, Tolerance, Power, Dielectric, etc.
Custom properties are first-class — they survive ERC, are exported by export_bom, and are picked up by the JLCPCB / Digi-Key BOM tooling. Newly-added properties default to hidden so they do not clutter the schematic canvas.
Multiple updates can be batched in a single call: pass any combination of
footprint, value, newReference, fieldPositions, properties,
and removeProperties together.
This is more efficient than delete + re-add because it preserves the component's position and UUID. Operates on .kicad_sch files only — to modify a PCB footprint use edit_component instead.
Input Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| value | No | New value string (e.g. 10k, 100nF) | |
| footprint | No | New KiCAD footprint string (e.g. Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric) | |
| reference | Yes | Current reference designator of the component (e.g. R1, U3) | |
| properties | No | Add or update component properties. Map of property name to either a string value (sensible defaults) or a full spec object {value, x?, y?, angle?, hide?, fontSize?}. Use this to attach BOM and sourcing metadata such as MPN, Manufacturer, Distributor, DigiKey, LCSC, JLCPCB_PN, Voltage, Tolerance, Dielectric, Power, etc. Built-in fields (Reference, Value, Footprint, Datasheet) can also be set this way but the dedicated parameters above are clearer. Example: {"MPN": "RC0603FR-0710KL", "Manufacturer": "Yageo", "Tolerance": "1%"} | |
| newReference | No | Rename the reference designator (e.g. R1 → R10) | |
| schematicPath | Yes | Path to the .kicad_sch file | |
| fieldPositions | No | Reposition field labels: map of field name to {x, y, angle, justify?} (e.g. {"Reference": {"x": 12.5, "y": 17.0, "justify": "left"}}) | |
| removeProperties | No | List of custom property names to delete from this component. The built-in fields Reference, Value, Footprint, and Datasheet cannot be removed (clear them by setting value to "" instead). Example: ["OldMPN", "Distributor_PN"] |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| result | Yes |