Which MIME types are related to file extension ".kicad_wks"?
The .kicad_wks file extension is associated with 1 MIME types:
A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.
About .kicad_wks Files
KICAD_WKS files are text files used by the KiCad PCB design tool.
They store layout and workspace settings in a human-readable format that resembles Lisp code. This explains why the MIME type is text/x-common-lisp.
- Main use case: They save KiCad project layout details and workspace configurations.
- Format: Plain text with a Lisp-like syntax that can be edited using any text editor.
- Software: Primarily opened and modified with KiCad’s PCB layout editor.
- Technical note: The structure helps advanced users script or automate layout changes.
Relationship between file extension and MIME type
A file extension is a suffix at the end of a filename that indicates what type of file it is. File extensions help both users and operating systems identify what application should be used to open the file.
File extensions are typically separated from the filename by a period (dot) and consist of 2-4 characters, though they can be longer. For example, in the filename "document.pdf", ".pdf" is the file extension.
File extensions are closely related to MIME types, as they both serve to identify the format of a file. However, while MIME types are used primarily by web browsers and servers, file extensions are used by operating systems and applications.
Associated MIME types
FAQs
What is the purpose of a .kicad_wks file?
A .kicad_wks file defines the page layout for KiCad projects, including the border, title block, and logo placement. It is used to ensure consistent documentation styling across schematics (Eeschema) and PCB layouts (Pcbnew).
How do I open and edit a .kicad_wks file?
The standard way to edit these files is using the KiCad Page Layout Editor (formerly Pl Editor), included with the KiCad suite. Because the file is plain text, you can also view or tweak it using code editors like Notepad++ or Visual Studio Code.
Why is the MIME type listed as text/x-common-lisp?
KiCad uses S-expressions (nested lists) to structure its data, a syntax heavily derived from the Lisp programming language. As a result, systems often classify these files under the MIME type text/x-common-lisp despite being specific to CAD software.
How do I apply a custom .kicad_wks file to my project?
Open your schematic or PCB editor in KiCad and navigate to File > Page Settings. In the "Page layout description file" section, browse and select your desired .kicad_wks file to update the title block and border immediately.
Can I convert a .kicad_wks file to PDF?
You cannot convert the worksheet file itself directly to a standalone PDF. Instead, you must apply the worksheet to a schematic or PCB design within KiCad, and then use the Plot or Print function to generate a PDF of the final document.
Is the .kicad_wks format compatible with older versions of KiCad?
The .kicad_wks extension was introduced with KiCad 5/6 to replace the older .wks format. While newer versions of KiCad can usually import older files, older versions of the software cannot open the modern .kicad_wks format.
General FAQ
What is a MIME type?
A MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) type is a standard that indicates the nature and format of a document, file, or assortment of bytes. MIME types are defined and standardized in IETF's RFC 6838.
MIME types are important because they help browsers and servers understand how to process a file. When a browser receives a file from a server, it uses the MIME type to determine how to display or handle the content, whether it's an image to display, a PDF to open in a viewer, or a video to play.
MIME types consist of a type and a subtype, separated by a slash (e.g., text/html, image/jpeg, application/pdf). Some MIME types also include optional parameters.
How do I find the MIME type for a file?
You can check the file extension or use a file identification tool such as file --mime-type on the command line. Many programming languages also provide libraries to detect MIME types.
Why can one extension have multiple MIME types?
Different programs and historical usage may assign various MIME identifiers to the same file format. Listing them together helps maintain compatibility across tools.