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BOM Workflow

Once a project is open, the main screen shows a step-by-step workflow for creating a nextbom database from your schematic data.

Step 1: Import a CSV

Click Import CSV to load a BOM export from your EDA tool.

nextbom expects a semicolon-delimited CSV with a header row. The column order is:

part_id;designator
CAP00100;C1
CAP00100;C2
RES00001;R1
  • Column 1 — Part ID: The generic part identifier (e.g. CAP00100). This is the ID that will later be resolved to a manufacturer part number.
  • Column 2 — Designator: The schematic reference designator (e.g. C1, R2, U12).
  • The header row is skipped automatically.
  • Leading and trailing whitespace is trimmed from both columns.

After a successful import, nextbom shows how many entries were loaded.

Tip

Most EDA tools (KiCad, Altium, etc.) can export a BOM as CSV. You may need to configure the delimiter and column order to match the format above.

Prerequisite

Before proceeding, make sure your project is linked to a .nextdb parts database.

Step 2: Configure the BOM

Before creating the database, set these fields:

PCBA Name : The name of the printed circuit board assembly. Defaults to the project title (Auto mode) but can be edited freely by unchecking Auto. Stored as metadata in the generated database.

BOM Version : A numeric version identifier for this BOM (digits only). Stored as metadata alongside the PCBA name and design variant.

Design Variant : Identifies which assembly variant this BOM belongs to — for example full or lite. Pre-populated from the last value used in this project. After the file is created, the value is saved back to the project so it loads automatically next time.

Step 3: Create the BOM Working File

Click Create nextbom BOM file. A file picker opens so you can choose where to save the .nextbom working file.

The generated file is a SQLite working file containing:

  • A bom table with one row per component: designator (primary key) → part_id

This file is used internally to generate the final BOM output. It is not directly linked to your project — only the .nextdb parts database is linked to the project.

See File Formats for details.