@User: Never mind; I did not realize that the leading colon in the

XSCHEM_LIBRARY_PATH

entries was significant. I believe I have it working correctly now.

try setting this:

set XSCHEM_LIBRARY_PATH \

${XSCHEM_SHAREDIR}/xschem_library: \

/usr/share/pdk/sky130A/libs.tech/xschem

the first path is xschem 'own' symbol directory (containing necessary things like pins, labels, ideal components title etc) the second (and more if needed) is the project specific base directory. xschem symbols instantiated in schematics have one directory component, example:

sky130_fd_pr/nfet_g5v0d10v5.sym

so the XSCHEM_LIBRARY_PATH should end one dir above that.