diff --git a/doc/xschem_man/commands.html b/doc/xschem_man/commands.html
index cc8b25d9..7eded0eb 100644
--- a/doc/xschem_man/commands.html
+++ b/doc/xschem_man/commands.html
@@ -163,6 +163,8 @@ shift       'N'         Hierarchical netlist
 -           'n'         Netlist
 ctrl        'n'         New schematic
 ctrl+shift  'N'         New symbol
+alt         'n'         Empty schematic in new window
+alt+shift   'N'         Empty symbol in new window
 shift       'O'         Toggle Light / Dark colorscheme
 ctrl        'o'         Load schematic
 alt         'p'         Add symbol pin
diff --git a/src/actions.c b/src/actions.c
index c1c30950..a1cd3477 100644
--- a/src/actions.c
+++ b/src/actions.c
@@ -273,15 +273,20 @@ void new_window(const char *cell, int symbol)
     } else if (!pid2) {
       /* child of child */
       if(!cell || !cell[0]) {
-        execl(xschem_executable,xschem_executable,"-b", NULL);
+        if(!symbol)
+          execl(xschem_executable,xschem_executable,"-b", "--tcl",
+                "set netlist_type spice; set XSCHEM_START_WINDOW {}", NULL);
+        else
+          execl(xschem_executable,xschem_executable,"-b", "--tcl",
+                "set netlist_type symbol; set XSCHEM_START_WINDOW {}", NULL);
       }
       else if(!symbol) {
         my_strncpy(f, cell, S(f));
-        execl(xschem_executable,xschem_executable,"-b",f, NULL);
+        execl(xschem_executable,xschem_executable,"-b", "--tcl", "set netlist_type spice", f, NULL);
       }
       else {
         my_strncpy(f, cell, S(f));
-        execl(xschem_executable,xschem_executable,"-b",f, NULL);
+        execl(xschem_executable,xschem_executable,"-b", "--tcl", "set netlist_type symbol", f, NULL);
       }
     } else {
       /* error */
diff --git a/src/callback.c b/src/callback.c
index d227c669..59bc9b3f 100644
--- a/src/callback.c
+++ b/src/callback.c
@@ -1223,6 +1223,16 @@ int callback(int event, int mx, int my, KeySym key,
     copy_objects(START);
     break;
    }
+   if(key=='n' && state==Mod1Mask)              /* Empty schematic in new window */
+   {
+     if(xctx->semaphore >= 2) break;
+     tcleval("xschem new_window");
+   }
+   if(key=='N' && state==(ShiftMask|Mod1Mask) )    /* Empty symbol in new window */
+   {
+     if(xctx->semaphore >= 2) break;
+     tcleval("xschem new_symbol_window");
+   }
    if(key=='n' && state==ControlMask)              /* New schematic */
    {
      if(xctx->semaphore >= 2) break;
diff --git a/src/keys.help b/src/keys.help
index 3594665c..fc6d440b 100644
--- a/src/keys.help
+++ b/src/keys.help
@@ -123,6 +123,8 @@ shift       'N'         Hierarchical netlist
 -           'n'         Netlist
 ctrl        'n'         New schematic
 ctrl+shift  'N'         New symbol
+alt         'n'         Empty schematic in new window
+alt+shift   'N'         Empty symbol in new window
 shift       'O'         Toggle Light / Dark colorscheme
 ctrl        'o'         Load schematic
 alt         'p'         Add symbol pin
diff --git a/src/save.c b/src/save.c
index fc1cf6b4..5b307942 100644
--- a/src/save.c
+++ b/src/save.c
@@ -1089,8 +1089,13 @@ void load_schematic(int load_symbols, const char *filename, int reset_undo) /* 2
     set_modify(0);
     clear_drawing();
     for(i=0;;i++) {
-      if(i == 0) my_snprintf(name, S(name), "%s.sch", "untitled");
-      else my_snprintf(name, S(name), "%s-%d.sch", "untitled", i);
+      if(netlist_type == CAD_SYMBOL_ATTRS) {
+        if(i == 0) my_snprintf(name, S(name), "%s.sym", "untitled");
+        else my_snprintf(name, S(name), "%s-%d.sym", "untitled", i);
+      } else {
+        if(i == 0) my_snprintf(name, S(name), "%s.sch", "untitled");
+        else my_snprintf(name, S(name), "%s-%d.sch", "untitled", i);
+      }
       if(stat(name, &buf)) break;
     }
     my_snprintf(xctx->sch[xctx->currsch], S(xctx->sch[xctx->currsch]), "%s/%s", pwd_dir, name);
diff --git a/src/scheduler.c b/src/scheduler.c
index 8e0c523d..2b2a8854 100644
--- a/src/scheduler.c
+++ b/src/scheduler.c
@@ -1570,6 +1570,14 @@ int xschem(ClientData clientdata, Tcl_Interp *interp, int argc, const char * arg
       Tcl_ResetResult(interp);
     }
    
+    else if(!strcmp(argv[1],"new_symbol_window"))
+    {
+      cmd_found = 1;
+      if(argc==2) new_window("",1);
+      else new_window(argv[2],1);
+      Tcl_ResetResult(interp);
+    }
+
     else if(!strcmp(argv[1],"new_window"))
     {
       cmd_found = 1;
diff --git a/src/xschem.tcl b/src/xschem.tcl
index 46ebb86d..a23297f7 100644
--- a/src/xschem.tcl
+++ b/src/xschem.tcl
@@ -3846,6 +3846,14 @@ if { ( $::OS== "Windows" || [string length [lindex [array get env DISPLAY] 1] ]
       xschem clear SYMBOL
     }
   toolbar_create FileNewSym {xschem clear SYMBOL} "New Symbol"
+  .menubar.file.menu add command -label "New empty Schematic window" -accelerator {Alt+N} \
+    -command {
+      xschem new_window
+    }
+  .menubar.file.menu add command -label "New empty Symbol window" -accelerator {Alt+Shift+N} \
+    -command {
+      xschem new_symbol_window
+    }
   .menubar.file.menu add command -label "Open" -command "xschem load" -accelerator {Ctrl+O}
   toolbar_create FileOpen "xschem load" "Open File"
   .menubar.file.menu add command -label "Delete files" -command "xschem delete_files" -accelerator {Shift-D}