diff --git a/src/netlist.c b/src/netlist.c
index fce9dc97..824db088 100644
--- a/src/netlist.c
+++ b/src/netlist.c
@@ -526,12 +526,19 @@ static void wirecheck(int k)    /* recursive routine */
 
 void set_tcl_netlist_type(void)
 {
-    if(xctx->netlist_type == CAD_SPICE_NETLIST) tclsetvar("netlist_type", "spice");
-    else if(xctx->netlist_type == CAD_VERILOG_NETLIST) tclsetvar("netlist_type", "verilog");
-    else if(xctx->netlist_type == CAD_VHDL_NETLIST) tclsetvar("netlist_type", "vhdl");
-    else if(xctx->netlist_type == CAD_TEDAX_NETLIST) tclsetvar("netlist_type", "tedax");
-    else if(xctx->netlist_type == CAD_SYMBOL_ATTRS) tclsetvar("netlist_type", "symbol");
-    else tclsetvar("netlist_type", "unknown");
+    if(xctx->netlist_type == CAD_SPICE_NETLIST) {
+      tclsetvar("netlist_type", "spice");
+    }  else if(xctx->netlist_type == CAD_VERILOG_NETLIST) {
+      tclsetvar("netlist_type", "verilog");
+    } else if(xctx->netlist_type == CAD_VHDL_NETLIST) {
+      tclsetvar("netlist_type", "vhdl");
+    } else if(xctx->netlist_type == CAD_TEDAX_NETLIST) {
+      tclsetvar("netlist_type", "tedax");
+    } else if(xctx->netlist_type == CAD_SYMBOL_ATTRS) {
+      tclsetvar("netlist_type", "symbol");
+    } else {
+      tclsetvar("netlist_type", "unknown");
+    }
 }
 
 /* what==0 -> initialize  */
diff --git a/src/scheduler.c b/src/scheduler.c
index f78a9602..c94f3af5 100644
--- a/src/scheduler.c
+++ b/src/scheduler.c
@@ -883,6 +883,12 @@ int xschem(ClientData clientdata, Tcl_Interp *interp, int argc, const char * arg
        else
          Tcl_SetResult(interp, "0",TCL_STATIC);
      }
+     else if(!strcmp(argv[2],"format")) {
+       if( !xctx->format )
+         Tcl_SetResult(interp, "<NULL>",TCL_STATIC);
+       else
+         Tcl_SetResult(interp, xctx->format,TCL_VOLATILE);
+     }
      else if(!strcmp(argv[2],"graph_lastsel")) {
        Tcl_SetResult(interp, my_itoa(xctx->graph_lastsel),TCL_VOLATILE);
      }
@@ -2509,6 +2515,9 @@ int xschem(ClientData clientdata, Tcl_Interp *interp, int argc, const char * arg
       else if(!strcmp(argv[2],"flat_netlist")) {
             xctx->flat_netlist=atoi(argv[3]);
       }
+      else if(!strcmp(argv[2],"format")) {
+            my_strdup(1542, &xctx->format, argv[3]);
+      }
       else if(!strcmp(argv[2],"hide_symbols")) {
             xctx->hide_symbols=atoi(argv[3]);
       }
@@ -2520,27 +2529,23 @@ int xschem(ClientData clientdata, Tcl_Interp *interp, int argc, const char * arg
         if(argc > 3) {
           if(!strcmp(argv[3],"spice")){
             xctx->netlist_type=CAD_SPICE_NETLIST;
-            tclsetvar("netlist_type", "spice");
           }
           else if(!strcmp(argv[3],"vhdl")) {
             xctx->netlist_type=CAD_VHDL_NETLIST;
-            tclsetvar("netlist_type", "vhdl");
           }
           else if(!strcmp(argv[3],"verilog")) {
             xctx->netlist_type=CAD_VERILOG_NETLIST;
-            tclsetvar("netlist_type", "verilog");
           }
           else if(!strcmp(argv[3],"tedax")) {
             xctx->netlist_type=CAD_TEDAX_NETLIST;
-            tclsetvar("netlist_type", "tedax");
           }
           else if(!strcmp(argv[3],"symbol")) {
             xctx->netlist_type=CAD_SYMBOL_ATTRS;
-            tclsetvar("netlist_type", "symbol");
           }
           else {
-            tclsetvar("netlist_type", "unknown");
+            dbg(0, "Warning: undefined netlist format: %s\n", argv[3]);
           }
+          set_tcl_netlist_type();
         }
       }
       else if(!strcmp(argv[2],"no_draw")) {
diff --git a/src/token.c b/src/token.c
index 6b296c58..25b1da80 100644
--- a/src/token.c
+++ b/src/token.c
@@ -115,11 +115,13 @@ void hash_all_names(int n)
 {
   int i;
   char *upinst = NULL, *type = NULL, *format = NULL;
+  const char *fmt_attr = NULL;
   inst_hash_free();
+  fmt_attr = xctx->format ? xctx->format : "format";
   for(i=0; i<xctx->instances; i++) {
     if(xctx->inst[i].instname && xctx->inst[i].instname[0]) {
       my_strdup(1519, &type,(xctx->inst[i].ptr+ xctx->sym)->type);
-      my_strdup(1520, &format, get_tok_value((xctx->inst[i].ptr + xctx->sym)->prop_ptr,"format",2));
+      my_strdup(1520, &format, get_tok_value((xctx->inst[i].ptr + xctx->sym)->prop_ptr, fmt_attr,2));
       if(!type || !format || IS_LABEL_SH_OR_PIN(type) ) continue;
       my_strdup(1254, &upinst, xctx->inst[i].instname);
       strtoupper(upinst);
@@ -169,6 +171,7 @@ void check_unique_names(int rename)
   Inst_hashentry *entry;
   int big =  xctx->wires> 2000 || xctx->instances > 2000;
   char *upinst = NULL, *type = NULL, *format = NULL;
+  const char *fmt_attr = NULL;
   /* int save_draw; */
 
   if(xctx->hilight_nets) {
@@ -187,10 +190,11 @@ void check_unique_names(int rename)
   }
   inst_hash_free();
   first = 1;
+  fmt_attr = xctx->format ? xctx->format : "format";
   for(i=0;i<xctx->instances;i++) {
     if(xctx->inst[i].instname && xctx->inst[i].instname[0]) {
       my_strdup(1261, &type,(xctx->inst[i].ptr+ xctx->sym)->type);
-      my_strdup(1262, &format, get_tok_value((xctx->inst[i].ptr + xctx->sym)->prop_ptr,"format",2));
+      my_strdup(1262, &format, get_tok_value((xctx->inst[i].ptr + xctx->sym)->prop_ptr, fmt_attr,2));
       if(!type || !format || IS_LABEL_SH_OR_PIN(type) ) continue;
       my_strdup(1246, &upinst, xctx->inst[i].instname);
       strtoupper(upinst);
@@ -774,15 +778,17 @@ static void print_vhdl_primitive(FILE *fd, int inst) /* netlist  primitives, 200
  int escape=0;
  int no_of_pins=0;
  /* Inst_hashentry *ptr; */
+ char *fmt_attr = NULL;
 
  my_strdup(513, &template, (xctx->inst[inst].ptr + xctx->sym)->templ);
  my_strdup(514, &name, xctx->inst[inst].instname);
+ fmt_attr = xctx->format ? xctx->format : "vhdl_format";
  if(!name) my_strdup(50, &name, get_tok_value(template, "name", 0));
 
  /* allow format string override in instance */
- my_strdup(1000, &format, get_tok_value(xctx->inst[inst].prop_ptr,"vhdl_format",2));
+ my_strdup(1000, &format, get_tok_value(xctx->inst[inst].prop_ptr, fmt_attr, 2));
  if(!format || !format[0])
-   my_strdup(516, &format, get_tok_value((xctx->inst[inst].ptr + xctx->sym)->prop_ptr,"vhdl_format",2));
+   my_strdup(516, &format, get_tok_value((xctx->inst[inst].ptr + xctx->sym)->prop_ptr, fmt_attr, 2));
  if((name==NULL) || (format==NULL) ) {
    my_free(1047, &template);
    my_free(1048, &name);
@@ -1192,8 +1198,10 @@ void print_vhdl_element(FILE *fd, int inst)
   int quote=0;
   int escape=0;
   xRect *pinptr;
+  const char *fmt_attr = NULL;
 
-  if(get_tok_value((xctx->inst[inst].ptr + xctx->sym)->prop_ptr,"vhdl_format", 2)[0] != '\0') {
+  fmt_attr = xctx->format ? xctx->format : "vhdl_format";
+  if(get_tok_value((xctx->inst[inst].ptr + xctx->sym)->prop_ptr, fmt_attr, 2)[0] != '\0') {
    print_vhdl_primitive(fd, inst);
    return;
   }
@@ -1544,8 +1552,10 @@ void print_tedax_subckt(FILE *fd, int symbol)
  size_t token_pos=0;
  int escape=0;
  int no_of_pins=0;
+ char *fmt_attr = NULL;
 
- my_strdup(460, &format, get_tok_value(xctx->sym[symbol].prop_ptr,"format",2));
+ fmt_attr = xctx->format ? xctx->format : "format";
+ my_strdup(460, &format, get_tok_value(xctx->sym[symbol].prop_ptr, fmt_attr, 2));
  if( format==NULL ) {
    my_free(473, &format);
    return; /* no format */
@@ -1653,20 +1663,21 @@ void print_spice_subckt(FILE *fd, int symbol)
  size_t token_pos=0;
  int escape=0;
  int no_of_pins=0;
- const char *tclres;
+ const char *tclres, *fmt_attr = NULL;
 
- my_strdup(103, &format1, get_tok_value(xctx->sym[symbol].prop_ptr,"format",2));
+ fmt_attr = xctx->format ? xctx->format : "format";
+ my_strdup(103, &format1, get_tok_value(xctx->sym[symbol].prop_ptr, fmt_attr, 2));
  dbg(1, "print_spice_subckt(): format1=%s\n", format1);
- if(strstr(format1, "tcleval(") == format1) {
+ if(format1 && strstr(format1, "tcleval(") == format1) {
     tclres = tcl_hook2(&format1);
     if(!strcmp(tclres, "?\n")) my_strdup(1529, &format,  format1 + 8);
     else my_strdup(455, &format,  tclres);
  } else {
    my_strdup(1530, &format,  format1);
  }
+ if(format1) my_free(1544, &format1);
  dbg(1, "print_spice_subckt(): format=%s\n", format);
  if( format==NULL ) {
-   my_free(1012, &format);
    return; /* no format */
  }
  no_of_pins= xctx->sym[symbol].rects[PINLAYER];
@@ -1781,7 +1792,8 @@ int print_spice_element(FILE *fd, int inst)
   char *result = NULL;
   size_t result_pos = 0;
   size_t size = 0;
-  char *spiceprefixtag = NULL;
+  char *spiceprefixtag = NULL; 
+  const char *fmt_attr = NULL;
 
   size = CADCHUNKALLOC;
   my_realloc(1211, &result, size);
@@ -1792,9 +1804,10 @@ int print_spice_element(FILE *fd, int inst)
   if (!name) my_strdup(43, &name, get_tok_value(template, "name", 0));
 
   /* allow format string override in instance */
-  my_strdup(470, &format, get_tok_value(xctx->inst[inst].prop_ptr,"format",2));
+  fmt_attr = xctx->format ? xctx->format : "format";
+  my_strdup(470, &format, get_tok_value(xctx->inst[inst].prop_ptr, fmt_attr, 2));
   if(!format || !format[0])
-     my_strdup(486, &format, get_tok_value((xctx->inst[inst].ptr + xctx->sym)->prop_ptr,"format",2));
+     my_strdup(486, &format, get_tok_value((xctx->inst[inst].ptr + xctx->sym)->prop_ptr, fmt_attr, 2));
 
   if ((name==NULL) || (format==NULL)) {
     my_free(1015, &template);
@@ -2397,6 +2410,7 @@ static void print_verilog_primitive(FILE *fd, int inst) /* netlist switch level
   int escape=0;
   int no_of_pins=0;
   /* Inst_hashentry *ptr; */
+  const char *fmt_attr = NULL;
 
   my_strdup(519, &template,
       (xctx->inst[inst].ptr + xctx->sym)->templ);
@@ -2404,10 +2418,11 @@ static void print_verilog_primitive(FILE *fd, int inst) /* netlist switch level
   my_strdup(520, &name,xctx->inst[inst].instname);
   if(!name) my_strdup(4, &name, get_tok_value(template, "name", 0));
 
+  fmt_attr = xctx->format ? xctx->format : "verilog_format";
   /* allow format string override in instance */
-  my_strdup(1186, &format, get_tok_value(xctx->inst[inst].prop_ptr,"verilog_format",2));
+  my_strdup(1186, &format, get_tok_value(xctx->inst[inst].prop_ptr, fmt_attr, 2));
   if(!format || !format[0])
-    my_strdup(522, &format, get_tok_value((xctx->inst[inst].ptr + xctx->sym)->prop_ptr,"verilog_format",2));
+    my_strdup(522, &format, get_tok_value((xctx->inst[inst].ptr + xctx->sym)->prop_ptr, fmt_attr, 2));
   if((name==NULL) || (format==NULL) ) {
     my_free(1054, &template);
     my_free(1055, &name);
@@ -2597,8 +2612,10 @@ void print_verilog_element(FILE *fd, int inst)
  size_t sizetok=0, sizeval=0;
  size_t token_pos=0, value_pos=0;
  int quote=0;
+ const char *fmt_attr = NULL;
 
- if(get_tok_value((xctx->inst[inst].ptr + xctx->sym)->prop_ptr,"verilog_format",2)[0] != '\0') {
+ fmt_attr = xctx->format ? xctx->format : "verilog_format";
+ if(get_tok_value((xctx->inst[inst].ptr + xctx->sym)->prop_ptr, fmt_attr, 2)[0] != '\0') {
   print_verilog_primitive(fd, inst);
   return;
  }
diff --git a/src/verilog_netlist.c b/src/verilog_netlist.c
index d14018ac..385fed69 100644
--- a/src/verilog_netlist.c
+++ b/src/verilog_netlist.c
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ void global_verilog_netlist(int global)  /* netlister driver */
  char *subckt_name;
  char *abs_path = NULL;
  int split_f;
+ const char *fmt_attr = NULL;
 
  split_f = tclgetboolvar("split_files");
  xctx->push_undo();
@@ -120,6 +121,7 @@ void global_verilog_netlist(int global)  /* netlister driver */
 
 
 /* print verilog timescale 10102004 */
+ fmt_attr = xctx->format ? xctx->format : "verilog_format";
  for(i=0;i<xctx->instances;i++)
  {
   if( strcmp(get_tok_value(xctx->inst[i].prop_ptr,"verilog_ignore",0),"true")==0 ) continue;
@@ -130,7 +132,7 @@ void global_verilog_netlist(int global)  /* netlister driver */
   my_strdup(105, &type,(xctx->inst[i].ptr+ xctx->sym)->type);
   if( type && (strcmp(type,"timescale")==0 || strcmp(type,"verilog_preprocessor")==0) )
   {
-   str_tmp = get_tok_value( (xctx->inst[i].ptr+ xctx->sym)->prop_ptr ,"verilog_format",2);
+   str_tmp = get_tok_value( (xctx->inst[i].ptr+ xctx->sym)->prop_ptr , fmt_attr, 2);
    my_strdup(106, &tmp_string, str_tmp);
    fprintf(fd, "%s\n", str_tmp ? translate(i, tmp_string) : "(NULL)");
   }
@@ -419,7 +421,7 @@ void verilog_block_netlist(FILE *fd, int i)
   char netl_filename[PATH_MAX];
   char tcl_cmd_netlist[PATH_MAX + 100];
   char cellname[PATH_MAX];
-  const char *str_tmp;
+  const char *str_tmp, *fmt_attr = NULL;
   int split_f;
 
   split_f = tclgetboolvar("split_files");
@@ -445,6 +447,7 @@ void verilog_block_netlist(FILE *fd, int i)
 
   verilog_stop? load_schematic(0,filename, 0) : load_schematic(1,filename, 0);
   /* print verilog timescale  and preprocessor directives 10102004 */
+  fmt_attr = xctx->format ? xctx->format : "verilog_format";
   for(j=0;j<xctx->instances;j++)
   {
    if( strcmp(get_tok_value(xctx->inst[j].prop_ptr,"verilog_ignore",0),"true")==0 ) continue;
@@ -455,7 +458,7 @@ void verilog_block_netlist(FILE *fd, int i)
    my_strdup(544, &type,(xctx->inst[j].ptr+ xctx->sym)->type);
    if( type && ( strcmp(type,"timescale")==0  || strcmp(type,"verilog_preprocessor")==0) )
    {
-    str_tmp = get_tok_value( (xctx->inst[j].ptr+ xctx->sym)->prop_ptr ,"verilog_format",2);
+    str_tmp = get_tok_value( (xctx->inst[j].ptr+ xctx->sym)->prop_ptr, fmt_attr, 2);
     my_strdup(545, &tmp_string, str_tmp);
     fprintf(fd, "%s\n", str_tmp ? translate(j, tmp_string) : "(NULL)");
    }
diff --git a/src/xinit.c b/src/xinit.c
index fe5660d9..39d6ee20 100644
--- a/src/xinit.c
+++ b/src/xinit.c
@@ -377,6 +377,7 @@ static void free_xschem_data()
   my_free(1295, &xctx->top_path);
   my_free(1463, &xctx->current_win_path);
   my_free(1120, &xctx->fill_type);
+  my_free(1543, &xctx->format);
   if(xctx->inst_redraw_table) my_free(604, &xctx->inst_redraw_table);
   my_free(269, &xctx);
 }
@@ -620,6 +621,8 @@ static void alloc_xschem_data(const char *top_path, const char *win_path)
   xctx->active_layer=my_calloc(563, cadlayers, sizeof(int));
   xctx->hide_symbols = 0;
   xctx->netlist_type = CAD_SPICE_NETLIST;
+  xctx->format = NULL; /* custom format string for netlist, otherwise use
+                        * "format", "verilog_format", "vhdl_format", "tedax_format" */
   xctx->top_path = NULL;
   xctx->current_win_path = NULL;
   my_strdup2(1296, &xctx->top_path, top_path);
diff --git a/src/xschem.h b/src/xschem.h
index aa4c4d75..29c8bfbf 100644
--- a/src/xschem.h
+++ b/src/xschem.h
@@ -928,6 +928,7 @@ typedef struct {
   int netlist_count; /* netlist counter incremented at any cell being netlisted */
   int hide_symbols;
   int netlist_type;
+  char *format; /* "format", "verilog_format", "vhdl_format" or "tedax_format" */
   char *top_path;
   /* top_path is the path prefix of drawing canvas (current_win_path):
    *