Circuit Scribe
Circuit / Schematic Drawing and Netlisting Software
User's Manual
Contents
Describes the purpose and general capabilities of the software.
Gives an outline of the user interface.
Describes the basic principles applied when creating drawings, circuits and symbols using Circuit Scribe.
Describes a simple introductory set of steps for creating a circuit layout.
Describes the commands available through the main menu.
Describes the functions of buttons on the main toolbar.
Describes the functions of buttons on the control toolbar.
Describes the preview window and its special functions.
Describes the functions of buttons on the library toolbar.
Describes the behaviour and functions of the library control.
Describes the commands available from right-click pop-up menus available on the
main display, preview window, and library control.
Describes how to select an object for special editing features such as scaling and
manipulation of individual points.
Describes features accessed using keyboard keys.
Creating Netlists for Simulation and PCB Layout.
With Circuit Scribe software, you can:
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Create and print circuit diagrams (schematics)
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Create screen-capture graphics for use in illustrating web pages
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Export netlists to PCB layout software
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Export netlists to Spice circuit simulation software
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Export Bill of Materials lists
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Automatically create new component outlines by importing IBIS files
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Circuit Scribe's line and colour editing features allow you to create illustration quality
layouts as well as doing routine circuit design and documentation.
To illustrate this, I created an example of a circuit illustration (part of which
is shown below), based on an illustration that I created originally in 2001
(in the page thumbnail on the right) for publication
(Seymour C J, "The Road to High Frequency Applications for SiC Power Diodes",
Power Electronics Europe, Issue 6, 2001).
The example started with standard general library components from the library file
"General.lib", which were then modified to thicken lines and include different fill
colours in certain component objects, creating the library "Illex.lib", which is
also provided in the library samples when Circuit Scribe is installed, and the circuit
layout was further augmented with text and drawing elements,
resulting in the example file "PwrOsc.cct". The illustration below was simply
created by capturing the display using Alt-PrtSc, cropping to the required part
of the image using an image editor, and saving it as a JPEG file.
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For the entire illustration layout, click here.
Circuit Scribe can be used to create circuit diagrams for all types of electronic circuit,
including integrated circuits. For example, the following diagram shows the
internal structure of the classic 741 op-amp (for more details, see Netlisting):
Circuit Scribe has the capabilities to create valve circuits for historical illustration,
or for contemporary use (e.g. valve-based audio amplifiers). The following
circuit extract was taken from the Twentieth Edition of the Radio Amateur's Handbook, 1943:
For the entire circuit, click here.
Back to Top
Application's Main Screen
The circuit layout is displayed on the main display window.
A library control allows you to select pre-drawn objects to be placed on the main display.
A preview window shows how the library component that you select will appear on the display.
Each item in the library list also has an icon which is based on the object's appearance
to give a visual clue to the object together with its name before it is actually previewed.
The preview is shown when you left-click on the item in the library list.
Primitive object
A primitive drawing element, such as a line, rectangle, ellipse, arc, pie, chord or text
string.
Compound object
A compound object acts as a container for any number of primitive drawing elements
and, in addition, has properties that are common to all of its primitives,
such as object names, labels and values, and parameters used for netlisting,
modelling, and bill-of-materials lists.
A compound object can be rotated or flipped as a whole, and the
transformation is applied to all of its primitive elements.
You create a compound object by packaging a number of simple objects.
Simple object
A simple object is a special case of a compound object, which contains only one
primitive drawing element. When you draw a line or rectangle, it is always
created as a simple object and can therefore be given object properties
such as a label or value.
Nested object
A nested object is created if you package a number of objects, and one or more of
the objects are already compound objects.
This is normally done to create a component symbol that includes
compound objects such as gates or sub-system blocks that can be connected and moved
independently, together with a package outline rectangle or a symbol to denote
a power pin that is common to the other sub-system blocks.
If you package compound objects without including a simple object, a rectangular
container will be automatically drawn which encloses the packaged compound objects.
The program starts with the "Insert new object" mouse mode selected. To place your first
component from the default library (which contains an assortment of common symbols),
select one of the items listed under "Name" in the library control.
When you left click on the item, it is selected for placement and it is previewed
in the preview window. The control toolbar is initially preset for drawing lines,
so before placing the library object you need to click the library icon:
Now move the mouse cursor to the display window, and left click to place the object.
To select a different object, left click on a different item in the library list, and
place it on the display window in a similar fashion.
The illustration below shows two placed components. The locations of pins where
a connection can be made are shown by a small cross (but these crosses are not drawn
when you print out a drawing):
To connect two pins together, you place a track (wire) object, which is selected
from the control toolbar as this icon:
Left click with the mouse pointer aligned with the pin where you want the track to start
(make sure you still have the "Insert new object" button selected on the main
toolbar). Then move the mouse pointer, and the other end of the track will follow, jumping
to the nearest grid position (as "snap to grid" mode is selected by default). When
the end of the track (and the mouse pointer) is aligned with the pin on the other component, RIGHT click.
The track is automatically linked to the pin, as long as you clicked close enough to it.
If you need to route a track with bends, you can add additional line segments to the
track before terminating it by left clicking on the mouse, this will insert a node
in the track and the end of the next segment will now follow the mouse pointer.
Tracks are not limited to any particular angle, nor are nodes constrained to the grid,
if you select the "No snap to grid" button on the main toolbar.
Back to Top
The main menu provides control functions as follows:
File
Includes functions to open and save project data files, library files, and import
IBIS files, as well as access to printer functions.
Open data file
Opens a project data file. These are files with the suffix ".cct" containing
previously saved layouts. The file-open dialog box that it opens starts
in the "project directory" option set up by the Setup/Miscellaneous menu item.
Any previous layout on the display will be replaced.
Open and add data file
Similar to "Open data file", but adds the contents of the file to any existing
layout on the display.
Save data file
Saves the current layout in a file with the same name as the previously
opened file. If the file already exists, you will be prompted
to check whether you really want to replace it.
Save-as data file
Saves the current layout in a file. You specify the file name in a dialog box.
The file-open dialog box that it opens starts
in the "project directory" option set up by the Setup/Miscellaneous menu item,
but you can change the directory to another one.
Save selected objects (current page)
Similar to "Save-as data file", but only objects on the current page that have
been selected will be saved in the file.
Open/Add IBIS file
Opens an IBIS file. An IBIS (Input/Output Buffer Information Specification) file
is an ANSI/EIA standard method of providing Input/Output device characteristics,
and such files are often supplied by IC manufacturers. They provide information about
the pinouts of devices that Circuit Scribe uses to automatically create a component outline
when you use this command.
Open library file
Opens a library file, which will be displayed on the library control.
Library files have the suffix ".lib".
The file-open dialog box that it opens starts
in the "lib directory" option set up by the Setup/Miscellaneous menu item.
Any previous library in the library control, under the currently selected
library number, will be replaced.
Save library file
Saves a library file from the library control for the currently selected library number.
The library will be saved in a file with the same name as the previously
opened library file. If the file already exists, you will be prompted
to check whether you really want to replace it.
Save-as library file
Saves the current library in a file. You specify the file name in a dialog box.
The file-open dialog box that it opens starts
in the "lib directory" option set up by the Setup/Miscellaneous menu item,
but you can change the directory to another one.
Print
Brings up a standard printer dialog box, where you select the printer that you want to use
from a drop-down list, select the print range (page numbers to be printed)
and the number of copies. Before printing, you should check that the page setup
and print scaling are appropriate.
Page Setup
Sets up the paper orientation and margins for your printer. The orientation may be
Portrait or Landscape, the paper size may be selected from a drop-down list according
to the paper sizes available on your system, and the print margins can be specified.
After you have set up the Page Setup options, the print margins shown on the main
display will be updated to show how your layout will appear within the print boundaries.
There are three nested grey rectangles drawn on the main display (you may have to
pan or zoom out to see them): The outer one represents the edges of the paper,
then the one inside that shows the outline of the maximum printable area of the paper,
then the innermost rectangle shows the outline of the print area that includes
the margins that you have set. These page margin rectangles are not drawn when you
print a drawing, but inside the page margin rectangles, a reference grid is drawn
that is also printed.
Print Scaling
This allows you to scale the layout objects for printing so that you can, for example,
blow up a section of the layout to be printed at an expanded scale. You can use this
in conjunction with print offsetting to centre the part of the page that you want
to print. Hold down the Ctrl key, and use the arrow keys to change the print offset.
Exit
Exits and closes the program. If you have unsaved changes, you will be prompted to
save them, however it is recommended that you normally save your changed project
and library files using the relevant file saving commands before you exit the program.
Edit
Package selected objects (current page)
Packages all selected simple objects on the current page as a compound object
(To unpackage, right-click on the object and select "Unpackage object").
Delete selected objects (current page)
Deletes all selected objects on the current page. Take care when deleting,
and save your files regularly before each significant change (especially considering
that in this version of the software there is not yet any "Undo" command).
Edit settings of selected objects (current page)
Brings up a dialog box that allows you to change the following settings for each
selected object on the current page:
- Page number - if you change it, the selected objects will move to the new page number.
Uncheck "Include tracks and simple lines" if you want them to remain on their current page.
- Show Name - Normally unchecked, if you check it the name of the object will be displayed.
The name of an object normally remains the same for similar copies of the object, and
should match the name of its prototype in a library.
- Show Label - Normally checked, so that if you have defined a label for the object, it
will be displayed. Labels may be changed to differentiate between different instances
of a particular type of object.
- Show Value - Normally checked, so that if you have defined a value for the object, it
will be displayed. The value is a primary specification parameter for an object,
e.g. for a resistor it would be the resistance in ohms.
- Exclude from netlist - Check this if you don't want the object to be listed in a netlist,
for example a ground symbol would use this. Note that this also excludes the object
from Spice output.
- Exclude from Spice output - Check this if you don't want the object to be listed
in a Spice output file, for example a terminal pin or ground symbol would use this.
Select all objects on current page
Selects all objects on the current page. You might need to do this before using the
"Edit settings of selected objects (current page)" command, or if you want to
save all the objects on the current page only to a file using the
"Save selected objects (current page)" command.
Unselect all objects on current page
Unselects all objects on the current page.
Unhighlight all objects on current page
Unhighlights all objects on the current page (Highlighting is applied to objects that
require attention after Netlist rule checks or Bill of Materials rule checks have been
carried out).
List
Allows you to change the display format of the library list control.
- Large icons: A view showing the most icon graphic detail but using up most screen space per icon.
- Small icons: A view showing more icons but in smaller size with less graphic detail.
- List: A compact list format showing more icons than "Small icons" format.
- Report: A tabulated list format (the default) showing one library item and icon per line,
with an additional column giving the number of pins for each item.
Setup
Several Setup options, such as "Style parameters", make use of a special custom
spin control for entering or changing numbers, as illustrated below:
A number can be entered directly into the edit control using the keyboard. Alternatively,
the associated up and down spin arrow buttons, and the left and right digit selector
buttons, can be used to adjust individual digits of a number.
When you click on the up or down spin arrow button, the currently selected digit is
highlighted and incremented or decremented accordingly. You can change the default
digit that will be incremented or decremented by clicking on the left digit selector
button to change the digit to the left, or clicking on the right digit selector button
to change the digit to the right.
Miscellaneous
Sets up options for directories, files, and program behaviour when opening dialog boxes.
You can change the default directories for project data files, library files, and
you can specify the initial library file to be loaded in the library control
when the program is first started. Each directory or file option has a "Browse" button
which enables you to browse the directory tree structure for the desired directory
or file.
The "Centre dialogs" checkbox specifies whether dialogs are normally centred on the screen
when they first appear, or if unchecked, are located to the top left corner of the
program window.
The "Mouse wheel changes mouse mode" checkbox specifies the function assigned to
the mouse wheel. If this setting is unchecked, the mouse wheel pans the display
up or down. If this setting is checked, the mouse wheel changes to the next
mouse mode, and the order depends on the direction in which the wheel was moved,
allowing you to quickly select a different mode for manipulating objects on the
display.
Style parameters
Junction width: This specifies the diameter of junction dots, that are drawn when
a track is joined to another track. If you change it, it will apply to all new
junction dots, but will not change the diameter of existing ones.
Pin mark width: This specifies the width of the crosses drawn to identify pins.
It applies globally to all pins- if you change it, it changes the size of all existing
pin marks (These marks are only shown on the monitor display, but are not printed).
Pin label spacing: This specifies the spacing between a pin name and the pin coordinate
used when a new pin name is entered, replacing a blank pin name, when a component
outline is created by importing an IBIS file, or when the
"Align pin name to line" right-click option is applied to a pin name.
If you change it, it will apply to all new pin names, but will not change the
positioning of existing ones.
If the pin label spacing option "Apply Snap" is unchecked,
the pin name or description is located to the
exact position calculated according to the font and style parameters.
If checked, the pin name or description string will be snapped to the
nearest grid position to the calculated position.
Grid parameters
Grid spacing (units): Specifies the spacing between grid points (locations where
drawing coordinates are snapped to, and when grid lines are displayed, where they
intersect). The grid spacing is in current units, i.e. if the units are metric,
a grid spacing of 1.0 is a grid spacing of 1.0 mm.
A range of useful pre-set grid spacings are available by clicking on buttons.
Paste offset: This defines a multiple of the grid spacing by which an object that has
been copied to the clipboard (i.e. by selecting the object, and then
pressing CTRL-C) will be offset (relative to the original object)
when it is pasted (by pressing CTRL-V).
Units
You can select either metric or imperial units; the default is metric. When creating
a new data file, you should select the required units before starting to place
components. Although you can change the units at any time, and all layout objects
will be automatically converted, this should be avoided because of possible rounding
errors and mismatches between the grids on different unit schemes. Library
components may be defined in either units and will be converted to the current units
in your project layout.
Font typefaces
These options set up the font type, font style, and effects (except colour)
but not the size of the font for the following text objects:
- String - A string object (i.e. the object itself is a text string)
- Label - A label string (and name string, if shown) of a simple or compound object
- Value - A value string of a simple or compound object
- Edit box - The font of edit boxes when used for editing strings. This is provided
to allow the edit box to be adjusted for optimum legibility.
- Pin label - A pin name or description
The font settings apply globally to all objects in the layout.
Font heights
These options set up the font heights in units for the following text objects:
- String - A string object (i.e. the object itself is a text string). This sets
the default height for the next string object to be placed (each string object
has its own height setting).
- Label - A label string (and name string, if shown) of a simple or compound object
- Value - A value string of a simple or compound object
- Edit box - The height of the font of edit boxes when used for editing strings.
This is provided to allow the edit box to be adjusted for optimum legibility.
- Pin label - A pin name or description
The font height settings apply globally to all objects in the layout, except for
string objects.
Default object properties
This tabbed dialog enables you to set the initial defaults for a range of
properties for each new object that you place on the layout.
The colours dialog selects the line and fill colour of objects. If you click the
"No fill" button, objects such as rectangles are drawn in outline only and the body
will be see-through. Left click on a colour square to select the colour for lines,
and right click to select the colour for fill. The colour settings are shown in
result boxes to the right, together with their standard descriptions. The colour
boxes provide a set of standard, well-recognised colours, but you can also select
a custom colour by left-clicking on the result colour boxes.
The lines dialog specifes the characteristics of lines used for drawing simple lines,
tracks, buses, and outlines of shapes.
Line Style - Specify none for solid lines, or one of the dotted line patterns.
There is an "even" type of dashed or dotted line where the spacings are more
suitable for fitting dotted lines within object outlines on regular grid spacings -
for example, the grids in vacuum tubes.
Ends - Specify round ends or square ends for lines.
Line Width - Specify the width of lines.
Dot Width - Specifies the width of the dots in a dotted line.
Object Settings -
This dialog box allows you to preset the following settings as global defaults for new objects:
- Page number - and "Include tracks and simple lines" - Greyed out,
as new objects always go on the current page.
- Show Name - Normally unchecked, if you check it the name of the object will be displayed.
The name of an object normally remains the same for similar copies of the object, and
is also used to initialise the the name of an object when stored in a library.
- Show Label - Normally checked, so that if you define a label for the object, it
will be displayed. Labels may be changed to differentiate between different instances
of a particular type of object.
- Show Value - Normally checked, so that if you define a value for the object, it
will be displayed. The value is a primary specification parameter for an object,
e.g. for a resistor it would be the resistance in ohms.
- Exclude from netlist - Check this if you don't want objects to be listed in a netlist,
for example ground symbols would use this (this is best selected on a per object basis,
rather than setting it for global defaults)
- Exclude from Spice output - Check this if you don't want objects to be listed
in a Spice output file, for example terminal pins or ground symbols would use this
(this is best selected on a per object basis,
rather than setting it for global defaults).
Parameters:
This dialog is for entering object properties used when generating Bill of Materials (BOM)
or Spice output. Generally, there is no need to enter initial values for these, but
they are edited for each individual object using the right-click menu option
"Edit object's settings and properties" which brings up a similar dialog.
- Model - the model name to use in Spice output, e.g. ZTX109
- Params - optional parameters added after the model in Spice output, e.g. 1.0
- Description - Description field for BOM
- Source - Source field for BOM, e.g. supplier and/or manufacturer
- Part Number - Supplier or manufacturer reference number for BOM
- Unit cost - Cost per item for BOM
- Notes - Additional user notes
General properties
This tabbed dialog enables you to set general properties for your layout.
The Parameters dialog contains edit boxes to enter a Title and Author entry.
The Models dialog contains an edit box that you can use to enter Spice models.
For example:
.MODEL ZTX109 NPN IS=1.8E-14 ISE=5.0E-14 NF=.9955 BF=400 BR=35.5
+IKF=.14 IKR=.03 ISC=1.72E-13 NC=1.27 NR=1.005 RB=.56 RE=.6 RC=.25
+VAF=80 VAR=12.5 CJE=13E-12 TF=.64E-9 CJC=4E-12 TR=50.72E-9 MJC=.33
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This will be appended to the Spice netlist output, before the .END statement, and
should contain any models referred to by individual components in their
object properties / Model field.
Tools
Count objects on page
Gives you counts of the number of objects and pins on the page, and also the number
of selected objects, the total number of objects and pins,
and the total number of selected objects.
Count statistics
Gives you tabulated statistics of the number of objects, number of selected objects,
and pins on each page. Pages that have no objects are not listed, so you can use this
to check which page numbers are in use.
Netlist
Checks the layout for netlist rule violations, and allows you to generate a netlist
for PCB layout or for Spice simulation.
Netlisting
Bill of materials
Checks the layout for Bill of Materials rule violations, and allows you to
generate a Bill of Materials file.
Check for zero sized objects
Checks the layout for invalid objects that have accidentally been set to zero width
and/or height, and lines or line segments whose ends have accidentally been laid out
on top of each other, resulting in objects that can not be edited directly on-screen.
You should do this check if you notice spurious items in netlists, that show up as "??"
entries and can not be identifed as expected on your layout (other than normal objects
with missing labels or values).
If this dialog lists any zero width objects, when you click on "Highlight", they will
be highlighted on the main display, so that you can check where they are (the highlight
lines are drawn around the object with a small spacing, so an invisible object will be
transformed into a small dot, or a track will be highlighted as usual, including the
faulty zero-length segment).
If you click on "Delete", all zero-size objects will be deleted.
If you click on Cancel, no changes will be made.
Zero-sized objects that show up as a dot may also be selected
by dragging a selection box around them and then deleted using
Edit/Delete selected objects (current page).
Tracks with zero-length segments may normally be deleted in the usual way.
After you have dealt with any zero-sized objects, and checked that the rest of the
layout is still OK, remember to save the updated file.
Help
About...
Gives general summary information about the application, version number, registration
status and system information.
Register
Displays the Product Key, and enables you to enter your registration details, if applicable
(The software is free for personal non-profit use).
Help info
Displays the help file.
Back to Top
The main toolbar, which appears just below the main menu, is actually made up from a group
of four toolbars which you can spread apart or move
onto a new row if you wish by using the handle on the left of each one.
Mouse mode toolbar
These buttons select the mouse mode. The mouse wheel can also change the mouse mode,
if the Setup/Miscellaneous dialog "Mouse wheel changes mouse mode"
checkbox is checked.
Select objects
When you left click on an object, the object is selected, and its selection handles are
shown. Selection handles on shapes (e.g. rectangle) may be used to change the size
of the object. Selection handles on lines or tracks may be used to drag the individual
nodes.
Select object nodes
When you left click on an object, the object is selected, and its node selection handles are
shown. The difference between these and standard selection handles is that, with nodes,
you can move the relative positions of the corners of rectangles and triangles.
Insert new object
A new object is created when you left click with the mouse on the display window
(The type of object is selected using the control toolbar).
Drag object
When you left click on an object, holding the left mouse button down, you can drag
the object to a new position, releasing the left mouse button at the final position.
If you drag a track that is attached to pins, the nodes of the track will move,
except for the attached ends. To drag individual nodes, use "Select objects"
mode.
Zoom in/out at cursor
When you left or right click at a particular position on the main display,
it will be re-centred on that position. If you left-click, the display magnification
also increases. If you right-click, the display magnification will be decreased instead.
Note that panning may be achieved by using the left, right, up and down arrow keys,
or by pressing the spacebar, which will re-centre the display at the current mouse
cursor position (without changing the magnification).
Grid mode toolbar
No grid
This will avoid any time delays that might be caused by drawing the grid, especially
on slow computers. It also allows you to see the drawing without distraction and
closer to its appearance when printed out, and can be used when you want to
screen-capture your illustration without the grid, for example when creating
an image for a web page.
Dotted grid
This mode draws a dot at each grid intersection point; however, it is usually drawn slower
than the lined grid.
Lined grid
This mode draws criss-crossing lines which intersect at the grid points where drawing
coordinates are located in snap mode.
Snap mode toolbar
No snap to grid
Drawing coordinates are placed exactly where you locate them using the mouse, to the
nearest pixel.
Snap to grid on
Drawing coordinates are placed on the nearest grid point (you can change the spacing
of grid points using the Setup/Grid parameters menu item).
Page toolbar
Previous page
Changes the display to show the previous page (down to a minimum page number of 1)
Next page
Changes the display to show the next page (up to a maximum page number of 100)
Back to Top
The control toolbar selects the type of object that will be created when the main
toolbar is set to "Insert new object" mode.
Simple Lines
The first symbol on the top-left of the toolbar selects simple line drawing. In this
mode, the mouse left-click starts one end of the line, and the mouse is moved with
the button down, and then released to place the other end of the line.
The line properties are determined by the settings in the default object properties
dialog, and can be edited after placement, by right-clicking on the line object,
and selecting "Edit object's drawing attributes" or "Edit attributes of this primitive".
Shape objects
Circle
Rectangle
Triangles
Rectangle with right convex
Rectangle with left concave and right convex
Rectangle with left and right convex
Arc
Pie
Chord
All these objects are drawn by left-clicking to place the top left corner of the object
(or the equivalent rectangular area enclosing the object), moving the mouse, and
left-clicking to place the lower-right corner of the object.
There are four varieties of triangle in different orientations. You can create further
types of triangle later by editing nodes of the triangle.
There are also three variations of the rectangle as common shapes with concave and convex
corners. These are all based on a shape with four corners (nodes), with appropriate
properties selected for the nodes. You can modify the shapes later by editing
parameters of the shape's nodes.
Special objects
Track
A track is a compound object containing a series of connected line segments, normally
used to indicate a connection between two objects, or between the pins of two objects.
To draw a track, left click with the mouse pointer where you want the track to start.
Then move the mouse pointer, and the other end of the track will follow, jumping
to the nearest grid position (as "snap to grid" mode is selected by default).
To add a node to a track, left click again and the first line segment will be
ended at that position, the next line segment will start at the same position, joined
to the previous line segment, and the end of the new line segment will follow
the mouse pointer to the next position.
When you want to end the track, RIGHT click, and that will define the position of the
end of the last line segment of the track.
Track line segments are not limited to any particular angle,
nor are nodes constrained to the grid, if you select the "No snap to grid" button
on the main toolbar.
If you connect tracks (by joining one track to another with a junction),
the tracks must have the same label, or an
"inconsistent net label" check failure will be listed when you invoke the Netlist command.
If you start a track within a line segment of an existing track, the new track will
be joined to the existing track with a junction dot. Also, if you end a track on
the line segment of an existing track, the end of the new track will be joined
to the existing track with a junction dot. Note: If the junction dot does not appear,
you probably did not click close enough to the existing track to find it, so you
will need to try again.
Bus
A bus is a special type of track object. It is drawn in exactly the same way as a track,
but has some differences.
A bus is given a label of the form <name>[<num_1>..<num_n>],
where "name" is alphanumeric, and num_1 and num_n are integers.
It connects tracks which have labels of the form <name><num>,
where num is an integer in the range specified by num_1 to num_n for the bus.
Buses are used to diagrammatically indicate groups of tracks that are bundled together.
However, they are not necessary to logically connect tracks, because
the software will logically connect tracks if they have matching non-blank labels.
Thus, tracks on different pages with the same label are connected although there is no
graphic element connecting them.
Bus names are checked for syntax and consistency.
If the bus label has bad syntax, a "bad track labels" check failure will be listed
when you invoke the Netlist command.
For example: Bus1234[32..64] is a valid bus label, while Bus1234[32.64] (only one dot)
and Bus1234[32..64 (missing right square bracket) are invalid.
If you connect buses (by joining
one bus to another with a junction), the buses must have the same label, or an
"inconsistent bus label" check failure will be listed when you invoke the Netlist command.
If you start a bus within a line segment of an existing bus, the new bus will
be joined to the existing bus with a junction dot. Also, if you end a bus on
the line segment of an existing bus, the end of the new bus will be joined
to the existing bus with a junction dot.
Library object
When the library object button is selected, the library object that has been selected
by the library control will be placed on the main display when you left-click with
the mouse. In this mode, you can repeatedly place the same library object,
or you can select different objects from the library and place them as required.
Junction
When the junction button is selected, a junction dot is placed on the main display
when you left-click with the mouse. The junction dot can be placed on a track,
in which case it will split the track, and the split ends will be joined to the
junction. If the junction dot is placed on its own, tracks can be joined to it
later. The junction can connect up to 3 tracks. The junction dot is also used
to join buses.
String
When the string button is selected, you can place character strings on the main
display with a mouse left-click. An edit box will appear, for you to enter
the text to be displayed. When you hit "Enter", the string will be placed on the display
with the font specified by the menu command Setup/Font typefaces/String,
and with the height specified by the menu command Setup/Font heights/String object default.
To cancel text entry, right-click with the mouse anywhere outside the edit box.
After you have placed the string, you can edit the colour of the string by
right-clicking and selecting "Edit attributes of this primitive" (Note that
the fill colour and the line attributes do not apply to string objects).
You can edit the string text by right-clicking and selecting "Edit text string".
You can change the height of the string by right-clicking and selecting
"Edit string object size". The height is specified in the current units,
therefore it will scale proportionately with any scale factor applied to the display.
All string objects have the same global font, which is specified
by the menu command Setup/Font typefaces/String.
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The preview window shows the currently selected library object.
It shows how the library component that you select will appear on the main display.
When you left click on an item in the library control, it is selected for placement
and it is previewed in the preview window.
Objects are always shown centred on the preview window.
When you right-click on the preview window, a pop-up menu appear to give you the following
control functions:
Zoom in
Changes the zoom factor for the preview screen to the next highest magnification- you
can now see more detail in the object.
Zoom out
Changes the zoom factor for the preview screen to the next lowest magnification- you
can now see more of the object but in less detail.
No grid
No grid is drawn on the preview window; this may be useful to minimise any time delays
that might be caused by drawing the grid, especially on slow computers, or to show
the object without distractions.
Dot grid
This mode draws a dot at each grid intersection point; however, it is normally drawn slower
than the lined grid.
Line grid
This mode draws criss-crossing lines which intersect at the grid points where drawing
coordinates are located.
Preview settings
This brings up the Preview Settings dialog which allows you to set a "Scale to Placement"
magnification factor. This is 1.0 by default. If you change it to (for example) 2.0,
the object that you selected from the library will have all of its features
magnified by the scaling factor when you place it on the main display.
You can use a non-integral scaling factor (such as 1.5), and you can change the scaling
factor again to place the same object in as many different magnifications as you like.
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The library toolbar has two buttons on its left, labelled with a "1" or a "2",
to select either library 1 or library 2.
Library 1 is the one selected on start-up, and is pre-loaded at start-up with the
library file specified by the dialog invoked by the main menu command Setup/Miscellaneous,
under "Initial library file".
Before loading or saving a library file, the relevant library number should be selected
by clicking on the library number button. You can load any library file to either
number.
Library 2 is not pre-loaded on startup. It can be loaded by using the main menu command
File/Open library file, after you have selected button "2".
Once you have set up two libraries, you can switch between them easily by clicking
on the library toolbar buttons.
The button on the right of the library toolbar button is for editing the Title and Author
of the selected library. Click this button to show the Title
and Author information. If you change it, you must save the selected library for the
changes to be permanent.
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The library control lists all objects in each library. The name of each object is
shown in the first column, and the number of pins in the second column. The vertical
scroll bar can be used to scroll down to see all the objects in the library.
If you left-click on an object's name, it will be copied to the Preview window.
If you right-click on an object's name, you get a pop-up menu selection:
- Delete item: Removes the object from the library.
- Rename item: Opens a dialog to change the name.
- Copy item to other library: If the currently selected library is 1, this copies the
object into library number 2, and vice-versa. If no library is loaded in the other
library, the object will appear as the first object in a new unsaved library.
- Move up: Moves the object one place higher in the library list.
- Move down: Moves the object one place lower in the library list.
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Right click menu commands are available for the main display, the preview window,
and the library control.
On the main display, a pop-up menu appears when you right-click on an object, string object,
name, label, value, pin name or pin description.
When you right-click on an object, a divider line in the pop-up menu shows you which commands
apply to the object as a whole, or to every primitive in a compound object (items above the line),
or commands applying to the primitive only (items below the line).
Object Pop-up Menu
This menu applies when you click on a shape or line element in an object.
Some of the menu items may be greyed out or missing depending on the state of the object.
Add to library
Copies the object to the currently selected library. If no library is loaded,
the object will appear as the first object in a new unsaved library. The object's
name, which is normally not shown when it is on the main display, is used to
identify it in the library list.
Delete this object
Deletes the object from the layout (Make sure you have saved your most recent changes
to file if you are deleting objects, in case you might need to go back and restore the
deleted objects).
Edit object's drawing attributes
This tabbed dialog enables you to edit the properties of colours and lines
for the object. The dialog is the same as for editing a primitive, but the changes
will be applied to EVERY primitive object in the compound object that you clicked.
The colours dialog selects the line and fill colour of objects. If you click the
"No fill" button, objects such as rectangles are drawn in outline only and the body
will be see-through. Left click on a colour square to select the colour for lines,
and right click to select the colour for fill. The colour settings are shown in
result boxes to the right, together with their standard descriptions. The colour
boxes provide a set of standard, well-recognised colours, but you can also select
a custom colour by left-clicking on the result colour boxes.
The lines dialog specifes the characteristics of lines used for drawing simple lines,
tracks, buses, and outlines of shapes (Limitation: You can specify the width of shape
outlines, but not dotted styles).
Line Style - Specify none for solid lines, or one of the dotted line patterns.
There is an "even" type of dashed or dotted line where the spacings are more
suitable for fitting dotted lines within object outlines on regular grid spacings -
for example, the grids in vacuum tubes.
Ends - Specify round ends or square ends for lines.
Line Width - Specify the width of lines.
Dot Width - Specifies the width of the dots in a dotted line.
Edit object's page number
Enables you to change the page number of the object, which will move to the
specified new page number when you click OK or APPLY.
Edit object's settings and properties
This tabbed dialog enables you to set various properties for the object.
The "Objects settings" dialog sets the following:
- Page number - if you change it, the object will move to the new page number
when you click OK or APPLY.
- Include tracks and simple lines - Greyed out, unless you have selected several
objects and invoked the dialog by using the main menu Edit/Edit settings of
selected objects (current page) item.
- Show Name - Normally unchecked, if you check it the name of the object will be displayed.
The name of an object normally remains the same for similar copies of the object, and
is also used to initialise the the name of an object when stored in a library.
- Show Label - Normally checked, so that if you define a label for the object, it
will be displayed. Labels may be changed to differentiate between different instances
of a particular type of object.
- Show Value - Normally checked, so that if you define a value for the object, it
will be displayed. The value is a primary specification parameter for an object,
e.g. for a resistor it would be the resistance in ohms.
- Exclude from netlist - Check this if you don't want the object to be listed in a netlist,
for example ground symbols would use this.
- Exclude from Spice output - Check this if you don't want objects to be listed
in a Spice output file, for example terminal pins or ground symbols would use this.
If this is checked, but not "Exclude from netlist", the object is listed in BOM and PCB
netlists.
The "Parameters" dialog sets the following object properties, which are used when
generating Bill of Materials (BOM) or SPICE output.
- Model - the model name to use in Spice output, e.g. ZTX109
- Params - optional parameters added after the model in Spice output, e.g. 1.0
- Description - Description field for BOM, e.g. "Transistor".
- Source - Source field for BOM, e.g. supplier and/or manufacturer
- Part Number - Supplier or manufacturer reference number for BOM
- Unit cost - Cost per item for BOM in decimal numeric format, e.g. 1.55
- Notes - Additional user notes
Copy object to Preview
Copies the object directly to the Preview window, without entering it into the Library
list, so that further copies of the object can be placed directly (in Library mode)
on the display.
Unpackage Object
Breaks a compound object up into simple objects (each of which is also an object, but
contains only one primitive drawing element).
Add label and/or value
Brings up a dialog box which allows you to enter a new label and value at the same time.
Edit label and/or value
Brings up a dialog box which allows you to edit the label and value at the same time.
Add name
Brings up an edit box which allows you to add a name.
Edit name
Brings up an edit box which allows you to edit an existing name.
Add label
Brings up an edit box which allows you to add a label.
Edit label
Brings up an edit box which allows you to edit an existing label.
Add value
Brings up an edit box which allows you to add a value.
Edit value
Brings up an edit box which allows you to edit an existing value.
Rotate this object +90 deg.
Rotates the object in a positive Cartesian (anti-clockwise) direction, by 90 degrees.
Rotate this object -90 deg.
Rotates the object in a negative Cartesian (clockwise) direction, by 90 degrees.
Flip this object L-R.
Reverses (mirrors) the object about a line drawn vertically through the object.
Flip this object T-B.
Reverses (mirrors) the object about a line drawn horizontally through the object.
Debug Object
Shows debugging information about the object.
Menu items applying to primitives
Edit attributes of this primitive
As for "Edit object's drawing attributes", but changes only the attributes of the
primitive that was right-clicked.
Edit angular settings of this primitive
Applies only to objects such as arcs, wedges or chords. Allows you to edit the
start angle and end angle used to draw the object (which may have a circular
or elliptical outline). If you use the "Apply" button,
you can see the effect of the angle setting changes on the object without closing
the dialog. Various angle shape types and angle settings are illustrated below,
and the effect of specifying a fill colour for the angular shapes is also shown.
Angular parameters
Toggle pin attribute
Enables or disables the pin attribute for a line or shape. Normally, lines with pin
attributes enabled are used to indicate pins on circuit symbols. To create a pin,
you draw a simple line and then enable its pin attribute. The pin mark is indicated by
a cross whose size is set globally in the menu Setup/Style dialog, but which is not
drawn when printing the layout. When a track is started or ended at the location of
a pin mark, the track is linked to that pin and will remain attached if the object is
moved or rotated.
Set force net to ground
If the primitive has the pin attribute, setting the "Force net to ground" property
will cause any track linked to the pin to be assigned to the ground net. A symbol
with the "Force net to ground" property may be excluded from netlisting, but will
still ground the track, so that ground or earth symbols have the desired effects.
Remove force net to ground
If a primitive has been set with the "Force net to ground" property, this will
remove it.
Add Arrowhead
Causes the end of a line that has been left-clicked to be drawn with an arrowhead.
Remove Arrowhead
Causes the end of a line that was drawn with an arrowhead to be drawn as a
normal line.
Edit Arrowhead
Brings up a dialog box which allows you to change the arrowhead length and width.
Edit text string
Opens an edit box where you can change the text of a string object.
Edit string object size
Brings up a dialog box which allows you to change the height of the string object
in current units.
Add pin name
Opens an edit box where you can enter the text of a pin name. Note that when you add
a pin name for the first time, its position will be automatically determined. You
can adjust the position later using the mouse "drag object" mode. Pin names are located
near the pin mark according to convention for labelling integrated circuit symbols.
Edit pin name
Opens an edit box where you can change the text of a pin name.
Add pin description
Opens an edit box where you can enter the text of a pin description. Note that when you add
a pin description for the first time, its position will be automatically determined. You
can adjust the position later using the mouse "drag object" mode.
Pin descriptions are located near the end of a line opposite the pin mark according to
convention for labelling integrated circuit symbols (the description normally lies
inside the rectangle outline of an IC).
Edit pin description
Opens an edit box where you can change the text of a pin description.
Hide pin name
Causes the pin name not to be displayed.
Show pin name
Causes the pin name, if present, to be displayed.
Hide pin description
Causes the pin description not to be displayed.
Show pin description
Causes the pin description, if present, to be displayed.
Pin name/description pop-up menus
This menu applies when you click on a pin name or description.
The menu will state "pin name" or "pin description" according to which text string
you clicked on.
Edit pin name
Opens an edit box where you can change the text of a pin name.
Rotate pin name +90 deg.
Rotates the text 90 degrees anti-clockwise.
Rotate pin name -90 deg.
Rotates the text 90 degrees clockwise.
Align pin name horizontally
If you entered a pin name on a tilted line, the text will be aligned with the angle of
the line. This command will change the text orientation to horizontal.
Align pin name to line
This command aligns the pin name to the angle of the line, placing the text in the
normal automatically determined position.
Edit pin name colour
Brings up a colour selection dialog which allows you to specify a colour for the
pin name that you clicked on.
Object Name/Label/Value pop-up menus
This menu applies when you click on an object's name, label or value.
The menu will state "pin name" or "pin description" according to which text string
you clicked on.
Edit label and/or value
Opens an edit box where you can change the text of the label and/or the value.
Edit name
Opens an edit box where you can change the name of an object.
Edit label
Opens an edit box where you can change the label of an object.
Edit value
Opens an edit box where you can change the value of an object.
Rotate label and value +90 deg.
Rotates the text of the object's name, label and value 90 degrees anti-clockwise
(the rotation parameter applies to all of these simultaneously).
Rotate pin name -90 deg.
Rotates the text of the object's name, label and value 90 degrees clockwise
(the rotation parameter applies to all of these simultaneously).
Align pin name horizontally
If you entered a pin name on a tilted line, the text will be aligned with the angle of
the line. This command will change the text orientation to horizontal.
Align pin name to line
This command aligns the pin name to the angle of the line, placing the text in the
normal automatically determined position.
Edit label, value or name colour
Brings up a colour selection dialog which allows you to specify a colour for the
label, value or name string that you clicked on.
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The program starts with the "Insert new object" mouse mode selected. To select
an object, you need to change the mouse mode, using the mouse mode toolbar,
by left-clicking the "Select objects" or "Select object nodes" buttons.
In "Select objects" mode, when you left click on an object, the object is selected,
and its selection handles are shown at the corners of a dotted bounding box drawn around
the object. You can also left click on an empty location,
hold and drag out a selection box to select multiple objects.
By left-clicking on a selection handle, you can drag it to change the scale of the
object. If the object is a line, a selection handle is shown at each end of the
line, and dragging the selection handle will change the location of the end of the line.
If you select a compound object, selection handles are also shown for line primitives
that are part of that object, as shown below. You can drag the ends of line primitives
within compound objects to change their location independently of other primitives
within the compound object (unless the line end coincides with a bounding box selection
handle).
Objects stay selected if you change the mouse mode. If you change the mouse mode
to "drag", you can drag selected objects by clicking on part of the object,
or by clicking on a selection handle.
If you have selected several objects, and you then drag one of them, all the
selected objects will move together.
If you select an object that contains nested objects, the nested objects are outlined
with a dotted bounding box which has no selection handles. This is useful in
identifying which objects are part of a nested set. For example, as shown below,
the common power pins of an integrated package may be shown as part of the
top-level object, with the package gates shown as compound objects nested within
the main object, so that the individual gates may be dragged to any suitable part
of a drawing. Clicking on the power pins symbol then identifies the nested gates
that belong to that object with dotted bounding boxes as shown.
In "Select object nodes" mode, when you left click on an object, the object is selected,
and its node selection handles are shown (these are circular, as opposed to the square
selection handles of ordinary "select objects" mode).
The difference between these and standard selection handles is that, with nodes,
you can move the relative positions of the corners of rectangles and triangles
and so create any desired irregular shape.
Sometimes, scaling an object such as a triangle with "snap to grid" active results
in the nodes of a rescaled object not aligned as desired. In this case, editing
the nodes allows you to achieve the desired layout.
If you right-click on a node selection handle, a pop-up menu of options is shown:
- Make corner sharp (restores a rounded corner to "normal")
- Make corner convex
- Make corner concave
- Edit corner parameters - this opens a dialog which allows you to change
the corner size (radius) and asymmetry for a curved corner
In the illustration below, from left to right, is shown:
- A rectangle selected using "Select object nodes" mode
- The top-right node of a rectangle moved by left-clicking and dragging
- The top-right node of a rectangle made convex
- The top-right node of a rectangle made concave
- The top-right and bottom-right nodes of a rectangle both made concave
The following illustration shows the effect of editing corner size and asymmetry:
The corner size and asymmetry are relative factors on a scale of 0 to 1,
with 1.0 being the default and maximum corner size and 0.0 being the default
and minimum asymmetry. A normal rounded corner is sized to meet the curve of
the adjacent corner smoothly on the shortest side. An increase in the asymmetry
factor causes the curve to be stretched out on the longer side.
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| Arrow keys |
The left, right, up and down arrow keys cause the display to be shifted in
the relevant direction.
If you hold down the Shift key while using the arrow keys, the display is shifted
by a larger amount.
If you hold down the Ctrl key while using the arrow keys, the display is shifted
to offset it on the printed page (The Shift key will also increase the movement here).
This is especially useful with print scaling, to allow you to select the part of
a magnified page that you want to print.
The mouse wheel also shifts the display up or down, depending on which direction
the wheel is moved, if the Setup/Miscellaneous dialog "Mouse wheel changes mouse mode"
checkbox is unchecked.
|
| Spacebar |
Pressing the spacebar will re-centre the display at the current mouse
cursor position (without changing the magnification). |
| Plus key |
The '+' key causes the display to be magnified, or zoomed in, centred
on the current display centre. |
| Minus key |
The '-' key causes the display to be zoomed out, centred
on the current display centre. |
| '?' and '/' |
These keys bring up the "About" dialog box. |
| CTRL-C |
Pressing 'C' while holding down the Ctrl key copies all selected objects
to the clipboard. An object is selected for copying if it or any of its
child objects are selected.
|
| CTRL-V |
Pressing 'V' while holding down the Ctrl key copies all objects on the clipboard
to the display. Objects will be offset from their original position
by the paste offset set up by Setup/Style parameters. |
| Home |
The Home key centres the display at the origin (coordinate (0,0). |
| Page Up |
This key decreases the page number. |
| Page Down |
This key increases the page number (i.e. as if you are moving down in a list, with
page numbers increasing as you move down). |
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Copyright © 2005 by Colin Seymour
