Special Menu

Create Net List for PCB Programs

A net list is a file which contains a list of all the connections made in a circuit diagram. All objects which are connected together are in a single list, called a net. For symbols each objects pin is considered a different object. Each net is given a different name.

Net lists are useful for programs such a PCB layout tools which can check you layout to see if it matches the layout of the circuit diagram, or even suggest a PCB layout from the net list. These more advanced features will be better supported by this program in future releases.

As of version 1.95.15, there are multiple netlist formats supported. The original TinyCAD format is still there, along with PADS-PCB, Protel and Eagle SCR output format.

PCB programs require the footprint to be specified. Do this by adding an attribute to the symbol that has a name “Package”, and the value is the value name of the footprint in the PCB program.

Check Design Rules

This option will cause the current design to be checked against a list of rules it must obey.

The rules test for gross errors in the design. For example, they will tell you if two outputs are connected together. They do not tell you if the design will work or not. However, if the design has errors in it picked up by this tool, then it is properly incorrectly drawn.

Once selected a dialogue box will appear. Each rule that is checked can be turned on or off before the test is done in this dialogue box.

Once the OK is selected the design is checked. Any errors are circled by a red ring. A list of errors is displayed at the side of the design. Clicking on any item in the list will cause that error to be moved to the centre of the design window.

Selecting Edit Item in the Edit menu, then clicking on an error will cause it to be highlighted and also cause the error name in the error list to be highlighted.

If the Done button in the list is selected all the errors will be removed from the design.

If no errors are found then a list will appear stating so. This list can be removed by selecting the Done button.

Error circles can edited, moved or deleted. Error circles will not be saved with the design.

Generate Symbol References

This option changes the symbol references in your design. It relieves you of the task of ensuring each symbol has its own unique reference.

One this option has been selected a dialogue box will allow several options to be changed. You can either add or remove the current references. Removing references can be useful if you wish to integrate this design into another.

You can apply the changes to all references, that is the entire design will have potentially all of it references changed. Use this option if you do have not yet built the design, or have not issued any copies of the design to others.

You can apply the changes to only un-numbered references. This will ensure only new symbols with references with a ? in them will be changed. Use this option if you are modifying an existing design, and wish to leave existing components with their original references.

You can apply the changes to only references matching a give reference. This will apply to all references matching the one entered, even if the symbol has already been assigned a reference. Use this option, for example, to renumber all the capacitors without renumbering any other symbol.

If you wish you can allow this tool to determine what the correct symbol reference for the symbols is. Alternatively you can enter your own.

When you select the OK button the options will be applied to the design. Each symbol specified will be given a new reference. If you select remove references then each symbol will have its references changed back to one with a ? instead of a value.

You may select Cancel to not apply the reference generator.

Create Parts List

This option creates a list of all the parts used in the design. This list is sorted by symbol reference, and all parts of the same type are listed together.

Essentially this is a list of parts that need to be purchased to make the design.

The parts list is store in a simple text file, which can be edited and printed using notepad.

Tidy Design

This option improves the way the design is stored without effecting the way it looks.

In this release it does this by removing unseen object from the design.

This includes:

- Wires, buses, arcs and lines with zero length.

- Labels and text with no text in them.

- Rectangles and ellipses with no area.

This option removes errors than can creep in during editing which are difficult to remove yourself because they are unseen.