Copyright: Copyright (C) 1997 Visio Corporation
Citation: Visio 5.0 Help, Copyright (C) 1997 Visio Corporation


Using the Netlist Generator

Using the Netlist Generator tool, you can perform a circuit analysis of electrical circuit diagrams in a Visio drawing and generate a netlist for this analysis. A netlist is an industry standard text file that lists all the components in a circuit, along with the nodes (connection points) to which the component is attached, and the value of the component.

For the Netlist Generator to work properly, the circuit must be drawn as a connected diagram, as shown in the following illustration, and must meet specific drawing criteria.

The circuit must be drawn as a connected diagram to create a netlist text file.

Drawing criteria

For the Netlist Generator to work properly, the drawing must meet the following criteria:

•	The circuit must be drawn with all connections glued correctly.

•	The components must be 2-D, as they are in Visio 5.0. You can use Visio shapes or create your own components, as long as they are 2-D shapes.

TIP  You can tell if you are working with a 2-D shape because it has an alignment box. A shape that is 1-D has end points. If you are working with a drawing created in an earlier version of Visio, you can convert the 1-D components to 2-D shapes by using the Format > Behavior command.

•	The components must be labeled using the following guidelines. Although there is no character limit, a label usually has fewer than 20 characters.

The name or designation of the component must be specified in the first part of the shape's text. The first letter of the name determines the device type letter, so the name you give each component should begin with the relevant letter; for example, "R" for a resistor or "C" for a capacitor. (Refer to your Spice program documentation for more information on the correct letters.) Names should not contain spaces.

The component's value must be in the second part of the component's text. Values should not contain spaces.

The first and second part of the text must be separated by a space. For example:

A labeled component

•	There should be only one name per node; for example, "wire1." The name of the node must not contain spaces.

How to use the netlist text file

The Netlist Generator creates a text file in the standard netlist format and exports it to a specified location. After the netlist text file is generated, you can use it as the input file for a circuit analysis program, such as Spice or Pspice.

A typical line of text in the file looks something like the following notation, which indicates that the component R1 (a resistor device type) is connected between nodes N1 and N2 and has a value of 10K:

R_R1	N1	N2	10K

To use the Netlist Generator tool:

1.	In your drawing, select the components that make up the circuit for which the netlist is required.

NOTE  For the Netlist Generator to work properly, the drawing must meet specific drawing criteria.

2.	Choose Tools > Macro > Electrical and Electronic > Netlist Generator. Or if an Electrical and Electronic template is open, choose Tools > Netlist Generator.

NOTE  If the Netlist Generator was purchased separately and has not been added to the Visio Technical Solutions folder, you can run it directly from Windows Explorer.

3.	In the Prefix For Unnamed Nodes box, specify the prefix you want the Netlist Generator to insert on nodes that appear on the diagram without a name or number.

4.	Check the Error Checking Enabled box to check for nodes with duplicate names and unconnected nodes.

5.	In the Save The Netlist In This Text File box, specify the folder in which to save the netlist file. Typically, this file has an .net file extension.

6.	In the Include Header Information From This File box, specify the location of your header file, if you have one.

7.	Click OK to create the netlist.

The Netlist Generator sends the output to the location specified in the Save The Netlist In This Text File box.

DIALOG BOX OPTIONS

Prefix For Unnamed Nodes  Specifies the prefix you want to insert on nodes that appear on the diagram without a name or number.

Save The Netlist In This Text File  Specifies the location where you want the netlist saved.

Include Header Information From This File  Specifies the location of your header file, if you have one. The header file is used if there is extra information you want to include in your netlist. Typically, this is a text file containing file names that contain further details on component models. Circuit analysis programs, such as Spice, contain standard header files.

Error Checking Enabled  Checks for nodes with duplicate names (where the same name is given to nodes when there is no interconnection) and unconnected nodes. If a duplicate node name is found, an error message is displayed. If an unconnected node is found, it remains selected, indicating where the connection must be made.

Browse  Specifies a location on your C drive or a server to browse.


Netlist Generator command
Netlist Generator

  Related Topics

Tools > Macro > Electrical and Electronic

Tools > Macro > Macros

Tools menu (Electrical and Electronic template must be open)

Performs a circuit analysis of electrical circuit diagrams in a Visio Technical drawing and generates a netlist for this analysis. A netlist is an industry standard text file that lists all the components in a circuit, along with the nodes (connection points) to which the component is attached, and the value of the component.

DIALOG BOX OPTIONS

Prefix For Unnamed Nodes  Specifies the prefix you would like inserted on nodes that appear on the diagram without a name or number.

Save The Netlist In This Text File  Specifies the location where you want the netlist saved.

Include Header Information From This File  Specifies the location of your header file, if you have one. The header file is used if there is extra information you want to include in your netlist. Typically, this is a text file containing file names that contain further details on component models. Circuit analysis programs, such as Spice, contain standard header files.

Error Checking Enabled  Checks for nodes with duplicate names (where the same name is given to nodes when there is no interconnection) and unconnected nodes. If a duplicate node name is found, an error message is displayed. If an unconnected node is found, it remains selected, indicating where the connection must be made.

Browse  Specifies a location on your C drive or a server.