Copyright: Merco Electronics


Contents
Getting started

Select objects

Viewable window

Zoom in

Zoom out

Pan window


Schematic editor PCB elegance

The schematic tool of PCB elegance is a tool to symbols and sheets.


Viewable window

In the viewable window there are four bars visible who have a function. Those four bars are the Button bar, Absolute grid position (0.1 inch), Relative gridposition (0.1 inch) (mils/mm) and Info.

Zero relative cursor


Backup

Backup


New sheet

	Sub menu File menu item New sheet
	Sub menu File menu item New sheet in new window

Creates a new sheet file (.sch) in the sch subdirectory of the current design.


New symbol

	Sub menu File menu item New symbol
	Sub menu File menu item New symbol in new window

Creates a new symbol file (.sym) in the sym subdirectory of the current design.


New sheetsymbol

	Sub menu File menu item New sheetsymbol
	Sub menu File menu item New sheetsymbol in new window

Creates a new sheetsymbol file (.sym) in the sym subdirectory of the current design.


Print

	Sub menu File menu item Print menu item Print in black Print in color
	Press Print button

Prints the current file to the printer.


Initialisation file sch.ini

The initialisation file sch.ini is used to save some designs parameters. The file will be stored in the designs directory, if there is a design active.

If the schematic editor has been started as stand alone, the search rules for sch.ini will be as follows. When the last subdirectory name of the full edit path is sch or sym, the schematic editor will use the one level up directory. An example:

Symbols pull path:	c:\design\test\sym\testsymbol.sym

The schematic editor is looking for the sch.ini in the c:\design\test directory. This situation is the case when a symbol or schematic from a design will be opened.

When there is no sch or sym directory, or the sch.ini does not exist, the schematic editor tries to find the sch.ini in the same directory as the symbol or sheet.

The following paramaters in the sch.ini are used:

[Settings]

WindowWidth	The width of the windows
WindowHeight	The height of the windows
WindowStartX	Origin X of the windows (0,0 = left top)
WindowStartY	Origin Y of the windows
SymbolDialogStartX	Origin X of the add symbol dialog window
SymbolDialogStartY	Origin Y of the add symbol dialog window
Repeat mode	(0 = off,1 = on)
LineSelectMode	(0 = normal, 1 = extended)
SelectMode	(0 = Appending,1 = Replacement)
BackGroundColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
WireColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
BusColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
BusConnectionColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
GlobalConnectionColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
JunctionColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
NetLabelColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
InstanceRefTextColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
InstanceValueTextColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
SymbolPinColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
SymbolPinBusColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
SymbolPinTextColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
SymbolPowerPinTextColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
SymbolPinBusTextColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
SymbolLineColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
SymbolRectColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
SymbolTextColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
SymbolArcColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
SymbolCircleColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
ObjectLineColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
ObjectRectColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
ObjectCircleColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
ObjectArcColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
ObjectTextColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
ButtonInfoColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)
GridColor	24 bit RGB color (Stored as 32 bit)


Zero relative cursor

	Sub menu Edit menu item Zero relative cursor
	Press Ctrl z

The relative grid position will be set to zero.

Viewable window


Undo

	Press Undo button
	Press u
	Undo

This function will undo almost all previous actions. Modifying the numbers of parts per package, and modifying pinnumbers package parts can not be undone.

Edit pinnumbers package parts

Edit number of parts per package


Redo

	Press Redo button
	Redo

This function will redo previous undo actions.


View topics

Zoom in

Zoom out

Window based Zooming

Pan window

Window based panning

Return to previous view window

Repaint

View whole design

Change grid


Zoom in

	Press z
	Sub menu View menu item Zoom in

The zoom in function can be used in every possible drawing/moving function.

Window based zooming


Zoom out

	Press Z
	Sub menu View menu item Zoom out

The zoom out function can be used in every possible drawing/moving function.

Window based zooming


Window based Zooming

To zoom in on a window, place the mouse cursor to the left top place of the window. Hold down the Ctrl key, than press and hold down the left mouse button. Move the mouse cursor in the right bottom direction of your window. After releasing the Ctrl key and the left mouse button zooming in will take place.

To zoom out, use the previous function, but now move the mouse cursor in the left top direction. The non changing rectangle visible is the border of your design. The changing rectangle is the zoom out window. After releasing the Ctrl key and the left mouse button, zooming out will take place.

The window based zooming function can be used in every possible drawing/moving function.


Pan window

	Press
	Press  x
	Press Shift and move the mouse the window border
Window	Use the scrollbars

When pressing the x key, the window will be panned around the current mouse position, and the mouse position will be moved to the window center.

The pan window function can be used in every possible drawing/moving function.

Window based panning


Window based panning

There is a function available to view a different part of your design(special window for panning). To enter this function, hold down the Ctrl key, than press and hold down the right mouse button. The non changing rectangle visible is the border of your design. The changing rectangle is the viewable window. After releasing the Ctrl key and the right mouse button panning will take place.

The Window based panning function can be used in every possible drawing/moving function.


Return to previous view window

	Press v
	Previous view

Return to a previous view.

The Return to previous view window function can be used in every possible drawing/moving function.


Repaint

	Press F5
	Repaint

The whole window will be repainted.

The Repaint function can be used in every possible drawing/moving function.


View whole design

	Press Shift F8
	View whole design

The window view will be scaled that the whole design will fit.

The View whole design function can be used in every possible drawing/moving function.


Change colors

	Sub menu View menu item Change colors

The color settings can be modified in the next dialogbox. The color settings will be copied into the sch.ini initialisation file. This file is stored into the directory of the project.

To use those sch colors for new designs, copy this sch.ini file to main directory. Whenever a new design is created this sch.ini file in the main directory will be copied to the directory of the new design.

Initialisation file sch.ini

Load default colors (Black background)

Load default colors (Gray background)


Load default colors (Black background)

	Sub menu View menu item Load default colors (Black background)

The default color settings with a black background will be loaded.

Initialisation file sch.ini


Load default colors (Gray background)

	Sub menu View menu item Load default colors (Gray background)

The default color settings with a gray background will be loaded.

Initialisation file sch.ini


Short cuts

The most important functions of the schematic/symbol editor have a short cut key (Accelerator). Those keys can be modified by editing the sch.ini file, section [Keys].


Change grid

	Press Ctrl g
	Sub menu Grid menu item (0.1,0.2,1.0)

Pressing Ctrl g will switch the grid 0.1 and 1.0.

Changing the grid is possible in every drawing/moving function.

View/hide grid

	Press g (View/hide grid)

View/hide grid


Selection/deselection objects

To select an object, place the mouse cursor above the object, and press and hold the left mouse button. A rectangle will mark the selection window. There are two selection modes available. The first and default selection mode is the Replacement, and the second selection mode is the Appending.

The Replacement selection mode means, every time a new selection rectangle is drawed the previous objects selected will be unselected. When pressing down the left shift key together with the left mouse button it is possible to use more than one selection at a time.

The other selection mode is the Appending selection mode. In this mode every object which is selected stays selected, until the Deselect all function is executed. To deselect an object press the left mouse and place the selection rectangle around this object again.

To change the selection mode use the Replacement or Appending in the Selection mode section of the menu.

Deselect all

Line select mode


Line select mode

	Sub menu Edit menu item  Line select mode (normal) Line select mode (extended)

Line select mode can be switched between normal and extended mode. In normal mode a line (wire/bus/line) will be selected if one or two line endpoints are in the selection window.

In Extended mode a line (wire/bus/line) will be selected if whatever piece of the line is in the selection window.

Select components

Deselect all


Deselect all

	Press Deselect all button
	Press F2
	Deselect all

Deselect all function.


Edit component parameters

	Press e
	Edit component parameters

In the next dialogbox the parameters of the selected component can be edited.

The following parameters can be changed:

Reference

Value

Part nr

Geometry

Part description

Package part nr

Placing option

Add component


Reference

The reference of the component.


Value

The value of the component.


Part nr

The part nr of the component


Geometry

With the Select geometry button a geometry can be selected. In the top window the geometry directories and libraries are visible, and in the bottom window the geometries stored in that directory or library. By clicking on a directory/library item geometries in the directory/library will be listed in the bottom window. By clicking on a geometry the geometry will be visible in a new window to the right. By clicking on the OK button the geometry will be selected.

Initialisation file sch ini


Part description

The part description is copied from the symbol description.


Package part nr

The package partnumber can be selected.

Edit numbers of parts per package


Placing option

When the Placing option checkbox has been marked, the component will be marked as a placing option. Behind the component value a string (*) will added to indicate the placing option.


Protect symbols

	Sub menu Edit menu item Protect symbols

Selected symbols will be protected. Protected symbols can not be selected.

Unprotect symbols

Edit symbolnames


Edit gate/pin swap

	Sub menu Edit menu item Edit gate/pin swap
	Edit gate/pin swap

In the next dialogbox the gate/pin swap parameters of the symbol can be edited. Editing gate swap info for devices like 7400 ( Four nand gates) is not necessary.

In the first small editbox a group code (1 to 15) should be edited. In the right large editbox the pinnames of a gate should be edited. Every pinname will be separated by a komma, pin(s)/pinbus(ses) which are swappable should be enclosed by parentheses.

A example:

(3,4,5),(A[0:7])         :	Pins 3,4 and 5 can be swapped against each other, and

the eight pins inside the pinbus A[0:7] can be swapped against

each other.

Edit pinbus reorder

A few examples:

Pin swap example

Gate swap example 1

Gate swap example 2


Pin swap example1
Pin swap example

7400 TTL device with two pins: IN1 and IN2 which should be swappable:

The gate/pin swap dialog window should be filled like:

	Code	Pins
Line 1	1	(IN1,IN2)


Pin swap example2
Gate swap example 1

74245 TTL device with eight inputs and outputs. Every Input/Output combination can be swapped against any other seven Input/Outputs. This means there are eight gates, each with two pins.

The gate/pin swap dialog window should be filled like:

	Code	Pins
Line 1	1	2,18
Line 2	1	3,17
Line 3	1	4,16
Line 4	1	5,15
Line 5	1	6,14
Line 6	1	7,13
Line 7	1	8,12
Line 8	1	9,11

All the pins in lines with the same code numbers can be swapped. This means the number of pins in each line should be the same, and the numbers of pins enclosed by parentheses should be the same.


Pin swap example3
Gate swap example 2

74244 TTL device with two sets of four inputs and outputs. Every Input/Output combination of a set can be swapped against any other three Input/Output. This means there are two sets of four gates, each with two pins.

The gate/pin swap dialog window should be filled like:

	Code	Pins
Line 1	1	2,18
Line 2	1	4,16
Line 3	1	6,14
Line 4	1	8,12
Line 5	2	11,9
Line 6	2	13,7
Line 7	2	15,5
Line 8	2	17,3

The four gates in lines 1 to 4 have code number one, which means they are swappable. Also the four gates in lines 5 to 8 with code two are swappable.


Edit pinbus reorder

	Add pinbus reorder -> Pinbus Delete pinbus reorder -> Pinbus Edit pinbus reorder -> Pinbus

In the next dialogbox the pinbus reorder parameters of a selected components pinbus can be edited.

Pinbus reorder means the sequence of pins will be reordered. Such a pinbus reordering of pins is necessary when pins in this pinbus are swapped. The numbers in a pinbus reorder are index numbers.

For example:

Pinbus:	3,9,45,12,41,89,23,63	with pinbus reorder 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7

Pins 12 and 23 should be swapped.

The pinbus reorder would be  0,1,2,6,4,5,3,7  (Index 3 and 6 are swapped)

Add pinbus

Gate/pin swap


Unprotect symbols

	Sub menu Edit menu item Unprotect symbols

All protected symbols will be unprotected. Protected symbols can not be selected.

Protect symbols

Edit symbolnames


Export text

	Sub menu Edit menu item Export text

The text of selected pins, powerpins, pinbusses or standard text, will be made visible in a dialogbox. This text can be used to import into a wordprocessor.


Edit any text

	Press e
	Edit any text
	Double click on text

In the next dialogbox selected text can be edited.

The selected text can be:

•	Reference name

•	Value name (Only for editing sheets)

•	Powerpin

•	External connection

•	Netlabel

•	Normal text


Search for any text

	Sub menu Edit menu item Search for any text
	Press s

0	In the next dialogbox the search text can be edited. After pressing the OK button the schematic editor tries to find this text, and will pan the view window arround this text. The text itself will be selected. The text can be:

•	Symbol name

•	Value name (Only for editing sheets)

•	Reference name

•	Pinnumber

•	Any pinnumber in a pinbus

•	Netname powerpin

•	Any pinnumber in a powerpin

•	External connection

•	Netlabel

•	Normal text


Add Edit number of parts per package
Edit number of parts per package

	Sub menu Edit menu item parts -> count

Edit the number of symbols in a device.

Edit pinnumbers package parts


Add Edit pinnumbers package parts
Edit pinnumbers package parts

	Sub menu Edit menu item parts -> pins

In the next dialogbox there is a listbox and editbox. The listbox shows the pinnames of the symbol. In the right editbox the pin numbers for each part in the device should be edited, starting with the first part. The pin numbers should be separated by comma’s. Spaces are not allowed.

Edit numbers of parts per package


Edit symbolnames

	Sub menu Edit menu item Symbolnames

When editing a symbol, the symbol properties can be changed with this function. The top editbox represents the symbolname. This symbolname can not be changed, because the symbolname and the filename of the symbol are the same. If the symbolname should be changed, simple save the symbol under another name. The checkbox to the right of the editbox defines if the symbolname is visible when the symbol is used in a sheet.

The second editbox contains the interface name. Normally the interface name is the same as the symbolname. When the symbol is a part of a bigger symbol (see Multiple symbols), the interface name will be different. The checkbox to the right of the editbox defines if the symbol is part of a multiple symbol.

The third editbox defines the initial reference name. This initial reference name should always end with a quotation mark ?. This quotation mark is necessary for annotation. The checkbox to the right of the editbox defines if the initial reference name is visible when the symbol is used in a sheet. In the fourth editbox a description (help) cab be edited.

Annotation

The checkbox at the bottom defines if the symbol is protected in a sheet. Protected symbols in a sheet can not be selected.

Protect symbols

Unprotect symbols


Multiple symbols

When the pincount of a symbol is very high, there is a possibility to split the symbol into two or more separate symbols.

Every symbol contains a certain amount of pins. For every symbol some properties must be edited. To edit the properties of symbol use the Symbol names of the Edit menu. The Interface name should be the same for all the symbols, and the multiple symbols checkbox should be marked.


Clear references

	Sub menu Edit menu item Clear references

All the selected symbols with numbered references will be reset to xxx?. For example reference ABC234 will be reset to ABC?. References names who have a quotation mark as last character will not be changed.

Annotation


Check sheet

	Sub menu Edit menu item Check

The current sheet will be checked for errors. Possible errors are :

•	Not connected busconnections.

•	Not connected external connections.

•	External connections.must be unique.

•	External connections directy connected to a busconnection.

•	Wires directly connected to a bus.

•	Busconnections not connected properly to a wire/bus.

•	In a sheet the pins of a symbol are not connected to a wire/bus endpoint.

•	Netlabel is not connected to a wire or bus.


Check symbol

	Sub menu Edit menu item Check

The current symbol will be checked for errors. Possible errors are :

•	Double pinnumbers

Annotation


Edit pin normal symbol

	Press e
	Edit text

In the next dialogbox parameters of selected pins can be edited. Connection, type, pinname,labelname and visibility can be modified. After clicking the OK button the pin will be changed.


Edit sheetsymbol pin

	Press e
	Edit text

In the next dialogbox parameters of selected pins can be edited. Connection type and labelname can be modified. After clicking the OK button the pin will be changed.


Edit pinbus

	Press e
	Edit text

In the next dialogbox parameters of selected pinbusses can be edited. Connection, type, pinname,nr pins and labelname can be modified. After clicking the OK button the pinbus will be changed.


Add wire

	Press Add wire button
	Press w
	Add wire

Add wire.


Add bus

	Press Add bus button
	Press b
	Add bus

A bus is a collection of a number of signals. The amount of signals in a bus depends on how the bus is named. For instance if the bus is a databus with the signals AD0,AD1,AD2,AD3,AD4,AD5,AD6,AD7 the name of the bus would be AD[0:7]. When a bus has such a name the amount is signals in a bus is limited to eight is this case. A bus can also contain an unspecified number of signals, for example a possible name could be SYSCON.

Via busconnections signals are connected to a bus. The signal names that are connected to a bus must be unique. When a bus is directly connected to a pinbus, the pinbus should have a name with a number range. The amount of signals within this number range should be the same as the pinbus signal count.

It is not allowed to connect a signal to a bus once (unused signal). For example if the signal MEMR is connected via a busconnection to the bus MEMCON, the same signal should be connected to this bus on another place. The reason for this is to avoid some mistakes, when connecting signals to a bus. In the previous example signal MEMR is used to connect to a bus. Suppose you have typed MEMR wrong (MEM), for the first connection, and the second signal connection name is typed with MEMR. The result of this is, that the two signals are not connected to each other. As a result of this check an error will be displayed.


Add busconnection

	Press Add busconnection button
	Press B
	Add busconnection

A busconnection is a small symbol that is used to connect a bus with a wire or pinbus.

After the function is activated the busconnection can be placed. The thick part of the busconnection should be placed against the bus, and the smallest part to the wire or pinbus end point.

By pressing the right mouse button the busconnection can be mirrored.


Add external connection

	Press Add external input connection button
	Add external connections -> Input
	Press Add external output connection button
	Add external connections -> Output
	Press Add external I/O connection button
	Add external connections -> I/O

An External connection is used to connect signals or busses from different sheet in a hierachical design. An external connection is a Input, Output or I/O. The name used for the External connection should be the same, as the pin name in the sheetsymbol in the above sheet.

After the function is activated a dialogbox is visible. You have to fill in a name for the external connection. After the name has been typed the external connection can be placed. The external connection should be placed at the endpoint of a wire or bus.

By pressing the right mouse button the external connection can be mirrored.


Add netlabel

	Press Add label to wire/bus button
	Press n
	Add label to wire/bus

A netlabel is a text string that identifying the wire or bus. When a wire is connected to a bus via a busconnection, the wire needs a netlabel. A netlabel is always required for a bus. When wires or busses are drawn with two or more lines, only one line of them needs this netlabel.

To add a netlabel to a wire or bus, select the wire or bus first. After the wire or busses has been selected use this function. After the function is activated a dialogbox is visible. You have to fill in a name for the netlabel. After pressing the OK button, the netlabel can be placed. There is a help line visible, to show at which endpoint of the wire or bus the netlabel is connected.


Add incremental netlabel
Add incremental netlabels to wires

	Add incremental netlabels to wires
	Press N

When incremental netlabels are required for a number of wires, this function can be used. First select the wires, and then use this function.

In the dialogbox the name of the netlabel should be filled in.


Add netlabel + wire

	Add netlabel + wire

In the next dialogbox the names of the netlabels should be filled in. For every line in the dialogbox a wire and netlabel will be created.


Add symbol

	Press Add symbol button
	Press i
	Add symbol

A symbol is a graphical representation of a component (Resistor, capacitor, IC).

A symbol can be imported from a library or a symbol directory.

In the top window the symbol directories and libraries are visible, and in the bottom window the symbols stored in that directory or library. By clicking on a directory/library item symbols in the directory/library will be listed in the bottom window. In the edit box at the bottom of the dialogbox a symbol description is shown for the selected symbol. By clicking on a symbol the symbol can be placed on the schematic. By pressing the right mouse button a number of timer the symbol will rotate/mirror. By pressing the left mouse button the symbol will be placed. The dialogbox remains visible, and will disappear by clicking on the Cancel button.

Initialisation file sch ini


Add component

	Add database component -> Select component

Adding components can be a lot quicker than adding symbols, because after a symbol has been added some parameters have to be changed. Those parameters are the geometry and value.

The standard components like resistors, capacitors, 74xx range of IC and some other components can be added directly.

In the series of pulldown menus the component family can be selected. In the next dialogbox the component can be selected and by pressing the OK button the symbol can be placed. In this dialogbox there are two listboxes. The top listbox shows the system components, and the bottom listbox the components added by the user.

The information for this component database is put into two files in the base directory of PCB elegance. The names for those files are compmenu.txt and comp.txt.

Compmenu.txt file

Comp.txt file


Compmenu.txt
Compmenu.txt file

This is a text file containing menu items. The first character of each line will be used for decoding.

First character:

;	Line will be ignored (Also empty lines)

$	The number directly after $ (Code1 in the comp.txt file) is the main index in the component pulldown menu.

The next string will be visible in the menu.

#	The next number (Code2 in the comp.txt file) will not be used if there are further pull down menus. If there are no further pulldown menus the number will be used.

The next string will be visible in the second pulldown menu.

^	The next number is the Code2 in the comp.txt file

The next string will be visible in the second pulldown menu.

There are two options to edit this file. The first option is to add at the bottom of the file the new components. The second option is insert lines between the standard menu items. The Code1 numbers 1 to 8 are reserved, and the Code2 numbers used by the PCB elegance are ending on a zero. The user can insert other lines, but the code2 numbers must end on 1 to 9. Do not enter new Code2 members, because there are reserved for future implementations.


Comp.txt
Comp.txt file

The comp.txt is a text database file. Empty lines, or lines starting with a ; are ignored. Every line contains seven items.

Item1	Symbolname

Item2	Code1 definition

Item3	Code2 definition

Item4	Partnumber (Optional)

Item5	Value

Item6	Geometry

Item7	Description

When pulldown menu item has been selected with corresponding Code1 and Code2 numbers, the program makes a subselection from the comp.txt file. This subselection will be displayed into a dialogbox, and the component can be selected and included into the schematic.


Add other objects

Add line

Add rectangle

Add rectangle (4 lines)

Add circle

Add arc

Add text

Add numbers incremental


Add line

	Press Add line button (Only when editing symbols)
	Press l
	Add special -> Line

Add a line.


Add rect (4 lines)

	Press Add rect button (Only when editing symbols)
	Press r
	Add special -> Rect (4 lines)

Add a rectangle. This rectangle is build up with four lines. This can be useful when the rectangle should be changed, because lines can be dragged.


Add rect

	Add special -> Rect

Add rectangle.


Add circle

	Press Add circle button (Only when editing symbols)
	Press C
	Add special -> circle -> Select circle

Add a (partial) circle.


Add arc

	Press Add arc button (Only when editing symbols)
	Press a
	Add special -> Arc

Add an arc.


Add text

	Press Add text button (Only when editing symbols)
	Press t
	Add special -> Text

Add text

If the textstring equals $DATE the textstring will be replaced by the current date.


Add numbers incremental

	Add special -> Numbers incremental

Add a range of numbers.


Add pin

	Press Add pin button
	Press a
	Add pin

After the function is activated a dialogbox is visible. In this dialogbox one or more pins can be added to the symbol. The dialogbox consists of three edit boxes and two series of radiobuttons. The first editbox is the edit box for the pin numbers (pinnames). The second editbox is the editbox for the pin text. This pintext will be added as normal text. The third editbox is the edit box for the pin labels. This editbox is only relevant when adding pins for a sheet symbol. When adding pins for a normal symbol you do not have to fill this editbox. With the two series radiobuttons, the electrical direction and electrical type can be selected, for all pins that will be added.

To add a powerpin click the ‘Pinname is powernet’ checkbox. The pinname edited will be the net in the schematic. (These powerpins can be used for GND symbols).

After filling the dialogbox click OK, and the pin(s) can be placed. To mirror or rotate the pin press the right mouse button.

Add pinbus


Add sheetsymbol pin

	Press Add pin button
	Press a
	Add pin

After the function is activated a dialogbox is visible. In this dialogbox one or more pins can be added to the sheetsymbol. The dialogbox consists of three edit boxes and a serie of radiobuttons. The first editbox is the edit box for the labelnames. The second and third editbox is the edit box the incremental placement of the pins. With the serie of radiobuttons the electrical direction can be selected, for all pins that will be added. After filling the dialogbox click OK, and the pin(s) can be placed. To mirror or rotate the pin press the right mouse button.


Add powerpin

	Press Add powerpin button
	Press p
	Add powerpin

When adding pins to a symbol who are connected to power (+5V,GND), there is another option adding these pins, the so called powerpins (power pin text). For example for a 74LS00 device pin 7 should be connected to ground, and pin 14 to the VCC. Instead of adding two pins, two powerpins can be added.

When adding powerpins two items should edited, the netname and the powerpin number(s). The netname specified will be used as a standard net for the whole design. The powerpin number(s) specified consists of one or more pinnumbers separated by commas. If necessary two or more powerpins with same nets and different pinnumbers can be added.

To add a powerpin use one of the above three actions. After the function is activated a dialogbox is visible. In this dialogbox two editboxes are visible. In the first editbox the netname has to be specified, and in the second editbox the pinnumbers separated by comma’s. After filling the dialogbox click OK, and the powerpin can be placed. To rotate the powerpin text press the right mouse button.


Add pinbus

	Press Add pinbus button
	Press P
	Add pinbus

A pinbus is special pin definition, to replace a series of standard pins. For example if a numbers of pins for a databus should added to the symbol, a pinbus can be used instead of adding every pin of the databus separately. In digital designs with a CPU and memory devices pinbusses are very useful.

To add a pinbus use one of the above three actions. After the function is activated a dialogbox is visible. The dialogbox consists of four edit boxes, and two series of radiobuttons. The first editbox is the edit box for the pin numbers (pinnames) separated by commas. The second editbox is the edit box for the pin label. The third editbox is the editbox for the pin text. This pintext will be added as normal text. In the fourth editbox the amount of pins has to be filled in. With the two series radiobuttons the electrical direction and electrical type can be selected, for the pinbus that will be added. After clicking OK, the pinbus can be placed. To mirror or rotate the pinbus press the right mouse button.

The amount of pinnumbers separated by commas and the value in the pin count editbox has to be the same. There is a maximum of 64 pins for a pinbus.


Open subsheet

	Press Open subsheet button
	Edit sheet selected symbol

When a sheetsymbol is selected and this function is executed, the current design will be left, and the sheet related to this sheetsymbol will be opened.

Goto higher sheet

Hierarchical designs


Open sheetsymbol

	Press Open sheetsymbol button
	Edit selected sheetsymbol

When a sheetsymbol is selected and this function is executed, the current design will be left, and the sheetsymbol will be opened.

Goto higher sheet

Hierarchical designs


Goto higher sheet

	Press Goto higher sheet button
	Goto higher sheet

Go back to a higher sheet. When the Open subsheet or Open sheetsymbol function was used to open the current sheet or sheetsymbol, Goto higher sheet will return to the previous sheet

Hierarchical designs


Hierarchical designs

A hierarchical design is a design with more that one sheet. To be able to use more than one sheet an interface has to been used to connect the different sheets with each other. The interface used, consists of sheet symbols in one sheet, and external connections on other sheets. To make this more understandable an example will be used.

In a hierarchical design there is always a start sheet, the so called top sheet. In this top sheet, sheet symbols are included. Every sheetsymbol represents an other (sub)sheet. The pins defined in the sheetsymbol represents the external connections of the subsheet. The label name of a pin in the sheet symbol must be the same, as the name of the external connection in the subsheet. Also the pin type (Input,Output,I/O) must be the same. Every subsheet can also contain sheetsymbols which represents further subsheets.


Move objects

	Press Move button
	Press m
	Move

Move selected objects. By pressing and keep down the shift key and moving the mouse cursor, the moving center will change.


Drag objects

	Press Drag button
	Press d
	Drag

Drag selected objects. By pressing and keep down the shift key and moving the mouse cursor, the moving center will change.


Rotate objects

	Press R
	Rotate

Rotate selected objects 90 degrees counter clock wise.


Mirror objects

	Mirror X Mirror Y

Mirror selected objects in X or Y direction.


Copy objects

	Press Copy button
	Press c
	Copy
	Copy multiple -> Select number (2..10)

With this function selected objects can be copied once, or 2..10 times. By pressing and keep down the shift key and moving the mouse cursor, the moving center will change.


Copy objects to clipboard

	Sub menu Edit menu item Copy objects to clipboard
	Press Ctrl ins

Selected objects will be copied to the clipboard. This function will work when editing symbols and sheets.

Paste objects from clipboard


Paste objects from clipboard

	Sub menu Edit menu item Paste objects from clipboard
	Press Shift ins
	Paste objects from clipboard

Objects that previously had been copied to the clipboard will be pasted in the current design. This function will work when editing symbols and sheets.

Copy objects to clipboard


Delete objects

	Press Delete button
	Press Del
	Del

Delete selected objects.

Netlabels connected to selected wire(s) or bus(ses), will also be deleted.

Undo


Unselect objects

	Unselect -> Objects

Unselect objects.


Select only

	Select only -> Objects

Select only one object type.


Edit symbol

	Edit <symbol>

The symbol of the selected component can be edited with this function. After closing the symbol editor, the Schematic editor will reload the symbols.