Setting Design Environment Preferences

You can easily customize many aspects of design entry and display through the Preferences and Layer Editor dialog boxes accessed through the Options menu. Some of the options set here serve as defaults and can be changed on an individual basis through the Edit menu.

Some of the things you can customize are:

When you change the settings in this dialog box and click Apply, the design window is updated with the changes, and these changes will serve as defaults for all designs in this project. For details on saving changes to a file so that specific preferences can be associated with specific designs, refer to Saving and Reading Preference Files.

Specifying Design Entry and Display Preferences

To change design entry and display preferences:

Choose Options > Preferences in any design window.


Many options relating to the size of an item displayed on the screen offer a choice of specifying the size in terms of screen pixels or schem units (or layout units, in the Layout window).

screen pixels—Use this setting to specify sizes in terms of pixels on the screen. For example, if you set 10 screen pixels for the Pick Box size, the pick region will be 10 pixels by 10 pixels.

schem units—Use this setting to specify sizes in terms of inches, in the Schematic window. In the Layout window, select layout units to specify a size with respect to the design units of the Layout window.

Setting Select Options

The Select options can assist you in editing your designs by modifying how items are selected.

Using Selection Filters

Selection filters enable you to specify types of items you want included in or excluded from your selections. For example, if you turn on only Components and Wires, none of the other types of items in the drawing area will be available for selection. By default, all types of items are turned on except Drawing Format.

To change the default settings:

Select the types of items you want available for selection, and deselect the types of items you want excluded from selection.

Hints:

Changing the Select Mode for Polygons

Changing the Pick Box Size

The pick box is a region you define that determines how close your cross cursor must be to an object before clicking will select that object. You can choose a size in schem/layout units, relative to the units of the design window, or you can choose a size in screen pixels.

The following figure shows an example of the region defined by a pick box specified in inches.

Pick region based on schem Units

In the previous figure, the pick box size was set to 0.25 inch (the same as the default grid display).

When you define the region using n screen pixels, the pick region is a square of n pixels × n pixels, centered around the spot where you click. For example, if you specify 20, the pick region extends 10 pixels beyond the spot where you click, horizontally and vertically.

Hint
It may be necessary to use a very small number in designs where items are tightly spaced.

Changing the Selected Vertex Size

When the Vertices filter is enabled, and you select a vertex (or vertices), a marker appears identifying each selected vertex. You can change the size of the marker from the Select tab of the Preferences dialog box.

To change the size of the marker that identifies selected vertices:

  1. Choose the desired units from the drop-down Units list box.
  2. Change the value as desired.

Changing the Select Color

When objects in the drawing area are selected, a box is drawn around them identifying them as being selected. By default, this highlight color is black, but you can change it from the Select tab of the Preferences dialog box. This color is also the color of the marker that identifies selected vertices.

Setting Grid/Snap Options

The display grid and cursor snap features are provided to assist you in creating and editing your designs more quickly and accurately.

By default, snap mode is turned on and the cursor snaps to pins and to the grid defined by the snap spacing. The default snap spacing is 0.125 inch (in the Schematic window) with a display factor of 2. This means that although the cursor snaps every 0.125 inch, the dots only appear every 0.25 inch. If you set the display to anything smaller than 0.25 inch, the grid will be too dense to display without zooming in on it.

Hint
The default component symbols have been created uniformly, in 0.125-inch increments. Thus, if you keep the default settings while creating your design, you should be able to connect all symbols with minimal effort.

Display

Spacing


Hint
If the display factor you specify makes the grid too dense to display, it is invisible unless you zoom in. To see the grid without zooming, choose a larger display factor.

Active Snap Modes

This section enables you to restrict the manner in which the cursor snaps. You can activate any combination of choices. If you select more than one, the cursor snaps to the nearest one. By default, Grid and Pin are turned on to assist you in quickly creating schematics.

Hint
All snap modes (except Grid) rely on the cursor being within the distance specified as Snap Distance (Diameter).
Note
Angle Snapping automatically occurs when only Pin snapping is enabled and you place a part so that the pin at the cursor connects to an existing part. The placed part rotates so that it properly aligns with the connected part.
Hint
The Reset button returns settings to their defaults (if you have not yet clicked Apply).

Setting Placement Options

Set the following options-related to placing components in the drawing area-in a manner that suits the way you work:

Defining the Placement Mode for Schematic and Layout Representations

When you are working with both schematic and layout representations, you can select the simultaneous placement mode that works best for you. For schematic only design work, use the default option, Single Representation.

Displaying the Component Parameter Dialog Box by Default

When you place a component in the drawing area, you can change parameters using the on-screen editor. Alternatively, you can make changes through the Component Parameter dialog box. By default, in the Schematic window, the option that controls the automatic display of the component parameter dialog box is turned off. You can turn this option on if you want the dialog box to be displayed every time you select a component ( Options > Preferences > Placement ).

Setting a Default for Component Swapping

Setting Pin/Tee Options

You can change several options relating to pins/tees through Options > Preferences > Pin/Tee.

Setting Entry/Edit Options

This group of options allows you to control several aspects of shape entry and editing including the angle at which lines and wires are drawn, the resolution of arcs and circles, and how wires are routed relative to component text.

Note
Changes made to the settings in this dialog box exist only in memory unless you save them to a file. For details on saving to a file, see Saving and Reading Preference Files.

Setting Component Text/Wire Label Options (in Advance)

Component text is the text associated with components selected from a Library or Palette. This text appears automatically when you place the component in the drawing area and consists of a name, a unique ID, and parameters (where applicable).
There are two ways to change component text attributes:

You can specify the following display characteristics of component text: font, point size, maximum numbers of rows displayed in a single column, precision, and the layer on which each type of text is placed.

Setting Text Options (in Advance)

You can establish text attributes-prior to adding text to your design-that affect all subsequently added text. Establishing attributes in advance is done through the Options menu. Editing attributes of existing text is done through the Edit menu.

To establish text attributes:

  1. Choose Options > Preferences > Text and set the text attributes as desired.
    • Font Type -All TrueType fonts installed on your system are available. Select the desired font from the drop-down list. When printing to an HP-GL/2 file, text information will not be saved if the font is a TrueType font. To preserve the text in your output file, convert it to HersheyRomanNarrow before saving to HP-GL/2.
      Note
      On UNIX, if you want to add additional TrueType fonts that were not supplied with ADS, copy them to $HPEESOF_DIR/lib/fonts (where $HPEESOF_DIR represents your complete installation path).
    • Point -Represents the size of text in traditional units used in printing.
    • Justification, Horizontal -This setting represents two types of justification: one is how individual lines of text in a block of text are aligned with one another; the second is how an individual line of text or block of text is positioned horizontally, relative to the reference point you specified to begin typing the text.
    • Justification, Vertical -This setting aligns a string or block of text vertically, relative to the reference point you specified to begin typing the text.
    • Placement Angle -The angle at which all text subsequently added to your design will be drawn.
    • Non-rotating (when in hierarchy) -Select this option to prevent text on a symbol or design from being rotated when the symbol is rotated.
  2. Change any or all options as desired and click Apply (or OK if you are not changing any other preferences).

Setting Display Options

The Display tab enables you to change the Foreground, Background, and Highlight colors.

Setting Units/Scale Options

With the exception of the Resistance setting, the settings in the Units/Scale tab of the Preferences dialog box serve as defaults only in the following situations:

The Resistance setting can be changed to serve as a default for all resistors (subsequently) placed in this project.

Setting Tuning Options

The Tuning settings in the Preferences dialog box serve as defaults and can be changed during tuning in the Tune Control and Tune Control Details dialog boxes.

Select the Tune Analysis mode that you want to serve as the default:

Set the Tune State to the desired default:

Set the following Slider options to the desired defaults:

Saving and Reading Preference Files

When you create a project, the files schematic.prf (for schematics) and layout.prf (for layouts) are copied to the new project from the installation directory. By default, all designs in a given project use the preference file by this name. You can customize these preference files, as well as create additional preference files by other names.

You can save any number of files containing customized preferences. Whenever you open a design, the last preference file associated with it is automatically read.

Note
When you save a preference file, all the current settings found in the Preferences dialog box are also saved, with the following exception: Options that may be set differently within individual designs, such as text height, are not saved in the preference file.

To customize preferences while retaining the default filenames:

  1. Choose Options > Preferences.
  2. Change preferences as desired and click OK. The preference files with the default filenames are updated. Every design in the project will now use these preferences unless you explicitly associate a unique preference file with a given design.

To create customized preference files with unique filenames:

  1. Choose Options > Preferences.
  2. Change any desired settings and click Save. The Save Preference File dialog box appears displaying the default filename, schematic.prf.
  3. Enter a name of your choosing (the .prf extension is added automatically) and click OK.
Hint
If you have a design open when you create a customized preference file, that design will take on the preferences just saved when you click OK in the Preferences dialog box. However, this association is only in memory unless you save the design file.

To associate a previously saved preference file with a specific design:

  1. Open that design.
  2. Choose Options > Preferences and click Read. The Read Preference File dialog box appears.
  3. Select the desired preference file from the list of files, and click OK. (You can read in preference files from other project directories.)
  4. Save ( File > Save ) the design.
Hint
The variable that defines the search path for these files is PREFERENCES_PATH. For details refer to PREFERENCES_PATH.

Preference File Format and Descriptions

In a preference file, each preference must be on a separate line and must use the following format:
preference_name value

Preference Name Description
autoRepeatableCompPlcmnt Auto-repeatable component placement
0=Off
1=On
backgroundColor Color of background represented as an index into the
eecolorRGB.cfg. It can be any integer in the range of 0,
to the number of colors defined in eecolorRGB.cfg
backupCount Number of edits before auto-backup of design
bboxColor Color of bounding boxes below the hierarchical plotting
depth represented as an index into the eecolorRGB.cfg.
It can be any integer in the range of 0, to the number of
colors defined in eecolorRGB.cfg
checkBinding Wire/Trace check layer binding (Layout only)
0=Off
1=On
checkIntersection Polygon self-intersection checking
0=Off
1=On
coordEntryPopup Show Coordinate Entry dialog for Insert and Edit
commands
0=Off
1=On
currentColor Color of pin current represented as an index into the
eecolorRGB.cfg. It can be any integer in the range of 0,
to the number of colors defined in eecolorRGB.cfg
dispSubnetInstNames Display instance names of components in
subnetworks (Layout only)
0=Off
1=On
dragMove Drag and Move enabled
0=Off
1=On
dragMoveThresholdSize Drag and Move threshold size
dragMoveThresholdUnits Drag and Move threshold units
0=User units
1=Screen pixels
DSEartDistanceX Connecting wire length in X direction in layout units for
Generate/Update Layout
DSEartDistanceY Connecting wire length in Y direction in layout units for
Generate/Update Layout
dseFixAllComponents Default value for fixing all components in destination
Schematic or Layout
0=Off
1=On
DSEL2Sreport Show status report from Generate/Update Schematic
dsePrefLayoutLayer Entry layer name for Generate/Update Layout command
DSES2Lreport Show status report from Generate/Update Layout
DSEsymbDistanceX Connecting wire length in X direction in schematic units
for Generate/Update Schematic
DSEsymbDistanceY Connecting wire length in Y direction in schematic units
for Generate/Update Schematic
dualPlacement Control of simultaneous placement of components in
Layout and Schematic
0=Single representation
1=Dual representation
2=Always Design Synchronize
dveBinWidth Verification bin width
dveEpsilon Verification epsilon
dveFringe Verification fringe
dveRealMemory Verification memory in MB
dveSortMode Verification sort GEM layers
0=Off
1=On
dveStoragePerArea Verification memory storage per area in bytes
editInPlaceBoxColor Color of Edit In Place box represented as an index
into the eecolorRGB.cfg. It can be any integer in the
range of 0, to the number of colors defined in
eecolorRGB.cfg
entryMode Polygon entry mode
0=Any angle
1=45 degree angle only
2=90 degree angle only
fixedInstHighlightColor Color of fixed components represented as an index into
the eecolorRGB.cfg. It can be any integer in the range of
0, to the number of colors defined in eecolorRGB.cfg
forceSynchronize Delete equivalent components in destination
Schematic or Layout that have been deleted/deactivated
in source Schematic or Layout
foregroundColor Color of foreground represented as an index into the
eecolorRGB.cfg. It can be any integer in the range of 0,
to the number of colors defined in eecolorRGB.cfg
genericArtworkSize Generic artwork size for Generate/Update Layout
command (Layout only)
genericSizeUnits Generic artwork size units for Generate/Update Layout
command (Layout only)
globalArcResolution Resolution of arcs in degrees
gridColor Color of grid dots/lines represented as an index into the
eecolorRGB.cfg. It can be any integer in the range of 0,
to the number of colors defined in eecolorRGB.cfg
gridDisplayMode Grid display type
0=Dots
1=Lines
gridDisplayOn Snap grid display
0=Off
1=On
gridDisplaySameXY Automatically set Y=X when any X value is modified in
Preferences>Grid/Snap>Spacing dialog box
gridDisplayX Snap grid per display grid along X axis
gridDisplayY Snap grid per display grid along Y axis
gridSnapMode Bitwise value of items to be snapped to
1=Grid
2=Pin
4=Vertex
8=Edge
16=Midpoint
32=Arc center
64=Intersection
gridSnapOn Enable snap
0=Off
1=On
gridSnapX Snap grid distance along X axis in user units
gridSnapY Snap grid distance along Y axis in user units
highlightColor Color of highlighted objects represented as an index
into the eecolorRGB.cfg. It can be any integer in the
range of 0, to the number of colors defined in
eecolorRGB.cfg
instanceRotate Auto-rotate components being placed (only in layout)
0=Do not auto-rotate
1=Auto-rotate
instIDLayer Layer number used for component text instance name
(e.g. C1)
instNameLayer Layer number used for component text name (e.g. C)
instParam1Layer Layer number used for component text parameters
(Schematic only)
instTextDoeFormat Component text format for doe syntax
where
0=Full
1=Short
2=None
instTextFontName Component text placed in design will use the font given
here
instTextOptFormat Component text format for opt syntax
where
0=Full
1=Short
2=None
instTextPoint Component text size in points
instTextRows Number of rows of component text displayed in one
column
instTextStatFormat Component text format for stat syntax
where
0=Full
1=Short
2=None
instTextTuneFormat Component text format for tune syntax
where
0=Full
1=Short
2=None
layoutIncr Layout increment is a multiplier against the precision.
An increment of 2 and precision of -3 would make the
conversion factor .001*2 = .002. In practice, an
increment other than 1 is rarely used. Note: This
preference is not used when a design is opened.
layoutPrec Layout precision is an integer representing the
conversion of user units to data base units. It is the
power of 10 used to multiply against a data base unit to
get a user unit.
e.g., prec -3 = 10 -3 or .001 If db unit = 1000,
then 1000*.001=1 user unit
Note: This preference is not used when a design is
opened.
layoutUnits Layout unit
where
1=mil
2=in
3=um
4=mm
5=cm
6=meter
7=ft
Note: This preference is not used when a design is
opened.
maintainAngle Maintain adjacent angles for Move Edge command
0=Off
1=On
majorGridDisplayOn Major snap grid display (Layout only)
0=Off
1=On
majorGridDisplayX Minor grid per major display grid along X axis
(Layout only)
majorGridDisplayY Minor grid per major display grid along Y axis
(Layout only)
minPixelDisplaySize Minimum object size to display in pixels
minVertexDistance Final minimum vertex distance for Merge/Boolean
Logical/Create Clearance in Layout units (Layout only)
miterVertexLength Desired length of the mitered edge in user units
moveVertexKeepRect Drag rectangle vertex maintains rectangularity
0=Off
1=On
newRouteAroundInstSym Wire avoidance routing around component symbol
(Schematic only)
newRouteAroundInstText Wire avoidance routing around component text
(Schematic only)
nodeNameColor Color of node names represented as an index into the
eecolorRGB.cfg. It can be any integer in the range of 0,
to the number of colors defined in eecolorRGB.cfg
onscreenCoordMode On-screen coordinate display at cursor (Layout only)
0=None
1=Absolute
2=Relative
oversize Default value in user units which the oversize
command will use
oversizeMiter Cutoff angle for mitering corners. Any angle of a
polygon smaller than the specified cutoff angle is
mitered. The default cutoff angle is 45 degrees.
pathBend Bend type of paths and traces
where
1=Mitered
2=Square
3=Curved
pathMiterPercent Mitered corner cutoff ratio of mitered paths or traces
in percent
pathRadius Curve radius of curved paths or traces in user units
pathWidth Width of paths and traces in user units
pinColor Color of component pins represented as an index into
the eecolorRGB.cfg. It can be any integer in the range of
0, to the number of colors defined in eecolorRGB.cfg
pinSize Size of pins
pinSizeUnits 0=User units
1=Screen pixels
pinSnapSize Snap distance for all modes except grid
pinSnapUnits Snap distance units
0=User units
1=Screen pixels
placePopUp Show component parameter dialog box during
placement
placePopupOnZeroParm Show component parameter dialog box for
components without parameters during placement
plotDepthForLessThanMinPixels Maximum hierarchical depth at which to draw box for
objects smaller than minimum object size
plotLessThanMinPixels Display box for objects smaller than minimum object
size
plotPinNames Plot pin names next to component pins
0=Off
1=On
plotPinNumbers Plot pin numbers next to component pins
0=Off
1=On
plotPins Plot component pins
0=Off
1=On
plottingDepth Hierarchical plotting depth
portColor Color of Symbol pins represented as an index into the
eecolorRGB.cfg. It can be any integer in the range of 0,
to the number of colors defined in eecolorRGB.cfg
portOrientation Default value of Symbol Pin angle
portSize Port/Ground size (Layout only)
portSizeUnits Port/Ground size units (Layout only)
0=User units
1=Screen pixels
rerouteTraces Reroute entire trace attached to moved component
(Layout only)
0=Off
1=On
rerouteWires Reroute entire wire attached to moved component
0=Off
1=On
rotationIncrement Rotation increment in degrees
scaleX Default value of scale command in X direction
scaleY Default value of scale command in Y direction
schemIncr Schematic increment is a multiplier against the
precision. An increment of 2 and precision of -3 would
make the conversion factor .001*2 = .002. In practice,
an increment other than 1 is rarely used. Note: This
preference is not used when a design is opened.
schemPrec Schematic precision is an integer representing the
conversion of user units to data base units. It is the
power of 10 used to multiply against a data base unit to
get a user unit.
e.g., prec -3 = 10 -3 or .001 If db unit = 1000,
then 1000*.001=1 user unit
Note: This preference is not used when a design is
opened.
schemUnits Schematic unit
where
1=mil
2=in
3=um
4=mm
5=cm
6=meter
7=ft
Note: This preference is not used when a design is opened.
selectBoxSize Size of cursor select pick box
selectBoxUnits 0=User units
1=Screen pixels
selectColor Color of selected objects represented as an index into
the eecolorRGB.cfg. It can be any integer in the range of
0, to the number of colors defined in eecolorRGB.cfg
selectFilter Bitwise value of selectable items
0=None
1=Components
2=Wires
4=Polygons
8=Polylines
16=Paths
32=Text
64=Arcs
128=Circles
256=Port Components
512=Drawing Formats
1024=Vertices
8192=Traces
selectMode Select mode for polygons
0=By edge
1=Inside
selectPointSize Size of selected vertex
selectPointUnits 0=User units
1=Screen pixels
setPasteOriginPopup Show Set Paste Origin dialog for Copy command
0=Off
1=On
showConnectedLay Show Connected Components in Layout
0=Off
1=On
showConnectedSchem Show Connected Components in Schematic
0=Off
1=On
showFixedLay Show Fixed Components in Layout
0=Off
1=On
showFixedSchem Show Fixed Components in Schematic
0=Off
1=On
stepRepeatConnect Automatically connect the pins of Step And Repeat
items with one another
0=Off
1=On
stepRepeatNumCols Number of columns for Step And Repeat command
stepRepeatNumRows Number of rows for Step And Repeat command
stepRepeatXspace X spacing between columns in user units for Step and
Repeat command
stepRepeatYspace Y spacing between rows in user units for Step and
Repeat command
swapKeepInstName Default value for keeping the original instance name for
Swap Components command
0=Off
1=On
tapLength Length of tee element for Tap Transmission Line
command in user units
teeColor Color of tees represented as an index into the
eecolorRGB.cfg. It can be any integer in the range of 0,
to the number of colors defined in eecolorRGB.cfg
teeSize Size of tees
teeSizeUnits 0=User units
1=Screen pixels
textAbsolute 0=text will rotate when in hierarchy
1=text will not rotate when in hierarchy
textAngle Angle of text placed in design in degrees
textFontName Text placed in design will use the font given here
textJustification Justification for text placed in design
9=Left Bottom (default)
10=Left Middle
12=Left Top
17=Center Bottom
18=Center Middle
20=Center Top
33=Right Bottom
34=Right Middle
36=Right Top
textOrigin Display text origin marker (Layout only)
0=Off
1=On
textPoint Text size in points
toArcRadius Radius of arc in user units for Vertex to Arc command
traceSimMode Type to convert trace to
0=Transmission line elements
1=Single Transmission line elements
2=Nodal Connection (short)
traceTech Element set used during trace conversion
0=Microstrip
1=Strip line
2=Printed circuit board
traceTraverse Insert Tee and Cross components during trace
conversion
0=Off
1=On
tuneRange Tune dialog slider range as a percentage plus or
minus of the value (Schematic only)
tuneScale Tune dialog slider scaling
0=Linear
1=Logarithmic
tuneSimMode Tune analysis mode (Schematic only)
0=Single-after each change
1=Multiple-after one or more changes
2=Continuous-while slider is moving
tuneSnap Tune dialog slider snap to step
0=Off
1=On
tuneStepSize Tune dialog slider step size as a percentage of the value
(Schematic only)
undoEditCount Maximum number of commands held in the undo stack
unitsAng Default scale factor for angle parameters
0=deg
1=rad
unitsCap Default scale factor for capacitance parameters
0=fF
1=pF
2=nF
3=uF
4=mF
5=F
unitsCond Default scale factor for conductance parameters
0=pS
1=nS
2=uS
3=mS
4=S
unitsCur Default scale factor for current parameters
0=fA
1=pA
2=nA
3=uA
4=mA
5=A
6=kA
unitsDist Default scale factor for distance parameters
0=meter
1=km
2=ft
3=mi
4=nmi
unitsFreq Default scale factor for frequency parameters
0=Hz
1=kHz
2=MHz
3=GHz
4=THz
unitsInd Default scale factor for inductance parameters
0=fH
1=pH
2=nH
3=uH
4=mH
5=H
unitsLng Default scale factor for length parameters
0=um
1=mm
2=cm
3=meter
4=mil
5=in
6=ft
unitsPower Default scale factor for power parameters
0=pW
1=nW
2=uW
3=mW
4=W
5=kW
6=dBm
7=dBW
unitsRes Default scale factor for resistance parameters
0=mOhm
1=Ohm
2=kOhm
3=MOhm
4=GOhm
5=TOhm
unitsTime Default scale factor for time parameters
0=fsec
1=psec
2=nsec
3=usec
4=msec
5=sec
unitsVolt Default scale factor for voltage parameters
0=fV
1=pV
2=nV
3=uV
4=mV
5=V
6=kV
voltageColor Color of node voltage represented as an index into the
eecolorRGB.cfg. It can be any integer in the range of 0,
to the number of colors defined in eecolorRGB.cfg
windowLLX Default X coordinate of lower left corner of design
area in user units
windowLLY Default Y coordinate of lower left corner of design
area in user units
windowURX Default X coordinate of upper right corner of design
area in user units
windowURY Default Y coordinate of upper right corner of design
area in user units
wireLabelColor Color of wire labels represented as an index into the
eecolorRGB.cfg. It can be any integer in the range of 0,
to the number of colors defined in eecolorRGB.cfg
wireLabelFontName Wire label will use the font given here
wireLabelPoint Wire label size in points

Specifying Layer Definitions

All shapes and text are entered on layers. By placing various groups of items on different layers, each of which may be assigned different characteristics, you can customize and easily alter the overall visual effect of the design in the viewing area. To access the Layer Editor, select Edit from the Layers window or select Options > Layers. The Layer Editor enables you to:

Note
The layer number-not the name-is the common identifier used in both the design file and the layer file, and should not be changed.

The order in which layers are plotted is determined differently in the Schematic window than it is in the Layout window.

The following figure shows the list of default defined layers. These are the default layers in the Schematic window; for details on layers in the Layout window, refer to Defining Layers.

Important
Be sure to use compatible layer definitions for related designs, especially designs that are related hierarchically.

To move a layer within the layer list:

  1. Click once to highlight the layer ID or Name.
  2. Click Cut. The name and number disappear from the list.
  3. Highlight the layer you want to paste the cut layer above, click Paste and click Apply.

To delete a layer:

Note
Do not delete the supplied, default layer definitions; the ability to delete is provided to enable you to redefine layer definitions you have created. Deleting supplied layer definitions will degrade the appearance of your schematic, as parts whose layer has been deleted will now be drawn on the default layer.
  1. Click once to highlight the layer ID or Name.
  2. Click Cut. The name and number are deleted from the list, and that number is now available for a new layer. (Hint: If you change your mind, use Paste to add the layer back.)

To change a layer's name:

  1. Click in the Name field and change the name as desired.
  2. Click Apply.

To add a layer:

  1. Click New from the group of buttons labeled Layer.

    The layer list scrolls to the bottom and a new layer is added. The layer number is the next available, sequential number, and a default name appears that includes the layer number.
  2. Rename the layer as desired and click Apply.

Setting Colors and Fill Patterns

The Color/Pattern columns of the Layer Editor dialog box enable you to choose colors and fill patterns of items, on a layer-by-layer basis.

To change color and/or pattern settings for any given layer:

  1. Click to access the available colors or patterns (PC-click the arrow for the drop-down list; UNIX-click the color bar itself) from the color or pattern box of the layer you want to modify.
  2. Click the desired color or pattern (UNIX-click OK ).
  3. The new color is displayed in the Layer Editor dialog box. To see the change in the drawing area, click Apply.
Note
When choosing Fill Patterns, keep in mind that the patterns produced by a Postscript printer are Postscript fill patterns and will vary somewhat from those on your screen.

Setting Shape Display Characteristics Layer-by-Layer

All shapes are drawn with one of the following display types:

The following illustration shows the shape display Both, where you see both the fill pattern and the outline.

The Shape Display drop-down list for each layer enables you to choose the shape display of items, on a layer-by-layer basis.

Hint
For details on changing the shape display globally for all layers, refer to Setting Layer Characteristics Globally.

Setting Line Style Characteristics Layer-by-Layer

When you include the Outline of shapes as part of Shape Display on ay given layer, you can also choose a line style for that outline. Click to select a different line style from the drop-down list.

Hint
For details on changing the line style globally for all layers, refer to Setting Layer Characteristics Globally.

Setting the Visibility of Items Layer-by-Layer

The Vis (visible) column enables you to turn on and off the display of items on any given layer. For example, if you want to print or plot your schematic without component annotation, you could make the labels, identifiers, and parameters layers invisible. By default, all layers are visible.

Hint
For details on changing the visibility globally for all layers, refer to Setting Layer Characteristics Globally.

Setting the Selection Status of Items Layer-by-Layer

If you need to edit certain types of items (that reside on a given layer) and not others (that reside on other layers), and the selection filters do not meet your needs, you can prevent items from being selected by disabling the Sel (select) option for any layers as needed.

When you disable the select status for any given layer, items on that layer will not be selected as you edit your design.

Hint
For details on changing the shape display globally for all layers, refer to Setting Layer Characteristics Globally.

Setting Layer Characteristics Globally

This section of the Layer Editor dialog box enables you to change the Selection, Visibility, Shape Display, and Line Style status of all layers at once. For example, if you want to prevent selection on all layers except one or two of them, use Select None, then select the individual layers you want access to, and turn on the Select status for those layers.

Miscellaneous Layer Editor Features

Saving and Reading Layer Files

The default layer definitions are contained in the files schematic.lay (for schematics) and layout.lay (for layouts). These files are read automatically-from the installation directory-every time you open a design, unless you have explicitly associated another layer file with that design. To associate a customized layer file with a specific design, open the design, read the customized layer file, and save the design. Whenever you open a design, the last layer file associated with it is automatically read.

You can create any number of files containing customized layer definitions, and subsequently read in any of these files for any design.

To save customized layer files:

  1. Make all the desired changes in the Layer Editor dialog box and click Save. The Save Layer File dialog box appears, displaying the default filename, schematic.lay.
  2. To use the default filename for the current settings, click OK.
    For another layer file, enter a name of your choosing (the .lay extension is added automatically) and click OK.

To read in a previously saved layer file:

  1. Click Read from the Layer Editor dialog box. The Read Layer File dialog box appears.
  2. Select the desired file from the list of files, and click OK. (You can read in layer files from other project directories.)
Hint
The variable that defines the search path for these files is LAYERS_PATH.

Changing the Current Entry Layer

To change layers:

  1. Choose Insert > Entry Layer and the Layers window appears listing all the currently defined layers.
  2. Click a layer that is appropriate for the task at hand.
  3. Click OK. Anything you draw now is drawn on this layer. The name of the layer is displayed in the status panel of the Schematic window. See Using the Layers Window for more information.

Customizing Keyboard Shortcuts

You can redefine default keyboard shortcuts as well as create new ones. These shortcuts are maintained individually for the different ADS windows.

To change or add a keyboard shortcut:

  1. Choose Tools > Hot Key/Toolbar Configuration and click the Hot Key tab in the dialog box that appears.
  2. Select the menu name or menu/command sequence from the Category list box.
  3. Select the command from the Item list box. If a shortcut currently exists for the item, the current assignment is displayed.
  4. Select the modifier key(s)-Ctrl, Alt, Shift-and type the letter(s) you want to use in the Key field (UNIX is case-sensitive; the PC is not). If the combination you choose is currently assigned to another command sequence, you are warned and given the choice to proceed or to select another key sequence.
    Note
    If you use Alt as the modifier key, and a letter that is already assigned as an accelerator for a menu (see the underscored letters on the menu bar), the menu accelerator is replaced by your custom shortcut (with no warning).
  5. To replace the assignment with your own choice, continue, otherwise choose a new key combination and click Apply. When you are through making all keyboard changes, click OK to dismiss the dialog box.

Configuring Toolbars

By default, the toolbar in each design window contains:

You can reconfigure these default toolbars and create your own to better meet your design needs ( Tools > Hot Key/Toolbar Configuration ).

Customizing an Existing Toolbar

To reconfigure an existing toolbar:

  1. Choose Tools > Hot Key/Toolbar Configuration and click the Toolbar tab in the dialog box that appears.
  2. In the Toolbar Group list box, select the name of the toolbar you want to change.
  3. To display the selected toolbar, select the Display Toolbar check box. Unselecting the Display Toolbar check box will hide the toolbar.
  4. To change the display order, click the Up or Down buttons to move the selected toolbar.
  5. To add or delete icons, use one of the following methods:
    • To delete an icon from the toolbar, select the associated command in the Tool Item list box, and click the Cut button.
    • To add an icon to the toolbar, select the appropriate menu/command sequence from the Menu Category list box, select the command from the Menu Item list box, and click the Add button. The command is added to the Tool Item list box.
      Hint
      When you add a button to the toolbar, its position relative to the other buttons is determined by its position in the Tool Item list box. Before you click the Add button, be sure to highlight the command that the new command should follow. In this example, Zoom In Point was highlighted before the Add button was clicked so that Redraw View would take the place of Pan View (deleted in the previous example).
  6. If you want to edit another toolbar, click Apply to effect these changes and begin the process again. When you are through making changes to the toolbars, click OK.

Creating a New Toolbar

To create a custom toolbar:

  1. Choose Tools > Hot Key/Toolbar Configuration and click the Toolbar tab in the dialog box that appears.
    Hint
    The position of the new toolbar, relative to the position of any existing toolbars, is determined by its position in the Toolbar Group list box; the new name is added below the name that is highlighted when you click the Add button. For example, if you keep both default toolbars and want to add a third one below them, highlight the bottom one before you click the Add button.
  2. Supply a name in the Toolbar Name field and click Add.

    The name you supply is added to the Toolbar Group list box.
  3. Select the desired Menu Category, select the desired Menu Item and click Add. The command name is added to the Tool Item list box.
  4. When you are through making changes to this toolbar, click Apply to effect the changes.
  5. When you are through making changes to all toolbars, click OK.

Creating a Custom Component Palette

Creating a custom component palette can speed up the design creation process by grouping frequently used items in one or more palettes.

To create a custom palette:

  1. Choose Tools > Component Palette Configuration to display the Create Component Palette dialog box.
    Hint
    By default, the components currently listed in Component History are listed for inclusion in the new palette. If this list does not represent a significant number of components you want to include on the new palette, use the Clear Component History command (View > Component > Clear Component History) to avoid individually selecting and cutting components from the custom list.
  2. Cut any components from the New Palette Group Components list box, as necessary.
  3. Select a palette, from the List of Palette Groups, that contains components you want in the custom palette.
  4. Select the desired component, from the Palette Group Components list box, and click Add.
  5. Repeat as needed to include additional components from any palette.
  6. Provide a name for the new palette in the New Palette Group Description field then click OK. This is the name that will appear in the drop-down Palette List enabling you to place the custom group on the palette.

Customizing a Component

Custom component palettes are defined by the de_define_palette_group() function in the userpalette.ael file located in your $HOME\hpeesof\de\ael directory.

To customize a component in the palette, for example to change the name of a component label, edit the userpalette.ael file. Refer to the de_define_palette_group function.

Adding Custom Symbols

To add your own custom symbols to a custom component palette:

  1. Create a directory named bitmaps under the $HOME\hpeesof\circuit directory.
  2. Create a bitmap image of the symbol and save it as BMP_ SymbolName .bmp in the bitmaps directory, where SymbolName is the unique name of your symbol.
  3. Edit the userpalette.ael file. Refer to the de_define_palette_group function.

Deleting Custom Component Palettes

You can either delete all or individual custom component palettes.

Turning On/Off the Coordinate Readout Display

There are two types of coordinate readouts, positional and differential.

The X,Y coordinate readouts are displayed in the status bar of each window. By default, Positional readouts are turned on in every window.

You can turn the coordinate readout on or off from the View menu.

 

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