|
|
|
|
How to make multi-sheet schematics (SuperCAD) How to make multi-sheet schematics (SuperCAD) You can produce schematics that have two or more sheets by several methods:If you have SuperCAD V3.1 or 4.0: Method #1--Use a naming convention: In this method you tie together two or more schematics by a naming convention. Choose a name---for example, DESIGN. Then after you draw a schematic, name it with this name plus a page number suffix. The page number suffix consists of the letter "P", followed by the page number. The sheets must be numbered in sequence. The page number can range between 1 and 99. If you have a circuit design on three schematic sheets, whose root name is DESIGN, then the three schematic sheet files can be named DESIGNP1.PIC, DESIGNP2.PIC, and DESIGNP3.PIC. If you have a single sheet schematic, you do not need the "P" designator in the schematic name; e.g., XYZ.PIC is a valid schematic file name. Method #2--Assign the schematics to a project (SuperCAD+): In this method, you first draw the schematics using any valid name (for example, PROCESSOR, KEYBOARD, and POWER). Then click on NEW PROJECT in the FILE menu. Enter a project name in the file box. In the resulting dialog box, select each schematic from the file list and click the ADD button to add it to the project. Click on the CLOSE button to complete the assignments. If you have SuperCAD 5,6 or 7: You can use the project toolbar to create a project with multiple sheets, see even more tips. How to mark signals (mentalSPICE) You can mark signals (nets) by using an asterisk (*) suffix with the signal name. For example, on a schematic with a SPICE simulation circuit (where all the signal names are numbers), 1* and 2* represent the names of marked signals. A node or net that has a marked signal will be displayed in the scope window after a simulation run. Unmarked signals are not displayed after the run. You can use the MARK operation in the DISPLAY menu to add or remove the asterisk on circuit nodes that are already named. To do this, first click on MARK in the menu. Then click over the signal name (e.g.: "12") or names on the schematic. If a signal was not marked previously, then an asterisk is added; otherwise it is removed. How to view pin numbers of resistors and capacitors (SuperCAD) To view pin numbers for parts like resistors and capacitors (with hidden pins) go to the SETUP menu and click on LIBRARY parts. In the resulting dialog box check the SHOW button in the HIDDEN PINS item.How to add desktop icons (SuperCAD, SuperPCB) If you are using Windows 95, you can place a program icon on the desktop screen for easy access. For SuperCAD, for example, use the file manager (click on the My Computer icon) to open and view the SuperCAD folder. Then select the SuperCAD icon in the folder (the light bulb). Drag it out of the file display window to the screen area while holding down the right mouse button. Release the button; a menu will show up near the icon and the cursor. Click on "Create Shortcut(s) Here". This will place the icon on the screen. How to select all the traces in a net (SuperPCB) To select all the traces in a net, first click on "traces only" in the EDITING part of the SETUP menu. You can also enter "shift N" on the keyboard. Then click on any trace belonging to the net. All traces in the net will then be highlighted, and the pins in the net will be displayed in the dialog line. How to start a new library (SuperCAD or SuperPCB) To start a new library, first draw the part. Then click on FORMAT in the FILE menu. When the Save Library Part dialog shows up, just enter the name you want in the library field and the name of the (first) part in the part field. Then click on Save Part. This will create a new library with one part. How to add a vendor-supplied model (mentalSPICE) IC manufacturers---such as TI, Motorola, and National---supply SPICE models that can be used with mentalSPICE with minor modification. Frequently opamp models are provided in a standard 5-pin model format which just needs to be adapted to the actual IC pinout. For example, The TL022 opamp from TI needs the following header added: .SUBCKT TL022 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 This header is added just prior to the original .SUBCKT statement for the TL022 (which is renamed as "TL022C"). Since the TL022 has two identical opamps in a 8-pin DIP, there are two statements, X1 and X2 for each of these. You also need to add an extra ."ends" statement at the end of the model text. How to measure relative distance (SuperPCB) To measure the relative x and y displacement from a given position on a circuit board (within the view window), position the cursor at the position and push the "o" (for origin) key. Then move the cursor to another point whose displacement you want to measure. The displacement is then viewed on the status display at the bottom of the SuperPCB window. If you have Version 6 or 7 of SuperPCB, use the measuring tool (click on the red ruler button or enter "d" on the keyboard---then draw the measuring line; the distance is shown on the status line) How to print shaded schematics (SuperCAD). To print more attractive schematics with shaded parts on a black and white printer, such as a LaserJet, turn parts shading on. This is done in the GENERAL dialog in the SETUP menu. Set MONO as the color scheme. Then print in color mode How to make reference designators read right-side up (SuperCAD or SuperPCB). If you rotate a part the designator will rotate with the part. To make the designator read horizontally, double click the part so you get the EDIT PART dialog; check the FIX control and then click on the OK button. How to print to a file (just about any windows program). Sometimes you find yourself with a computer with no printer, or the wrong kind of printer. You can print to a file and then transfer the file to another computer. To print at this computer use the DOS command: copy filename prn. To print to the file, choose file output in the Windows settings for the printer. In Windows 95, go to SETTINGS and click on PRINTERS. Select the printer and the select PROPERTIES. Choose the DETAILS tab and select file output in the Print to the following port item. How to speed up drawing (SuperPCB) If you do not need to view pin numbers, you can speed up the re-draw time of SuperPCB screens by disabling the pin number display. To disable the pin number display (or enable it) click on the General menuitem of the Setup menu. How to view the power pins (SuperCAD) All parts in SuperCAD that have a "U" type designator have hidden power pins. This includes the TTL and CMOS parts, as well as parts like op amps. One way to view the pins of parts already on a schematic is to double click on the part. This will bring up the Edit Part dialog. Click on the EXPAND button; this will load the part drawing. On the drawing the text statements "v=n" and "g=n2" specify the +5 and ground power pins respectively. For example, for a 7474 part, the statements would be "v=14" and "g=7". (Note: starting in SuperCAD 3.1 you can also turn on the power-pins display by going to the GENERAL setup dialog under the DISPLAY tab and clicking the power pins display check box). How
to assign a package part to a symbol
(SuperCAD). You can use two methods: %package=TO220V If there is no library name specified in the %package statement, then the SuperPCB library is STANDARD.CAT (as in this case). For the battery symbol in SuperCAD, the statement is: %package=MISC/BATTERY where the SuperPCB library is MISC.CAT. SIPS\156SIP3J M J You can edit PACKAGES.INF by going to the UTILITIES menu of SuperPCB and clicking on EDIT PACKAGES.INF. Note: if
you have SuperCAD V5 or greater, the package is assigned in the part editor and
the PACKAGES.INF file is not required. How to position text for net names (SuperCAD) In SuperCAD nets are named by placing text on lines (wires) in the given net. To place text on a line, enter text mode and then click on the line. Type the signal name. The diagram immediately below shows the correct positioning. Examples of incorrect positioning are also shown. To name a net, you should be in snap to grid mode (the default). Several examples of incorrect positioning: (the dot at the lower left corner of the text is the text origin---which appears if you click the text origin button in the tool bar)
How to connect pads to the
power planes
|
Send mail to
mentala@mentala.com with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
(below
line)
(middle of line)