Constraint Browser: Component/Parts Section, Components Tab

This topic describes the Components tab in the Constraint Browser, Component/Parts section, in eCADSTAR PCB Editor and eCADSTAR PCB Viewer. This tab is not available in Constraint Browser for eCADSTAR Schematic Editor.

• In eCADSTAR PCB Editor, launch Constraint Browser by clicking Design > Design Rules > Constraint Browser or Home > Design Rules > Constraint Browser on the ribbon.
• In eCADSTAR PCB Viewer, launch Constraint Viewer by clicking Home > Design Rules > Constraint Viewer on the ribbon.

The following tabs are displayed in the pane on the right.

Basic

Detail

Analysis

Components Tab

The Components tab, in the Component/Parts section, allows you to define the components that are displayed in the Components tree by displaying or hiding types of component, and then further filtering the displayed items using the Filter box. The items that you select in the tree are displayed in the Components table, and can be further filtered using the View list and by clicking <Filter> in each column. Columns that are colored gray cannot be edited.

Components Tree

Displays the specified types of component. You can filter the components that are displayed in this section before selecting the items that are added to the Components table. Select multiple components using the CTRL or Shift keys.

Item	Description
Show/Hide resistors	Displays or hides resistors in the tree.
Show/Hide capacitors	Displays or hides capacitors in the tree.
Show/Hide inductors	Displays or hides inductors in the tree.
Show/Hide diodes	Displays or hides diodes in the tree.
Show/Hide all other items	Displays or hides all other components in the tree.
Filter box	Allows you to display components whose name partially matches the text string that you enter.
Select all items	All items that are currently shown in the tree are displayed in the Components table.
Pin search	For a selected component, enter a pin number and press Return. The specified pin is shown in the Selected column in the Basic tab.

View Settings

Allows you to select the items that are shown in the Components table by filtering the contents of the Components tree.

Item		Description
View list		Define the items that are shown in the Components table by selecting a value from the View list. The contents of the Components tree are filtered using the selected value.
	Selected	Only items that are currently selected in the Components tree are displayed in the Components table. If you click Select all items in the Components tree, all currently-displayed items in the tree are shown in the Components table. To display, in the Parts table, all items in the tree: Select all items in the tree using the CTRL or Shift keys. Right-click in the tree and select Expand All Child Items. Click Select all items.
	Component	For the items selected in the tree, the contents of the Components table are filtered to only display Components.
	Pin	For the items selected in the tree, the contents of the Components table are filtered to only display Pins.

Basic Tab

Displays the component values for the items selected in the Components tree. Values are displayed for each item in the Selected column. These items can be filtered by clicking <Filter> in each column. Columns that are colored gray cannot be edited.

Item		Description
Component		The component that you select in the Components tree. This column is in each tab in the Components table.
Selected		For each selected item in the Components tree, the associated type of item is displayed that is specified in the View list. This column is displayed in each tab in the Components table.
Color		Allows you to specify the display color of the component area that is associated with the component selected in the Components tree. Specify a color in the Select color dialog and click OK. This dialog is displayed by pointing the cursor at the Color column, and then clicking the displayed button. In 3D View mode, the component is displayed in the color that you specify. Note In order to view your changes, the relevant component area layer must be displayed using the Layer Settings Panel.
Part		The part name associated with the item that is displayed in the Selected column.
Pin Count		Displays the number of pins on the item displayed in the Selected column.
Value		Displays attributes for a selected component.
Pin Name		If you select a pin in the Components tree, then the pin name is displayed.
Pin Type		If you select a pin in the Components tree, then the pin direction is displayed.
	INPUT	Indicates that the selected pin is in the input direction.
	OUTPUT	Indicates that the selected pin is in the output direction.
	BIDIRECT	Indicates that the selected pin is bidirectional.
	POWER	Indicates that the selected pin is a power connection.
	GROUND	Indicates that the selected pin is a ground connection.
	NC	Indicates that the selected pin is not connected.
Net		If you select a pin in the Components tree, then the net is displayed that is associated with it on a component.
Comment		Displays the comment that is displayed in the Properties Panel for the selected item.

Detail Tab

Displays details for items that are selected in the Components tree. Values are displayed for each item in the Selected column. You can filter the items that are displayed in this table as follows.

• If <Filter> is displayed below the column header, then type a value in this cell. The contents of the column are filtered using the specified value.
• If a drop-down list is displayed below the column header when you point the cursor at this cell, then select a value from the drop-down list. The contents of the column are filtered using the selected value.
• In the Permitted Placement Angle column, click the relevant check box to specify the following settings:

• : the contents of the column are filtered to show only items that are not selected.
• : the contents of the column are filtered to show only items that are selected.
• : the contents of the column are filtered to show items that are selected, and items that are not selected.

Item		Description
Component		Displays the component that is selected in the Components tree.
Selected		Displays the selected item that is associated with a component in the Components tree.
Part		The part name associated with the component that is displayed in the Selected column.
Device Type		Displays whether the part associated with a selected component is either active or passive.
	Active	The part is an active device.  Active devices require power for current to flow.
	Passive	The part is a passive device. Passive devices do not require power for current to flow. Examples of passive components are capacitors, resistors, inductors and diodes.
Passive Type		For a selected passive component, the component type is displayed.
	Capacitor	The selected passive component is a capacitor.
	Resistor	The selected passive component is a resistor.
	Inductor	The selected passive component is an inductor.
	Diode	The selected passive component is a diode.
	Other Passive	A passive type that has at least two nodes, and may contain a more or less complex inner circuitry.
	None	Passive series pins in the selected passive component are not considered.
Placement Group Name		For the selected item, specify the placement group by typing it in this box. See Placing Proximity Components.
Permitted Placement Side		For a selected component, specify its permitted placement side.
	Both	Specifies that the component can be placed on either side of the board.
	Side A	Specifies that the component can only be placed on side A.
	Side B	Specifies that the component can only be placed on side B.
Permitted Placement Angle		For a selected component, specify the permitted angles at which it can be placed. Multiple angles can be specified for a selected item. If none of the options are selected for a particular row, then the associated component can be placed at any angle. The following angles can be selected. 0 45 90 135 180 225 270 315

Analysis Tab

The Analysis tab allows you to configure the simulation library for a PCB design.

Item		Description
Component		Displays the component that is selected in the Components tree.
Selected		Displays the selected item that is associated with a component in the Components tree.
Part		The part name associated with the component displayed in the Selected column.
Pin Count		Displays the number of pins on the item displayed in the Selected column.
Value		Displays attributes for a selected component.
Passive Type		For a selected passive component, the component type is displayed.
	Capacitor	The selected passive component is a capacitor.
	Resistor	The selected passive component is a resistor.
	Inductor	The selected passive component is an inductor.
	Diode	The selected passive component is a diode.
	Other Passive	The selected passive component is an N-port.
	None	Passive series pins in the selected passive component are not considered.
Device Name		The name of the device associated with the assigned model.
Vendor		The name of the vendor associated with the assigned model.
Nominated Driver		Allows you to specify that a component or pin is a driver by selecting the associated check box.
Pin Name		The name associated with each pin on the component.
Model Name		Displays the pin buffer model that is assigned to the relevant pin. This value is added when you create a new PCB design. It is also added to the Analysis tab in the Constraint Browser: Signals section, Signals Tab. To ensure that the displayed information is current, perform a Simulation Library Reload. This is required if you: add, delete or modify the Device Name value. modify the pin model that is assigned to a device in Simulation Library Manager. This can be done by re-importing a device with different pin model assignments. Note If there are any failed pin assignments, these are listed when you execute the Simulation Library Reload command after selecting a model for the first time.
Model Type		Displays the type of pin buffer model that is assigned to the relevant pin. This value is added when you create a new PCB design. It is also added to the Analysis tab in the Constraint Browser: Signals section, Signals Tab. To ensure that the displayed information is current, perform a Simulation Library Reload. This is required if you: add, delete or modify the Device Name value. modify the pin model that is assigned to a device in Simulation Library Manager. This can be done by re-importing a device with different pin model assignments. Note If there are any failed pin assignments, these are listed when you execute the Simulation Library Reload command after selecting a model for the first time.

 

Item	Description
(Always send selection)	The object you select in a Constraint Browser is selected on the Canvas in both the eCADSTAR PCB Editor and eCADSTAR Schematic Editor and in any instance of Constraint Browser.
Toggle Coupling Analysis	If toggled on, then signals that meet the criteria for being coupled are extracted when you extract a scenario in Constraint Browser. During simulation, this allows you to see the effects of them being in close proximity. Specify coupling criteria in the Extraction Options dialog.
Message	Displays messages that are relevant to the changes that you make in Constraint Browser.
Units	In Constraint Browser for eCADSTAR PCB Editor, the measurement units and delay units are displayed that you specify. Set these in eCADSTAR PCB Editor as follows. On the Status bar, select the required measurement units in the Units box.