Using Workspaces

Workspaces allow you to save the settings and options in eCADSTAR as a workspace file which can be reused and shared between users. This allows you to easily recreate an eCADSTAR environment, and switch to another environment, when required. For all users, it provides an easy way to create multiple environments and share them with other users.

You can open workspace files in all eCADSTAR applications. This includes eCADSTAR Library Editor, eCADSTAR Schematic Editor, eCADSTAR PCB Editor, eCADSTAR PCB Viewer and eCADSTAR Schematic Viewer. When using a workspace, any changes in the following areas are synchronized immediately for all applications using the workspace. Save these changes to the workspace file by clicking Save or Save As on the ribbon.

• The Product Settings dialog, except the License Settings section.
• The Application Settings dialog in eCADSTAR Library Editor, eCADSTAR Schematic Editor, eCADSTAR PCB Editor, eCADSTAR PCB Viewer and eCADSTAR Schematic Viewer.
• The Library path.
• Custom Ribbons.
• Custom Hotkeys.
• Custom settings in the Quick Access Toolbar Settings dialog.
• Recently-accessed files and directories.
• The size and position of windows.

Opening a Workspace

You can open a workspace in eCADSTAR as follows.

1. In any eCADSTAR application, select a workspace file using one of the following methods.
2. Click File > Workspace > Open on the ribbon.
3. On the Start Page in any eCADSTAR application, click Home > Workspace > Open on the ribbon.
4. If you have recently opened a workspace, then click a workspace file in the RECENT WORKSPACES section on the Start Page.

2. In the displayed Open dialog, browse to a .ecw workspace file. These are created in eCADSTAR by clicking File > Workspace > Save or File > Workspace > Save As on the ribbon.
3. Select the required workspace file and click Open in the Open dialog.
4. A new instance of the eCADSTAR application is launched using the specified workspace, and the Start Page is displayed.
5. On the eCADSTAR application title bar, the value {[workspace name]} is added before [Start Page]. This is illustrated below for eCADSTAR PCB Editor.

 

 

Closing a Workspace

To close a workspace, you must close the current instance of the relevant eCADSTAR application. A Warning dialog is displayed, which prompts you to save any unsaved changes.

Saving the Current Environment as a Workspace

You can save the current environment as a workspace using the Save As command. The workspace file can then be opened by any eCADSTAR application. The Save As command is available regardless of whether you are using a workspace. This procedure is described below.

1. In any eCADSTAR application, click File > Workspace > Save As on the ribbon. Alternatively, on the Start Page in any eCADSTAR application, click Home > Workspace > Save As on the ribbon. The Save As dialog is displayed.
2. In the Save As dialog, specify the name and location of a workspace file, and click Save.
3. A .ecw file is created at the specified location.
4. A new instance of the eCADSTAR application is launched using the specified workspace, and the Start Page is displayed.
5. The settings in the following areas of the application are saved to the workspace file:

• The Product Settings dialog, except the License Settings section.
• The Application Settings dialog in eCADSTAR Library Editor, eCADSTAR Schematic Editor, eCADSTAR PCB Editor, eCADSTAR PCB Viewer and eCADSTAR Schematic Viewer.
• The Library path.
• Custom Ribbons.
• Custom Hotkeys.
• Custom settings in the Quick Access Toolbar Settings dialog.
• Recently-accessed files and directories.
• The size and position of windows.

Saving a Workspace

When using a workspace, you can save changes to the current workspace file using the Save command. In any eCADSTAR application, click File > Workspace > Save on the ribbon. Alternatively, on the Start Page in any eCADSTAR application, click Home > Workspace > Save on the ribbon. The settings in the following areas of the application are saved to the workspace file:

• The Product Settings dialog, except the settings in the License Settings section.
• The Application Settings dialog in eCADSTAR Library Editor, eCADSTAR Schematic Editor, eCADSTAR PCB Editor, eCADSTAR PCB Viewer and eCADSTAR Schematic Viewer.
• The Library path.
• Custom Ribbons.
• Custom Hotkeys.
• Custom settings in the Quick Access Toolbar Settings dialog.
• Recently-accessed files and directories.
• The size and position of windows.

Specifying a Default Environment

Regardless of whether you are currently using a workspace, you can specify an existing workspace as the default environment in eCADSTAR. The selected workspace is used by all eCADSTAR applications when in "no workspace" mode. This procedure is described below.

1. In any eCADSTAR application, click File > Workspace > Default on the ribbon. Alternatively, on the Start Page in any eCADSTAR application, click Home > Workspace > Default on the ribbon. The Open dialog is displayed.
2. In the Open dialog, select an existing .ecw workspace file and click Open. A Warning dialog is displayed that states you must restart the application.
3. Click Yes in the Warning dialog to apply the workspace settings and restart the application. The application is restarted in “no workspace” mode, and the Start Page is displayed. If you click Default from within a workspace, then any "none workspace" instances of eCADSTAR are not updated, and must be restarted. The settings specified in the workspace file for the following areas are applied to all eCADSTAR applications.

• The Product Settings dialog, except the License Settings section.
• The Application Settings dialog in eCADSTAR Library Editor, eCADSTAR Schematic Editor, eCADSTAR PCB Editor, eCADSTAR PCB Viewer and eCADSTAR Schematic Viewer.
• The Library path.
• Custom Ribbons.
• Custom Hotkeys.
• Custom settings in the Quick Access Toolbar Settings dialog.
• Recently-accessed files and directories.
• The size and position of windows.

Migrating the Default Workspace from a Previous Version of eCADSTAR

You can migrate the default workspace from a previous version of eCADSTAR, and set it as the default. This procedure is described below.

1. Ensure that any unsaved changes are saved in eCADSTAR. Also, close any other eCADSTAR applications.
2. On the Start Page in eCADSTAR Library Editor, eCADSTAR Schematic Editor or eCADSTAR PCB Editor, click Home > Workspace > Migrate Environment. Alternatively, click File > Workspace > Migrate Environment. The Migrate Environment dialog is displayed.
3. In the Migrate Environment dialog, Source Version box, select the version that you want to migrate the workspace from and click Execute. The current instance of eCADSTAR is closed, and a new instance is opened which uses the migrated workspace settings by default.

 

 

 

4. After migrating a workspace, you must open the library in eCADSTAR Library Editor to upgrade it before you can open a design in eCADSTAR Schematic Editor or eCADSTAR PCB Editor. Otherwise, an error message is displayed and the design is not opened.