Symbol Settings

The Symbol Settings dialog allows you to specify settings for a symbol that is displayed in Symbol Editor. It also allows you to display or hide selected property viewers on the canvas. It is accessed from the Symbol Editor ribbon by clicking Home > Setting > Symbol Settings, or Design > Setting > Symbol Settings.

Properties tab

The Properties tab displays the properties associated with the displayed symbol, and allows you to display or hide selected property viewers on the canvas. The following properties are displayed.

Item   Description
Property list   Properties are listed for the displayed symbol. For each item in the Property name column, you can display or hide the associated property viewer on the canvas by right-clicking the item and selecting Display Viewer or Hide Viewer, respectively, on the assist menu. The property viewer is added to the canvas using the Origin settings that are set in the Application Settings dialog,  Display Settings section. If Display Viewer is selected, then the property viewer is automatically displayed when you add a value for the relevant property in eCADSTAR Schematic Editor.
  Property name Displays the properties that can be set in the library. For each item in the Property name column, you can display or hide the associated property viewer on the canvas by right-clicking the item and selecting Display Viewer or Hide Viewer, respectively, on the assist menu. These values are read-only.
  Property value If applicable, the value is displayed that is associated with the property in the Property list table. These values are mostly read-only. However, if the Component Type is Power or Ground, then you can edit the Part Name value.
Component Type   Allows you to specify the purpose of the displayed symbol by selecting a value from the Component Type box. Selecting a value enables the symbol to be used for the specified purpose. If you are editing a block symbol, then the read-only value Parts is displayed.
  Figure Specifies that the displayed symbol is used only as a drawing, with no electrical meaning.
  Sheet Frame Specifies that the displayed symbol is used as a sheet frame in Symbol Editor.
  Parts Specifies that the displayed symbol is used as a part, which may comprise multiple gates. If you are editing a block symbol, this is displayed as a the read-only value.
  Gate Specifies that the displayed symbol is used as a gate.
  Power Box Specifies that the displayed symbol is used as a power box. Refer to the following video guide to using power boxes in a schematic design:
  Power Specifies that the displayed symbol represents a power signal that can be used throughout the design.
  Ground Specifies that the displayed symbol represents a ground signal that can be used throughout the design.
  Hierarchy Connector Specifies that the displayed symbol is used as a hierarchy connector. These are used to connect between hierarchy blocks in a design.
  Sheet Connector Specifies that the displayed symbol is used as a sheet connector. These are used to connect between sheets in a non-hierarchical design.
  Global Connector Specifies that the displayed symbol is used as a global connector. These allow global signals such as power and ground to be passed through hierarchical designs.

Size/Zone tab

For the currently-displayed symbol, the Size/Zone tab allows you to specify the background color of the symbol sheet, and set its width and height. The origin of the symbol can be specified in the X and Y dimensions. You can also specify whether zones are displayed, and configure them in this tab. Zones define areas of a sheet, based on their X and Y location.

Item   Description
Display Symbol Background   Allows you to set whether a background is displayed for the symbol.
  Selected Displays a background for the symbol using the color that you specify in the Display Symbol Background Color box.
  Not Selected Specifies that the symbol is displayed without a background.
Display Symbol Background Color   Displays the Select color dialog. In the dialog, select a background color for the symbol and click OK.
Specify Color Selected

Override the default symbol background color defined in the Assignments dialog, Display tab; use the color defined here instead.

 

Use Color to display the Select color dialog. In the dialog, select a background color for the symbol and click OK.

  Not Selected Use the default symbol background color defined in the Assignments dialog, Display tab.
Origin X-Coordinates   Specify the X coordinate for the origin.
Origin Y-Coordinates   Specify the Y coordinate for the origin.
Width   Specify the width of the sheet.
Height   Specify the height of the sheet.
Display Zone   Allows you to specify whether zones are displayed on the symbol sheet using the values that you specify in the Size/Zone tab.
  Selected Zones are displayed on the symbol sheet.
  Not Selected Zones are not displayed on the symbol sheet.
Display Zone Color   Displays the Select color dialog. In the dialog, specify the color of the letters or numbers that represent zones.
Horizontal Offset   Set the horizontal position for the letters or numbers that represent zones.
Vertical Offset   Set the vertical position for the letters or numbers that represent zones.
Horizontal Pitch   Set the horizontal interval for the letters or numbers that represent zones.
Vertical Pitch   Set the vertical interval for the letters or numbers that represent zones.
Horizontal Start Character   Set the start character that is used for horizontal zones.
  • The start character must be a letter or number that is one character long.
  • If the start character is a number, it is incremented by one for each zone.
  • If the character is a letter, it is incremented by one step based on ASCII code order. The next character after Z is AA.
Vertical Start Character   Set the start character that is used for vertical zones.
  • The start character must be a letter or number that is one character long.
  • If the start character is a number, it is incremented by one for each zone.
  • If the character is a letter, it is incremented by one step based on ASCII code order. The next character after Z is AA.
Origin   Set the position of the first zone on the sheet. Zones are incremented from the position that you specify. The following positions can be specified by selecting the associated image in the Origin box.
  • Bottom Left
  • Bottom Right
  • Top Left
  • Top Right

Grid tab

The Grid tab allows you to set the properties of the grid that is displayed on the canvas.

Item   Description

Display

Selected The grid is displayed when you click Apply or OK in this dialog.
Not Selected The grid is hidden when you click Apply or OK in this dialog.

Snap Grid

Selected Objects that are placed on the sheet are snapped to the grid.
Not Selected Objects that are placed on the sheet are not snapped to the grid.
Display Color   Allows you to set the color of the grid. Click the Display Color box, and select a color in the Select color dialog.
Horizontal Pitch   Set the pitch of the grid in the horizontal direction.
Vertical Pitch   Set the pitch of the grid in the vertical direction.
Display Grid   Allows you to display a grid mark at multiples of the specified pitch. For example:
  • If a value of 1 is set, every grid position is displayed.
  • If a value of 10 is set, every 10th grid position is displayed.

You can snap to a grid line, even when it is not displayed.
Highlight Grid   Allows you to highlight parts of the displayed grid according to the highlight interval that you set. For example, setting a value of 2 highlights every second displayed grid position.

 

Item Description
OK Applies the changes made in the Symbol Settings dialog, and closes the dialog.
Cancel Closes the Symbol Settings dialog without applying any changes.
Apply Applies the changes made in the Symbol Settings dialog without closing the dialog.

 

Related Topics
Assignments Dialog
Symbol Editor: Design Tab
Change Symbol Size
Move Origin
Fit to Data
Understanding SPICE Controller
Using Multi-gated, Analog Semiconductor Devices with the LTspice Simulator