Chapter XI: MENU SUMMARY

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The Windows Menu

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Figure 11.7

These commands allow manipulation of the editing window. Arbitrary zooming and panning may be done. A grid can be displayed. The window can be split multiple times to show different facets or even different areas of the same facet. Colors, layers, and port labels can be manipulated. Even the menu of components on the left can be altered.

Fill Window

This command causes the facet in the current window to be shifted and scaled so that it fits inside of the window.

Zoom Out

This command causes the facet in the current window to be halved in size so that more of it appears.

Zoom In

This command causes the facet in the current window to be doubled in size so that only the center area remains visible.

Focus on Highlighted

This command shifts and scales the facet in the current window so that the currently highlighted area fills the window. The highlighted area is defined as the bounding rectangle of everything that is highlighted. A more precise way of defining a highlighted area is to use the rectangle select button to drag a rectangle on the screen.

Match Other Window

This command scales the facet in the current window so that its size matches that of the other window. If there are more than two windows, you will be prompted for the window to match.



Left

This command causes the facet in the current window to shift left (the window actually moves right).

Right

This command causes the facet in the current window to shift right (the window actually moves left).

Up

This command causes the facet in the current window to shift up (the window actually moves down).

Down

This command causes the facet in the current window to shift down (the window actually moves up).

Center Highlight

This command causes the facet in the current window to be shifted so that the currently highlighted objects are in the center of the window.

Saved Views...

This command presents a dialog for saving and retrieving window views (a zoom and pan amount). Saved views are given names which can be used to restore them later.



Toggle Grid

This command turns on or off the display of the grid.

Grid Settings...

This command presents a dialog that allows definition of the grid spacing, the alignment of the cursor to grid points, and the alignment of object edges to grid points. Note that the current alignment of the cursor to grid points is shown in the status area under the heading "ALIGN".
Figure 4.3



New Window

This command creates a new window on the screen that initially contains no facet. It exists only on the Macintosh and on Windows.

Delete Window

This command deletes the current window from the display. It exists only on the Macintosh and on Windows.

Window Partitions

Figure 11.34
These commands exist on Macintosh and Windows platforms to control the partitioning of a window into multiple facet displays. The commands here are the same commands that exist as primary commands on UNIX platforms: Split, Delete, and Make 1 Window.

Split

This command causes the current editing window to split in half, with the currently edited facet appearing in both halves. Each half may be split again and again, producing an arbitrary number of nonoverlapping windows. When the editing window is divided, only one partition is the "current" window, as shown with a green outline. Be careful about the commands that you issue to be sure that the correct window is affected. Generally, the current window switches to whichever one has the cursor.

Delete

This command causes the current partition of the editing window to be joined with its neighbor, thus deleting the subwindow.

Make 1 Window

This command causes all partitions of the editing window to be deleted, returning to a single window with the currently edited facet.



Layer Visibility...

This command presents a dialog in which you can select the layers that are to be visible in the window. Special buttons allow all layers to be made visible or invisible. It is also possible to set visibility according to layers found in external file formats such as GDS II and DXF.
Figure 4.1

Colors and Patterns

Figure 11.17
These commands allow you to edit the color map and stipple patterns for the current technology.

Edit Colors... This command displays a color wheel and a set of options for modifying the various entries.
Edit Patterns...
This command displays a dialog for examining and modifying the stipple patterns associated with each layer. You can set individual bits in the pattern or you can choose from a set of predefined patterns along the top. Many layers use their stipple patterns only for printing, but a check box allows you to request that the pattern be used on the display as well. Another check box requests that the stippled polygons be outlined with a solid line.
Figure 4.2
Highlight Layer This command prompts for a single layer and rebuilds the color map so that the layer is highlighted. The colors can be restored with Restore Default Colors below or the "Reset" button in the Edit Colors... dialog above.
Restore Default Colors This command returns the color table to its original values as specified by the current technology.
Black Background Colors This command sets the color table to its original values as specified by the current technology, but with a black background.
White Background Colors This command sets the color table to its original values as specified by the current technology, but with a white background.
Save Colors to Disk This command saves the current color and pattern information to disk. You will be prompted for a disk file name.
Restore Colors from Disk This command restores the color and pattern information from a disk file. You will be prompted for the file.

Port Display...

This command affects the way that ports are drawn in the current window. "Full Port Names" causes the complete name to be drawn at each port. "Short Port Names" displays port names up to the first nonalphabetic character. For example, the port names "In" and "In.17" will both display as "In". "Ports as Crosses" causes "+" signs to be drawn at ports instead of text. "No Ports Shown" suppresses all indications of port locations.
Figure 3.9

Text Defaults...

This command provides a dialog for setting the default size and placement of all subsequently created text (including node, arc, and port names).
Figure 6.8

Component Menu...

This command provides a dialog for adjusting the location and size of the components menu, which is initially on the left. Note that the number of entries is chosen for each technology to include the necessary nodes and arcs. If the new size contains too few entries, some components will be unavailable. If the new size contains too many entries, extra menu items will appear that may be undefined in function.
Figure 4.4

Message Window Font...

This command provides a dialog for selecting the font and size of the text in the messages window. The command only exists on the Macintosh and on Windows.

Set Drop-Down Menus

This command changes the command menus from pulldown style to drop-down style (which causes them to remain visible until a second click selects an entry). The menu entry then changes to Set Pop-Up Menus to restore the original state. The command only exists on UNIX systems.

Language Interpreter

Figure 11.18
There are three language interpreters in Electric: TCL, LISP and Mathematica (Mathematica is currently only available on Macintosh systems). The interpreters can be activated with the subcommands here. Once activated, you communicate with them in the messages window. Note that these interpreters are not part of the standard GNU distribution and must be obtained separately from Electric Editor, Incorporated.


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