Library Editor WorkSpace

Modified by Jason Howie on Mar 5, 2015
Contents
Other Related Resources
Schematic - Grids (Preferences)
Grids (Commands)

Parent page: Sch Dialogs

The Library Editor Workspace dialog.

Summary

This dialog allows the designer to define options that are specific to the active schematic library document. The dialog is divided over two tabs, collectively providing controls for defining the look and feel of the schematic library sheet, enabling and sizing grids, and specifying the units of measurement to be used.

Access

The Library Editor Workspace dialog can be accessed from the Schematic Library Editor in the following ways:

  • Click Tools | Options | , from the main menus.
  • Click Home | Library » Options, from the main menus.
  • Right-click within the workspace and use the Options » Document Options command from the context menu.

Library Editor Options Tab

Library Editor Workspace dialog - Library Editor Options tab.

Use the dialog's Library Editor Options tab to modify the look and feel of the sheet, as well as its various grids.

Options/Controls

Options

  • Size - use this field to choose from a range of standard sheet sizes. The following sizes (featuring both metic and imperial) are available: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0, A, B, C, D, E, Letter, Legal, Tabloid.
  • Orientation - use this field to specify the orientation of the sheet, either Landscape or Portrait.
  • Unique Id - the current unique identifier for the document. The Unique ID (UID) is a system generated value that uniquely identifies this current document. A new UID value can be entered directly into this field.
    • Reset - click this button to have the system generate a new UID for the document.
  • Show Border - enable this option to have a border drawn on the sheet. The border bisects the sheet in both horizontal and vertical planes, providing an absolute origin point (0, 0) at its center. It is this point that is used as a reference when drawing the symbol for the component. The color of the border is determined by the Border color field.
  • Show Hidden Pins - enable this option to have all hidden pins revealed on the sheet (including their designator and display name).
  • Always Show Comment/Designator - enable this option to have the Comment and Designator Value strings displayed on the sheet. By default, the Designator value will be * and the Comment value will be taken from the component's Comment field, as defined in the Component Library document.

Custom Size

  • Use Custom Size - enable this option to define a custom sheet size, with the following properties:
    • X - use this field to specify the width required for the custom sheet.
    • Y - use this field to specify the height required for the custom sheet.
The maximum size for a custom sheet is 65inches by 65inches.

Colors

  • Border - click the color sample to change the color of the border on the sheet, using the standard Choose Color dialog.
  • Workspace - click the color sample to change the color of the sheet, using the standard Choose Color dialog.

Grids

  • Snap - use these controls to turn the Snap grid on or off, and to set the grid interval size. The snap grid pulls the cursor to the nearest point on its defined grid, when placing or manipulating objects on the sheet. This grid should be left on at all times except when specifically placing or moving objects that need to be off grid, like text.
  • Visible - use these controls to turn the Visible grid on or off, and to set the grid interval size. The visible grid is the grid you see on the sheet, which acts as a visual reference. Typically it is set to be the same as, or a multiple of, the Snap grid.
The style of the Visible grid (Line or Dot), and its color, can be defined on the Schematic - Grids page of the Preferences dialog.
The setting of the Visible grid does not affect the cursor snap movement. This is determined by the Snap grid settings. The Visible grid can be quickly toggled in the workspace by pressing Shift+Ctrl+G.
In the workspace, cycle forward (G) or back (Shift+G) through predefined grid settings for Snap and Visible grids. The settings available are determined by the chosen presets, as defined on the Schematic - Grids page of the Preferences dialog, and the current measurement system in force (Imperial or Metric). Cycled settings are reflected in the dialog when accessed.
Note that if you use commands to cycle through preset grid settings, any manually entered value will be lost, as cycling only involves the currently chosen preset interval settings.

Library Description

Use this field to enter a description for the schematic library document.

Units Tab

Library Editor Workspace dialog - Units tab.

Use the dialog's Units tab to specify the units of measurement to be used for the sheet. A range of unit types are available, across both Imperial and Metric systems.

The units should only be changed in special circumstances. If altered, it will be extremely difficult to connect schematic symbols that have been created and placed using different grids.
Note that a newly-created schematic symbol will initially follow the units of measurement defined at the global level, through the Schematic - General page of the Preferences dialog. Subsequently defining the units at the document level overrides the global setting (for that specific document).

Options/Controls

Imperial Unit System

  • Use Imperial Unit System - enable this option to use Imperial units in the document.
    • Imperial unit used - use the drop-down list associated to this field to choose the type of Imperial unit to use. Available options are: Mils, Inches, DXP Defaults, and Auto-Imperial. The Auto-Imperial option automatically switches from mils to inches when the display value is greater than 500mils.
1 DXP Default = 10mils.

Metric Unit System

  • Use Metric Unit System - enable this option to use Metric units in the document.
    • Metric unit used - use the drop-down list associated to this field to choose the type of Metric unit to use. Available options are: Millimeters, Centimeters, Meters, and Auto-Metric. The Auto-Metric option automatically switches from millimeters to centimeters when the display value is greater than 100mm, and from centimeters to meters when the display value is greater than 100cm.

Unit System

This area of the tab simply states the current measurement unit being used for the active document's base unit. If another unit has been chosen, but the dialog's OK button has not yet been clicked, the message will extend to reflect the unit that will be used if the modification is committed.

 

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