User Interface Overview

1. Overview

What's in this section? 

In this section, we explain the general user interface features that you will experience in LogicWorks. We will briefly go over the main components that you will see as well as providing information to help you understand the interaction between the user and LogicWorks.

2. The User Interface

Window Usage 

The three primary window components in LogicWorks are the Circuit Window, Timing Window and the Parts Palette. Other than the circuit window, all other window and parts on the screen are docking windows that can be resized, moved, and hidden with typical mouse commands.

Circuit Window 

The circuit window is your viewport onto the circuit diagram, which you will manipulate using the various drawing tools. The following is a shot of the circuit window with a sample circuit already drawn.

Any part of the circuit in the diagram can be selected by left clicking on it, once selected a right click brings up a pop menu that displays the options for manipulating the selected component. For more details on the menu options, please consult Chapter 9 "Menu Reference" of the LogicWorks Reference PDF file accessible in the Help menu under Help Docs.

The tab at the bottom of the window tells you which circuit diagram is currently in display. To switch to another circuit diagram that is already opened, simply left click on the tab to bring that diagram into view.

Timing Window 

When you are simulating a circuit, you can optionally display a Timing diagram window to show signal values versus time. Only one Timing window can be displayed at any given time, and it shows waveforms generated by the current design. Closing the Timing window does not close the circuit design file. The following is the corresponding timing window of the example circuit shown above.

Like the Circuit window, the intervals of the Timing diagram can be selected by using click and drag the mouse over the desired interval. After a section of the diagram is selected, right click brings up a menu with options that can manipulate the Timing diagram.

Parts Palette 

The last major part of LogicWorks interface is the Parts Palette that looks like the one to the right (*can we place picture to the right of text instead of below?*). By default it is located to the right of the Circuit window. The location can be changed as previously mentioned by holding down the left mouse button on the double stripped title bar near the top and draggig the window to the desired location.

Choosing a Library

The drop down box near the top is the library selection box. To open another library and add it to the drop down box, use the Open Lib command from the Parts Palette pop-up menu.

Selecting a Part

Follow these steps to select a part for placement in the schematic:

• If necessary, use the scroll bar to scroll through the list until the desired part name is in view.
• Double-click on the part name in the list.
• Move the cursor to the current schematic windows to place the part in it

Note: Alternatively, you can also hold down the left mouse button on the desired part and drag the part onto the circuit window

Previewing a Part

The selected part will be shown on the preview box like the one shown in the screen if the Preview checkbox is checked.

Using the Filter Box

The filter box is used to filter out unwanted parts in the list. Simply click in the filter text box and type the desired characters. After a brief pause, the displayed part list will be reduced to only those parts that contain the typed string of characters. To return to the full list, simply clear text in the filter.

Parts Palette Pop-up Menu

Activate the Parts Palette pop-up menu by clicking the right mouse button when the cursor is in this window. This menu allows you to open, close and manage your libraries.

Note: For more details on the individual pop-up menu options please consult Chapter 9 "Menu References" of the LogicWorks Reference PDF file.

Use of the Pointer or Cursor 

In LogicWorks, there are a number of cursor modes that determine what action will be performed when the left mouse button is clicked. These modes can be selected in the edit toolbar that is located under the menu bar by default. It looks as follows:

Alternatively, modes may also be selected via the menu bar under Edit. The following is a summary of different cursor modes:

Tool Palette Icon	Equivalent Menu Command	Description
	Point	Used to select or drag objects and extend signals.
	Zap	Used to remove single objects. Press the left mouse button to remove whatever the tip of the cursor is pointing at. Objects can also be removed in groups by selecting them and using the Clear command or Delete key.
	Text	Used to select a signal or device to name or to place free text on the diagram. Point at the item you want to name and press and hold the left mouse button. Move the cursor to where you want the name to appear and then release the button.
	Draw Bus	Used to create a new bus line or extend an existing bus. Clicking once fixes a corner, double-clicking terminates the line.
	Draw Sig	Used to create a new signal line or to extend an existing signal. Clicking once fixes a corner; double-clicking terminates the line. Note that most signal-drawing operations can also be done in Point mode.
	Magnify	Used to zoom in and out. Clicking on a point or dragging down and right zooms in. Dragging up and left zooms out.
	Signal Probe	Used to view and change signal values on the schematic. Click on the signal to view with the end of the probe, and the cursor will follow changes in the signal's value. More details can be found in later tutorial sections.