Setting the Outputs for Simulation

For a given simulation, you typically have an interest in looking at specific conditions in the schematic. You specify the outputs for a simulation with the Outputdialog box.

After running a simulation, your specified outputs appear in the Report dialog box Trace tab for the corresponding Category, such as Voltage or Current; they also appear when you create a Plot-On-Schematic. The first item in the list is also used by default when you add an XY Report to a schematic. Note that outputs that are Boolean (enum-type) can only be plotted in digital plots or in data tables.

The Select Quantities dialog box, used to make additional quantities available for plotting, is functionally similar to the Output dialog box.

1. Select Twin Builder > Output Dialog. The Select Quantities dialog box appears.
2. The dialog box has three fields.
   • Defined Output – This panel contains a list of the outputs defined for the current simulation. Each item listed includes the name of the item in the schematic and a period-delimited abbreviation for the output property defined as an output. For example, CD.V refers to a component named CD and the V (for voltage) property for that component. To remove items from the list, select them and click . Make multiple selections by dragging the cursor. If the list exceeds the size of the window, a scroll bar appears.
   • Search – For large schematics, it may be easier to search for defined outputs by name. Search highlights items matching each successive number or letter you add in the text box.
     Note:

     Boolean (enum-type) outputs can only be plotted in digital plots or in data tables.

   • Add/Remove – This panel contains hierarchical lists of the nets and elements of the design, including submodel properties for VHDL-AMS, SPICE, and SML submodels. You can specify the kinds of properties that appear in the list using the check boxes to show: Outputs (blue), Inputs (red), InOuts (brown), Subcircuits, and Derivatives. Displayed properties include parameters, quantities (including those defined in VHDL-AMS component architectures), and signals.

     Click + to open the lists of nets or elements. Click the lower-level + to open lists of potential outputs. Click Expand All and Collapse All to expand or collapse all of the elements in the list tree. Each potential output has a check box that you use to select it. Each potential output corresponds to a property available for that component or net.

     Click Select All and Select None to select and add (or remove) all defined outputs for the element or net currently selected in the list.

     Select the check box next to an element in the list tree to add it to the Defined Output list.

3. After making your selections, click OKto accept the defined outputs or click Cancel to close the dialog box without accepting the changes.
   Note:

   The maximum array expansion limit for outputs of the array type is set on the General tab for Twin Builder on the Options dialog box.

Creating Reports

In addition to setting the outputs, you can create and modify simple reports using these buttons in the Selected Traces section:

• Apply Trace – Adds selected traces to a report and deletes traces that are used in an expression. For example, if you add a trace with the expression E1.V+E2.V, E1.V and E2.V are deleted.
• Add Trace – Adds selected traces to a report. Select one or more traces from the Defined Output section, or manually add them in the Selected Traces section. Select the target report from the report tree and click Add Trace.
• Delete Trace – Removes selected traces from a report. Select a trace in the Selected Traces section and click Delete Trace.
• New Report – Creates a new report. Click New Report and select a report type from the drop-down list. Click Add Trace, Apply Trace, and Delete Trace to add or remove traces to the report.