™

Multisim Basics
Schematic Capture & Simulation
Day 1 of 2

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Hands-On Training

National Instruments
11500 North Mopac Expwy
Austin, Texas 78759
Ph: 1.800.433.3488 ni.com/training
 What You Need To Get Started

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• Multisim Basics Course Manual
• Multisim Basics Exercise Manual (Workbook)
• Multisim Basics Course CD

Computer running:
• Windows XP or Vista
• Multisim 10, Multisim MCU Module 10,
Ultiboard 10 or Circuit Design Suite 10

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 File Locations
<Exercises>\Multisim\

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Lab01

Lab02

Lab03
Root Directory Exercises Multisim
Lab04

Lab…

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 Getting the Most out of this Course
Experiment with hands-on exercises
Do your best to finish all exercises
If time permits, experiment with different scenarios

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Ask questions ?
Please switch your cell phone to vibrator mode

This course is not designed or intended for teaching:

• Electronics theory
• SPICE theory
• C/Assembly Programming

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 Multisim Basics Learning Program

Advanced Custom
Schematic Capture
Schematic Capture Components

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Simulation and Communication MCU
Virtual Instruments and Transfer Co-simulation

Projects and Educational

Analyses
Design Sharing Features

Results and
Design Variants
Post-processing Note: Not all features described
in this course are available in all
versions.

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 Course Goals

At the end of this course, you will:

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• Understand the features of the Multisim user interface
• Capture schematics in Multisim
• Use interactive simulation to check your design
• Use virtual instruments and analyses
• Work with design variants
• Create custom components
• Co-simulate MCU with SPICE

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 Lesson 1
Schematic Capture

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TOPICS
A. The Multisim GUI
B. Place components
C. Place wires

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 What is Multisim?

• General purpose EDA tool

• Schematic Capture

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• Simulation
• Analyses
• Integrated Environment

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 Benefits of Integrated Capture & Simulation

• Preparation for simulation is as simple as drawing a circuit

• Interactive Simulation

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• Animated Parts
• Virtual Instruments
• Analyses and Graphs

Effective use of your time!

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 The Design Process
Where does Multisim fit in the design flow?

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 The Multisim GUI

• Organized menus

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• Quick access toolbars
• Design Toolbox
• Spreadsheet View
• Resizable Workspace

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 Global Preferences

Options»Global Preferences
• Vary from computer to computer

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• Stored in the User configuration file

• Change config file and database paths (Master, Corporate,

User)
• Save settings (security copy, backup, simulation data)
• Component Placement mode, symbol standard
• Rectangle behavior, mouse wheel behavior, bus wiring

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 Global Preferences Parts tab

• Place component mode

• Symbol standard (ANSI, DIN)

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• Phase shift direction
• Ideal/Real Simulation

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 Global Preferences General tab

• Selection rectangle
• Mouse-wheel behavior

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• Wiring mode

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 Sheet Properties

Options»Sheet Properties
Saved with the circuit file, if opened in another computer same
settings will be used

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• Color scheme and display properties
• Sheet size
• Wire and bus options
• Font properties
• PCB settings
• Visibility status for annotation layers

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 Sheet Properties – Circuits tab

• Component display properties

• Net names display properties

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• Bus entry display properties
• Color scheme

Tip: Experiment with changing the display

properties of components, keep a balance
between good visibility and optimum
information display.

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 Toolbars and Menus
• Organized based in functionality
• All toolbar functions found in menus

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• Right-click toolbar area and toggle toolbars
• Customizable (functions, location)
• ToolTips

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 Customize the Environment

Options»Customize User Interface

• Add/remove functions in toolbars and menus

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• Create new menus and toolbars
• Set shortcut keys
• Display properties for toolbars and menus

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http://codientu.org

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 Design Toolbox

View»Design Toolbox
• Manage various elements
in the schematic design

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• Great tool for medium-
and large-complexity
designs
• Control visibility of
annotation layers
• Access to the Project
View

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 Design Toolbox Hierarchy tab

• Design files
• Design Blocks

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• Variants
• Description Box
• Breadboard (Educational Version)
• MCU Projects
Tip: You can open, close, rename files
from the design toolbox. You can also set
active variants, active MCU projects and
so on.

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 Tip: You can modify properties for multiple

Spreadsheet View components or nets at once if you use the

<SHIFT> or <CTRL> keys for multiple
selection.

• Advanced parameter viewing and editing

• Global perspective of objects and properties

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• Find and select components
• Modify component or net properties
• Review ERC and other results

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 Spreadsheet View Toolbar

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 Workspace Area

• Circuit diagram
area

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• Multiple tabs
• Zoom in and our
with the mouse
wheel (default)
• Use View menu to
show/hide Grid and
Page Border

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 Schematic Capture

• Multisim offers click-and-place

capture

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• Integrated with simulation

Three step process:

Select Place Wire
Component Database Rotate Automatic
In-Use List Flip Touching-pins
Copy Multi-section Dropping
Replace

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 Components
• Symbolic representation of actual parts
• Every single component has a symbol
• Many components have a SPICE model and footprint

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assigned
Capture Area Simulation Engine PCB Layout
Symbol SPICE Model Footprint

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 Components – Properties

Double-click component to:

• Change Label, RefDes

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In the Value tab, click
• Display properties Edit Component in DB
to customize the
• Value component.
• Faults (not for RLC components)

• Check Pin assignment

• Set Variant information
• Modify User Field information

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 Components – Edit Component in DB

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 Components – Virtual, Real, Layout-only

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 Component Database

Tools»Database»Database Manager
Three levels:

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• Master
• Corporate
• User
Parts bin up to 16,000+ parts
Master database cannot be edited
Database utilities let you merge other user’s database, or
convert a database from a previous version

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 Component Database

Corporate database
• Share components with colleagues

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• Located in local disk or network drive
User database
• Store your own custom components
If you modify a Master database component, save it into the
Corporate or the User database.

Caution: Always backup your Corporate

or User database.

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 Component Browser

Place»Component
Most common tool to place components

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You can select:
• Database
• Component
• Model
• Footprint
Tip: Right-click anywhere in the
• Search for components workspace and select Place Component
to access the Component Browser.

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http://codientu.org

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 Placing a Component
• After selecting a component, a ghost image is attached to
the mouse pointer
• Click to place

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• Next RefDes is assigned

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 Placing Multi-section Components

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 Component Toolbar and the In-Use List

Access Master database Groups from the Components

toolbar.

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Use the In-Use List to place another instance of an already
placed component.

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 Rotating a Component

 If already placed…  While placing…

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 Component Search

• From the Component Browser, click Search

• Use * as a wildcard

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 Component Search – Results

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 Nets

• Wires are the graphical representation of nets

• Modeless (no placing vs. wiring mode)

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• Mid-air wiring is allowed
• Real-time netlist is updated behind the scenes
• Easy to change wire connections once placed

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 Nets

Multiple wires can make one net or node

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 Junction Dots

Junction dots represent a wire connection

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 Methods for Wiring – Automatic

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 Methods for Wiring – Touching Pins

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 Methods for Wiring – Dropping

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 Changing Wire Properties

• Right-click the wire to access the run-time menu

• Change colors, net name font and properties

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 Moving Wires

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 Re-wiring a Net

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 Virtual Wiring
• Useful in large designs
• Avoids unnecessary wires crossing the schematic
• Give a net a name that already exists to create the virtual

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connection

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 Virtual Wiring

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 Lab 1: Drawing a Schematic

Laboratory Workbook

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Page 1
30 minutes

Set environment preferences

Build and wire a filter circuit
GOAL

Use different methods for wiring

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 Lesson 2
Simulation and Virtual Instruments
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TOPICS
A.
B.
Simulation settings
Using virtual instruments
C. Measurement Probe
D. Circuit Wizards

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 Multisim Treats Simulation Differently

• Most users are not experts in simulation

• User wants the benefit of simulation without having to know

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the details of SPICE
• Netlist is hidden from the main schematic
• If you want to access the netlist or advanced SPICE syntax
you can

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 Types of Simulation

Multisim supports the following types of simulation:

• SPICE/XSPICE

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• MCU1
• RF
• VHDL2
Multisim supports these types of simulation individually as well
as together using a unique patented co-simulation technology

1 Multisim MCU Module is required for MCU co-simulation

2 Multisim offers support for legacy users of MultiVHDL

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 Simulation Models

• SPICE model is required to simulate a component

• SPICE models are usually available from manufacturers

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• Accuracy of simulation is directly tied to the complexity of a
model
• Not all components have a SPICE model

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 Multiple Models Available

• Some components offer more than one model

• Higher level models, model more sophisticated or unique

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effects

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 Observing a Circuit Simulation

• Start/Pause/Stop functions
• Animated parts

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• Virtual Instruments
• Analyses and Graphs

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 Creating Circuits for Simulation

• Use parts with models

• Add models to part without models

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• Place sources
• Use Circuit Wizards

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 Simulation with Real-world Signals

• Integrating NI measurement & automation products into the

design stage

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• Automate testing and validation of design

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 LabVIEW and LabVIEW SignalExpress

• Use LVM and TDM files with

real-world data as input signals

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• Create and use custom LV VIs in your circuits
− Input data
− Output data
• Save simulation data as LVM files
• Overlay simulation data with measurement results
• Verify simulation model accuracy
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 Virtual Instruments

• Select instruments from the Instruments toolbar

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Multimeter
Function Generator
Wattmeter
Word Generator
Logic Analyzer
Logic Converter
Agilent Function Generator
Agilent Multimeter
Agilent Oscilloscope
2-ch Oscilloscope IV-Analysis Tektronix Oscilloscope
4-ch Oscilloscope Distortion Analyzer Measurement Probe
Bode Plotter Spectrum Analyzer LabVIEW Instrument
Frequency Counter Network Analyzer Current Probe

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 Virtual Instruments – Front Panel
• Double-click instrument icon to open front panel
• Set instrument settings just like a real instrument

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 Using Instruments in Circuits
• Place instruments like any other object
• Wire the instrument to the circuit
• Configure instrument settings

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 Measurement Probe
• Constantly updated values
• Fast, simple alternative and save space in the schematic
• Configurable

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•
•
Trigger events (conditional probe)
Dynamic or static probes available

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 Lab 2: Working with Instruments

Laboratory Workbook

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Page 11
30 minutes

Examine the response of the bandpass filter

Learn how to use various instruments
GOAL

Use the Circuit Wizard

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 Lesson 3
Analyses
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TOPICS
A. Analyses available in Multisim
B. Expressions
C. Grapher

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 Analyses in Multisim

• Multisim provides analyses for examining circuit behavior

• Analyses require a circuit ready for simulation

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• Custom expression can be added
• Grapher View helps to take precise measurements

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 Analyses in Multisim

The following analyses are available:

DC Operating Point DC Sweep Worst Case

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AC Analysis Sensitivity Monte Carlo
Transient Analysis Parameter Sweep Trace Width Analysis
Fourier Analysis Temperature Sweep Batched Analysis
Noise Analysis Pole Zero User Defined Analysis
Distortion Analysis Transfer Function

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 Using Analyses

Simulate»Analyses»…
Four step process:

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Select

Select analysis
Configure

Enter expressions
Simulate

Click Simulate
Review

Grapher View

Select output
variables

Configure analysis
Tip: Click Help on any window to
parameters and access analysis-specific information.
options
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 Selecting Output Variables

• Choose output variables from the list

• Voltages and currents per node (net) are listed

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• Add model or device parameters
− Resistance
− Current
− Capacitance, etc.
• Add expressions

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 Adding Custom Expressions

• Double-click variable or operand to add it to the expression

• Type expression manually

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• Use built-in functions to help create custom analysis outputs

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 The Grapher

• Displays simulation
results
− Virtual Instruments

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− Analyses
• View, adjust, save, print
export data
• Precise cursor
measurements
• Overlay different results
to compare

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 The Grapher – Cursors

• Take precise measurements with the cursors

• Right-click cursor to access functions for positioning

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 The Grapher – Overlay Traces

• Compare different graphs

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 The Grapher – Properties

• Set custom properties for pages and graphs

• Modify the appearance of traces and axes

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 The Grapher – Mixed Displays

• Some analyses output table data instead of plot data

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 Lab 3: Working with Analyses

Laboratory Workbook
Page 25

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30 minutes

Explore the characteristics of the bandpass filter using

analyses
GOAL

Configure analyses
Use the Grapher to visualize results

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 Lesson 4
Results and Post-processing
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TOPICS
A. Using results from analyses
B. Post-processor

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 The Post-processor
Use the Post-processor to:
• Mathematically manipulate analyses results
• Plot results in a graph or chart

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• Customize results output
At least one analysis run is required

Simulate»Postprocessor
Examples:
• Add voltages
• Calculate power from voltage and current

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 Using the Post-processor
At least one Add expressions
Run Analysis analysis is Attach Expression (s)
to graphs
required

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Add Expression (s) Create re-usable Calculate Click Calculate
expressions

Add Page (s) Add Grapher Review Results Grapher View

pages

Add Graph (s) Create graphs or Customize Output Set Grapher

charts for each properties
page

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 Using the Post-processor – Expression Tab

• Select from available

results

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• Select from available
variables
• Build expressions

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 Using the Post-processor – Graph Tab

• Add Pages
• Add Graphs or

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Charts to Pages
• Assign Expressions
• Click Calculate

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 Viewing Results from the Post-processor

• The Grapher displays post-processor results like any other

instrument or analysis

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• Use the cursors to make precise measurements
• Set the graph properties to fit your results
• Save, print or export results to external applications

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 Lab 4: Working with Results

Laboratory Workbook
Page 45

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30 minutes

Capture and process multiple output signals

Export data to an external application
GOAL

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 Lesson 5
Advanced Schematic Capture

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TOPICS
A.
B.
Graphic Annotations
Description Box
C. Spreadsheet View
D. Title Blocks

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 Graphic Annotations

• Document your schematics

• Place meaningful:

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− Text
− Comments
− Pictures
− Geometric Shapes (lines, arcs, rectangle, …)
• Place»Graphics»…
• Control visibility in the Design Toolbox

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 Graphic Annotations – Text
• Use text to add notes in the schematic diagram

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 Graphic Annotations – Comments

Comments help to save space in the diagram and still have

important notes added to a component, net, or schematic

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section

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 Description Box
• Complete Rich-Text word
processor
• Add full text document to explain

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your project
• Accepts objects such as pictures,
sound, video, and so on
• Saved with the circuit file
• Access through the Design Toolbox
• Synchronize with events
• Add forms and questionnaires

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http://codientu.org

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 Spreadsheet View Advanced Uses

• Export data to Excel®

• Change component or net properties

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• Multiple selection
• Find and select components

Note: Export to Excel® available in the

Power Pro edition only. In Education
Edition you can select all cells and copy
then paste them into Excel®. ni.com/training
 Title Blocks
Identify the schematic
Document:
• Title

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• Description
• Designer
• Approver
• Revision
• Document No.
•…
Option to fix position

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 Title Block Editor

• Specialized graphics editor

• Create or modify title blocks

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• Position title block data
• Change font properties
• Place or move graphics

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 Lab 5: Advanced Schematic Capture

Laboratory Workbook
Page 55

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30 minutes

Use advanced features to edit the bandpass filter

Document your schematic
GOAL

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 Lesson 6
Communication and Transfer
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TOPICS
A. Reports
B. Transfer to PCB Layout software

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 Reports

• Use to aid manufacturing

• Prepare production plans

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• Reports available:
− Bill of Materials
− Component Detail Report
− Netlist Report
− Cross Reference Report
− Schematic Statistics
− Spare Gates

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 Bill of Materials (BOM)

• Lists components used in the design

• Summary of components needed for manufacture

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• Reports»Bill of Materials
• Separates real vs. virtual
• Exports to Excel®
• Customize columns

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 Schematic Statistics
• Quantitative report
• Reports»Schematic Statistics

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 Other Reports

• Spare Gates Report

− Reports which ICs have unused gates

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• Netlist Report
− Details relationship between nets, pins, blocks, pages
• Cross Reference Report
− RefDes, description
− Family, package
− Page

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 Transfer

• Transfer design to PCB Layout

− Transfer»Transfer to Ultiboard 10

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− Ultiboard 9 is also supported
• Transfer to 3rd party PCB Layout
− Mentor Graphics PADS®
− Special library added for PADS
• Forward and back annotate changes from Ultiboard
• Highlight selection in Ultiboard

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 Export Netlist

• Create a complete SPICE netlist

• Used for troubleshooting simulation problems

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• Used for non-supported 3rd party applications
• Transfer»Export Netlist

Tip: A netlist can also help to transfer a schematic to legacy software.

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 Lab 6: Communication and Transfer

Laboratory Workbook
Page 65

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30 minutes

Generate meaningful reports

Transfer your design to Ultiboard
GOAL

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http://codientu.org
End of Day 1

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