Introduction Seetrax XL Designer uses the standard Windows interface for ease of use. The Navigator pane in the window (shown here) displays which designs are open and provides access to all the editors. Multiple designs and editors can be open and used at the same time, allowing ease of data transfer. This picture shows the artwork and schematic editors of the same design open. The Browser and Properties panes (shown here) display the currently selected item from the Navigator pane, allowing easy identification and selection of the correct item.

Schematic Capture Hierarchical or flat (multi-sheet) schematics are designed with ease. Parts can be "dragged and dropped" from the easily accessible tray or from the master libraries. New parts which represent individual devices or further circuitry can be created from the schematic sheet. Adding connections is easy, with orthogonal locking and snap to pin, tie dots being added as required. Buses are defined automatically; simply select the terminals required, then pull the bus into position. The design engineer can control all aspects of critical connections from the schematic, to allow EMC checking in the artwork. User-defined attributes can be assigned to pins, parts and connections in order to perform design rule checking, or to extract information such as bill of materials, simulator files, etc.

Parts/Wiring list editors: With the parts list open in the Navigator, selecting a part reveals it's full entry in the parts list, whilst also allowing the part to be found in the schematic or artwork editors. Once found, pop-up windows provide full information about the part, as shown above. Icons within the pop-ups allow easy access to other editors where the part is used.

Libraries Extensive device and footprint libraries are supplied which can be duplicated and/or modified quickly and easily. As well as standard pad shapes, specialist pad shapes with multiple or offset drilled holes can be defined and added to the library.

Board Layout Once the schematic (or parts/wiring list) has been created, the board is ready to be designed. Parts can be positioned interactively or using the auto-placement routine. As parts are placed or moved, the connections stretch and automatically display the shortest path between connected pins. Gate & pin swapping can be performed with automatic back-annotation to the schematic diagram, as can part renumbering. Once the parts have been placed on the board, the connections are ready to be routed with either our own auto-router or the optional integrated Electra or Specctra Auto-Routers. Critical signals can be hand routed and fixed in position to stop the auto-routers from removing them. The auto-router can be interrupted during its cycle and results saved or abandoned. Manual track modification is easy with the on-line DRC and EMC to ensure your designs meet European emission standards. Internal power planes, including split power planes are created automatically and can be displayed.

Outputs A selection of outputs are provided as standard, including Gerber (RS-274X), NC Drilling and routing, DXF, ASCII, etc. Batch files make life easier by saving common output requirements.

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