The work area is the center of the workbench (also called the diagram work area or canvas), between the Library browser and the Parameters sidebar, where models are assembled and manipulated.
To add blocks to the Work Area, drag blocks from the Library browser and drop them on the Work Area.
Work Area Buttons
The work area provides buttons to handle common Schematic Editor's actions.
The Work Area Buttons | ||
|---|---|---|
NOTE: Greyed-out buttons are only available when the context permits | ||
| Undo | Undoes the most recent command (CTRL + Z). Used to recover from errors or go back one step | |
| Redo | Redoes the most recent command (CTRL + Y). Used to repeat steps just performed | |
| Delete | Deletes selection (Delete/Backspace) | |
Cut | Cuts selection, removes it and places it in the clipboard buffer (CTRL+ X) | |
| Copy | Copies selection and places it in the clipboard buffer (CTRL + C) | |
| Paste | Pastes the last cut or copied elements into the model space (CTRL + V) | |
| Duplicate | Duplicates the selection (CTRL + D) | |
| Show/Hide Labels | Shows/hides block and signal labels of the selection (CTRL + L) | |
| Rotate Clockwise | Rotates selection clockwise (CTRL+R) | |
| Rotate Counterclockwise | Rotates selection counterclockwise (CTRL+ Shift + R) | |
To explore these functions, see Building a Buck Converter or Tasks for Learning Assembly and Control.
Grid
The Work Area is divided into smaller grid squares which, in turn, make up 8 by 8 larger grid squares with darker boundaries.
Many users prefer working with the grid, as they find it helps them align and center their models for organizational, connection and esthetic purposes.
When you drag and drop and connect elements, you'll feel a gentle tension called 'snap to grid'–-meaning that components will snap to the closest grid lines. You may be familiar with this feature from software such as Microsoft Visio.
To set the grid lines to be visible (or invisible):
- Go to the lower corner of the work area, close to the zoom slider, and buttons will appear.
- Click on the Grid Lines button.
This is a toggle function, so it is always on or off.
Zoom Slider
The Zoom slider, to the lower right of the work area, can display the work area at 10% to 1000% of the current size, It shows the zoom level as you use the +, for zooming in, or -, for zooming out.
See the Shortcuts/Hotkeys used with the Zoom feature here: Shortcuts & Hotkeys.
Simulator Setup Button/Indicator
The simulator setup button/indicator gives user information about his current setup, hardware and firmware he selected in the simulator setup modal.
The red badge notify user that a new version of the selected firmware is available for use.
It is also a button giving the user possibility to access directly to the simulator setup modal to edit his setup.
Time Step Editor
The time step button gives user the possibility to choose at which time step the FPGA simulation will render data. The value can go from 200 to 4000 ns. If the value is set to 0, the 'auto' mode is enabled, meaning that the FPGA simulation will run as fast as possible.