The Schematic window displays the schematic at the level of hierarchy set by the Hierarchy window. 
You can select objects in the schematic using the left mouse button and optional modifier keys.

  • Left button click on an object deselects any currently selected objects, and selects a single object (an instance, net, pin or constraint).

  • Shift+Left button click adds an object to the selected set.

  • Ctrl+Left button click removes an object from the selected set.

  • Left button drag selects objects contained within the drag rectangle area. The Shift and Ctrl key modifiers can be used to add or remove objects contained in the selection rectangle.

  • Middle button drag allows real time panning of the schematic.

  • Right button click on the schematic will display a context sensitive menu as described below.

  • Right button drag zooms in or out of the drag area. To zoom in, drag the zoom rectangle from left to right; to zoom out, drag the zoom rectangle from right to left.

  • When zoomed in, scrollbars appear on the Schematic window and can be used for panning.


Schematic context sensitive menus


A right button click will display the default context menu.




  • Return returns up a level of hierarchy, if the current displayed schematic is not the top level of the hierarchy.

  • Zoom In zooms into the schematic by a factor of 2.

  • Zoom Out zooms out of the schematic by a factor of two.

  • Zoom Fit fits the schematic to the window.

  • Critical Path Markers toggles the display of critical path nets.


With Critical Path Markers

Without Critical Path Markers


  • Instance Constraint Markers toggles the display of instance constraints.


With Instance Constraint Markers


Without Instance Constraint Markers



Menu items have bindkeys associated with them; for example the ‘Zoom In’ command has the bindkey combination Ctrl+Z bound to it.


Right button clicking on a net displays a similar menu, but with added options for nets.



Add to Critical Path adds the selected net to the critical path.



Right button clicking on an instance displays the menu with instance-related options:



Select allows you to select single devices of an m factor (multiple) device. When cross-probed, only the selected instance will be highlighted.


View/Edit Schematic Instance Parameters allows you to view or edit the PCell parameters of schematic instances.



The dialog displays instance parameters including their name, description and value. 
Black text on a white background means the parameter is non-default and can be edited. 
Blue text on a white background indicates a parameter is the default value and can be edited. 
A gray background means the parameter cannot be edited, i.e. is read-only.


Placement Status can be one of Place, Unplace or Remove. 
Placed components will be automatically placed by Animate. 
Unplaced components will be present in the layout, but in the lower left. They are shown in the schematic with a circle with a single diagonal line through it. 
Removed components will be removed from the layout (for example dummy devices in the schematic that you do not want to create in your layout). They are shown in the schematic as circled with a cross in it.


Resize allowed can be used to toggle the ability of Animate to resize components, e.g. finger capacitors whose number of fingers and finger length combined determine the capacitance.


Number of Rows controls the number of rows used to place m factor or other matched instances. 
By default, Any means Animate is free to try any combination of rows/columns of devices; setting a specific number forces Animate to use that specified number of rows.


Style controls common centroid pattern generation. 
Simple Routing aims to simplify the routing that will result, while Maximum Dispersion aims to produce the most evenly spread common centroid pattern.


Create Constraint allows a constraint to be set on the selected instances.


Remove from Constraint removes an instance from a constraint group.


Rename Match allows you to specify a user-defined name to the constraint (by default, Animate will use a name based on the identified topology), e.g. Current Mirror, Diff Pair, etc.



Right-clicking on a pin displays the menu with pin-related options.



Pin Side allows you to specify which side of the layout the pin is accessible from.



Right-clicking over a constraint displays the menu with constraint-related options:





Schematic window cross-probing


Clicking on an instance or net in the Schematic window will select it and cross-probe to the Layout window. Selecting multiple nets will show each individual net in a unique color. As the layout is unrouted, only the pins of nets are highlighted in the layout window. 


Next: The Constraints Window