Specify a Default Position for an Attribute Field on a Device Symbol?

[NeilMackenzie]

Specify a Default Position for an Attribute Field on a Device Symbol?

The purpose of this note is to describe the method of providing a default position for attribute fields that are to be displayed on symbols.

 

This note applies to:	Windows	Macintosh
DesignWorks Professional	3.0 +	3.0 +
DesignWorks Lite	3.2 +	N/A
LogicWorks	N/A	N/A
Notes: N/A – not applicable to this version. “3.0 +” indicates version 3.0 and later.  Since this note may apply to multiple versions and platforms, there may be some variation in exact configuration of menu commands and screen layouts from that shown in this note, but the same principles apply.

Using Default Position Fields

For device or pin attribute fields that are to be displayed on the schematic, an associated field called a “default position field” can be created. For example, this mechanism is used to provide default positions for the “Name” and “Part” fields used in all standard DesignWorks libraries. These standard fields can be used as an example.

A default position field has the same name as the associated field but with “.Pt” (for Point) appended. When a field named “xxx.Pt” is seen by the program, it uses the values in this field to generate a default position for the “xxx” field.

Default Position Data Format

The default position field must contain a sequence of textual values following these rules:

 

•  Two items, an X and a Y position, must be specified, separated by a comma. Leading an trailing non-numeric characters are ignored.
• The X and Y values are each decimal numbers representing an offset from the top-left corner of the device measured in 1/1000″. Negative values are allowed (negative is up and left).
• The X coordinate can be optionally followed by a letter indicating horizontal justification, as follows: “L” for left, “M” for middle, “R” for right. I.e. the given number specifies the offset to the left, middle or right position of the displayed text. If no letter appears, middle is assumed, i.e. the text will be centered at the given position.
• The Y coordinate can be optionally followed by a letter indicating vertical justification, as follows: “T” for top, “M” for middle, “B” for bottom. I.e. the given number specifies the offset to the top, middle or bottom position of the displayed text. If no letter appears, middle is assumed, i.e. the text will be centered at the given position.

Some examples of value points are:

0R,0T	The value will extend right and down from the top-left corner of the device.
150,-75	The value will be centered at a position above and to the right of the top-left corner.
(400L,100)	The value will extend left from a point to the right of the top-left corner of the device. (Leading and trailing characters are ignored.)

Normally, a default value for the “xxx.Pt” field should be defined with the symbol in the library using the Device Symbol Editor tool. In this way, the value will be available for setting the default position of the associated field when the device is placed on the schematic.

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