Quick Guide

The topics below describe commonly used procedures. Refer to the reference manual for more detail.

Starting a New Timing Diagram

Use the File Menu -> New to start a new timing diagram. Choose the right Time Scale for your requirements. Default is nSec when the program first starts. The Time Scale is displayed on the Status Bar on the bottom of the window. The accuracy is +- 1/1000 of the Time Scale.

Setting the Time Scale

Edit Menu -> Time Scale -> pSec.

Accuracy +- 1fSec

Edit Menu -> Time Scale -> nSec.

Accuracy +- 1pSec

Edit Menu -> Time Scale -> uSec.

Accuracy +- 1nSec

Edit Menu -> Time Scale -> mSec.

Accuracy +- 1uSec

Adding Pulses

Enable “Add Pulse” mode with the AP button in the Toolbar. New pulses are added to a signal by clicking in the signal during the clock cycle of the desired pulse.

Repeated clicks will change the new pulse from H to Z to L to X for signals, and Z to X to the toolbar bus value for buses.

For example: If the signal is high in the diagram, and you want to add low pulses to the signal during clock cycles 2, 4, and 6, do the following:

  • AP button

  • Click in the signal 2 times during clock cycle 2.

  • Click in the signal 2 times during clock cycle 4.

  • Click in the signal 2 times during clock cycle 6.

The new pulses being added are synchronized to the closest clock above the signal or the Sync Clock specified in signal panel GUI. The pulses can be be synchronized to rising, falling, or both edges using the arrow buttons in the toolbar.

In buses, you can quickly create a counter by adding pulses in the following clock cycles. The bus values can be incremented or decremented by the value specified in the toolbar next to the spin button.

Hide Show Objects

Enable “Show Hiden Objects” mode with the SH button in the Toolbar.

When “Show Hidden” is enabled, all the hidden objects will be visible in the timing diagram. The object background will be yellow. Use the right mouse button to get the pop-up menu and select “Show Object” if you want to make it visible again.

Note: Hiding and showing Signals is done from the Edit Menu, Signals, “Hide Show”. This operation will be improved in the future and combined with the SH button functionality.

Moving Edges

Select multiple Edges by holding down the shift key and click on the Edges. Select one Edge and then the Edit or pop-up menu, “Select All to Right” or “Select All to Left”

Drag the Edges with the mouse or use the following key combinations.

Ctrl + Arrow Keys

Time Per Division / 100

Arrow keys

Time Per Division / 10

Shft + Arrow Keys

Time Per Division

Move All Synchronously

Drag the mouse to create the copy rectangle. Make sure all the objects to be moved are selected. Use Alt and Arrow Keys to move all the selected objects 1/2 clock cycle at a time.

See Video in “Screenshots and Videos”

This helps when inserting new pulses between other pulses. Or new transactions between existing transactions. For example: If there was 2 write cycles back to back but you wanted to insert a read cycle between them.

Zooming In and Out

Zoom Out

Pluse Key +

Zoom In

Minus Key -

Zoom Full

Asterick Key *

Zoom Range

Drag to draw a rectangle so no components are selected.

Parts Libs

Use the Lib Menu to add Part Delays, Part Constraints, and Part JitterMargins to the library for the timing diagram. These are not added to the timing diagram directly. The user specifies the min, typ, and max values and the description for Part Delays and Constraints and min and max values and the description for Part JitterMargins.

  • Use the Lib Menu -> Part Delay or the Pop-up Menu -> Add to put in library.

  • Use the Lib Menu -> Part Constraint or the Pop-up Menu -> Add to put in the library.

  • Use the Lib Menu -> Part Jitter or the Pop-up Menu -> Add to put in the library.

Adding Delays

A Part Delay must be added to the Parts Library before a Delay can be added to the timing diagram.

  • Select 2 Edges. Edge 1 is the source of the Delay and Edge 2 is the destination.

  • Use the Add Menu -> Delay or the Pop-up Menu -> Add Used Delay.

The following fields need to specified in the Delay Panel.

The Part Delay

For example: This could be tphl for a combinatorial logic AND gate that was added to the Parts Lib.

Edge 1 Position

The start of the Delay will occur at the time of the position in the Edge.

Edge 2 Position

The end of the Delay will occur at the time of the position in the Edge.

Title Position

The title will be displayed to the left, right, or center of the vertical lines from the Edges.

View Case

Draws the min or max Delay in the diagram.

Use the Add button to add the Delay to the diagram. Use the Update button to change any of the settings for a Delay already being used.

To edit a used Delay, double click on the Delay in the diagram. The Delay Panel will display with the used Delay values. Change any of the values and use the Update button.

Adding Constraints

A Part Constraint must be added to the Parts Library before a Constraint can be added to the timing diagram.

Select 2 Edges. Edge 1 is should occur first in time and Edge 2 second. For example: For a hold Constraint, select the CLK signal Edge first and then the data signal Edge. Use the Add Menu -> Constraint or the Pop-up Menu Add Used Constraint.

The following fields need to specified in the Constraint Panel.

The Part Constraint

For example: This could be Thold for a DFF that was added to the Parts Lib.

Edge 1 Position

The start of the Constraint will occur at the time of the position in the Edge.

Edge 2 Position

The end of the Constraint will occur at the time of the position in the Edge.

Title Position

The title will be displayed to the left, right, or center of the vertical lines from the Edges.

Type

Edge 1 type - Edge 2 type. For example: A hold Constraint would be Edge 1 Max - Edge 2 Min. Select Max-Min

Use the Add button to add the Constraint to the diagram. Use the Update button to change any of the settings for a Constraint already being used.

To edit a used Constraint, double click on the Contraint in the diagram. The Constraint Panel will display with the used Constraint values. Change any of the values and use the Update button.

Adding JitterMargins

Refer to the App Note “Intro to Timing Analysis” for real examples using Jitter Margins.

JitterMargins must be added to the Parts Library before it can be added to the timing diagram.

  • Select one or more Edges that require Jitter Margins

  • Select Add Used JitterMargin from the Pop-up menu.