Couple of noob queations

[Zom-B]

I'm fairly new to Multisim/Ultiboard and I've extensively used Orcad Capture in the past (from DOS version up till version 7). Capture was always self-explainatory but with the NI software I have lots of problems doing things I could always do

Multisim 

-Where is the switch with middle position; on/off/on type CO switch?

-How can I stop nets from re-routing when I move an attached component? (I just want the last straight line to stretch, and all the corners to stay where they are)

-How can I give a potmeter/switch/zener diode/etc a 'real' value like "50k" instead of those texts like "Key = Space" ?

-If I add a relay, I understand the 'right' way is to take an energizing coil and separate contacts. Where is the CO contact? If I make a CO with a NO and a NC, I'll eventually get two pins on the board instead of one for the middle contact.

Ultiboard

-How do I get a consistent pad size on design? For example, TO-92 has really thin pads, the DIL has square pads, etc. I want all pads to be equal, like round 80mil dia 40mil drill.

-How can I swap gates manually? Depenging on the footprint (i think) either nothing happens or I see the balls with lines to some pins at random, and clicking them does nothing. Because of previous question, I usually use my own DIL footprint without correct gate group information entered on each pin.

-How can I stop components from moving away when I move another component in the vicinity, but not actually intersecting?

[Zom-B]

How can I easily deaw a net between two existing nets, like this? 

[lacy]

I will try to tackle the Multisim Questions. I will take them one by one.

1. Where is the switch with middle position; on/off/on type CO switch? 

      As far as I can see there isn't one.

2  How can I stop nets from re-routing when I move an attached component? (I just want the last straight line to stretch, and all the corners to

   stay where they are.

    Not real sure about this one without seeing what your wanting, but a suggestion that might help is to make sure that your have "autowire   

    on move" active in the OPTIONS>GLOBAL PREFERENCES

3.  How can I give a potmeter/switch/zener diode/etc a 'real' value like "50k" instead of those texts like "Key = Space" ?

     Potentiometers have values you can select when placing them. Diodes usually display only the part number. If your looking to just have a

     text   label then you can right click the part and goto PROPERTIES>LABEL and place it there under where it says label. You can't get rid

     of the KEY=SPACE without also removing your parts value i.e. 50Kohm. I have tried and there no way to do it I am aware of. Make sure

     your have your preferences set up under OPTIONS>SHEET PROPERTIES in the top dialog box named Component. There should be

     checks in most of the boxes. Mine has checks in all but Variant and Attributes. If these are not set you will not see component labels of

      values, etc.

4  If I add a relay, I understand the 'right' way is to take an energizing coil and separate contacts. Where is the CO contact? If I make a CO

   with a NO and a NC, I'll eventually get two pins on the board instead of one for the middle contact.

    With the separate contacts and most of the relays under Electro-Mechanical the only option is to wire them together on one side to form

     the common. The only other option is to use the C form relay in BASIC>BASIC VIRTUAL.. This is the only one I can find that has  a

     common built into it.

I hope I have at least helped with some of these. If not let me know and I will see if there may be something else I can come up with.

[lacy]

Replying to the drawing between nets question. Right click anywhere on the worksheet and a dialog boxx will come up. In this dialog box mouse over PLACE SCHEMATIC. In the next dialog select JUNCTION. Your mouse will now have a little red dot attached to it. Goto one of the nets and place that junction on it. Once the juction is place then you can wire from it as usual.

[Zom-B]

Thanks. You'vehelped me with the 2nd and 3rd question and the 2nd post question. I still can't graps why there isn't a on/off/on switche and a dpdt relay in the database as it is probably the most common (PCB mounted) relay I know. Idn'ttherre a model womewhere to download? (I've tried kittmaster's database)

[hgregg]

I'll give answering your Ultiboard questions a whirl...

1.  How do I get a consistent pad size on design? For example, TO-92 has really thin pads, the DIL has square pads, etc. I want all pads to be equal, like round 80mil dia 40mil drill.

If you turn on the Spreadsheet Bar, you will see a tab called "THT Pads". There are columns for pad shape, drill size, pad diameter, etc. Click the column name to highlight the entire column and then click in one of those cells. Type the new value you want and hit enter. All values in that column will change at once. 

2.  How can I swap gates manually?

I'm not sure if this is what you are looking for but you can use the Netlist editor to re-assign nets. Go to Tools --> Netlist Editor... then select the net from the dropbox and click the pins tab. You could also swap the gates in your Multisim schematic and then forward annotate.

3.  How can I stop components from moving away when I move another component in the vicinity, but not actually intersecting?

Go to the Options menu and make sure Part Shoving is off. 

Hope this helps.

Hg

[Zom-B]

UB#1. That would change ALL pads, not just most of them. I still have some pads which should stay as they are, like for mechanical purposes.

UB#2. The netlist editor approach would be much slower than exchanging the parts in multisim manually, and the changes would get lost evey time Iforward annotate.

   How can I 'Swap' parts in multisim then, without just cutting the parts out, exchanging them and rewiring them (my current fastest approach) ?

UB#3. Thx

Other questions came up as I tried to do simple things and failed

UB#4.    How can I move multiple parts including treaces, or grouped parts, around on the PCB without dislodging them from the grid? (currently, it looks like it generates a new 'center' and uses that as reference point to align with the grid)

UB#5.    I can't find a simple SMD shape for a 1206 LED (I'm using inductor shape Chip-L1206 now but it's unconvenient wrt the polarity)

Also, I still have these questions open for multisim:

MS#2. Disabling "Autorewire on move" works a bit too literally and is utterly useless. When I shove a part, I want this: (see image)

MS#4. If I add a relay, I understand the 'right' way is to take an energizing coil and separate contacts. Where is the CO contact? If I make a CO with a NO and a NC, I'll eventually get two pins on the board instead of one for the middle contact.

    The relay in the database with the common is only useful if I need one with one CO contact. Most PCB mounted relays have two CO contacts.

[edit] ultra bad typos 

Message Edited by Zom-B on 10-16-2008 07:58 AM

[hgregg]

UB#1. That would change ALL pads, not just most of them. I still have some pads which should stay as they are, like for mechanical purposes.

Ah, yes, I took "consistent pad size" to mean "ALL". Just don't select those that you do not want to change.

UB#2. The netlist editor approach would be much slower than exchanging the parts in multisim manually, and the changes would get lost evey time Iforward annotate.

   How can I 'Swap' parts in multisim then, without just cutting the parts out, exchanging them and rewiring them (my current fastest approach) ?

If you use the netlist editor, yes, you would still have to manually modify the schematic because backannotate does not work well. As for the Multisim "swap" via cutting and moving...yep, that's the fastest way I know of.

UB#4.    How can I move multiple parts including treaces, or grouped parts, around on the PCB without dislodging them from the grid? (currently, it looks like it generates a new 'center' and uses that as reference point to align with the grid)

I'd like to know the answer to this too!

UB#5.    I can't find a simple SMD shape for a 1206 LED (I'm using inductor shape Chip-L1206 now but it's unconvenient wrt the polarity)

I've found it easiest to make my own shapes, it is quick and saves me from being angry at the "master database". You could also look at http://ni.kittmaster.com/

MS#2. Disabling "Autorewire on move" works a bit too literally and is utterly useless. When I shove a part, I want this: (see image)

Welcome to Multisim. You should have seen it before... it would make the wires loop around themselves (still will occasionally)

Hg

[lacy]

"The relay in the database with the common is only useful if I need one with one CO contact. Most PCB mounted relays have two CO contacts."

I am really not sure what you are needing here. What I have done is enclose a sample circuit of how I would wire up the separate contacts and see if that helps any. If maybe you could post a picture of what you are refering to it may help.

As far as the autowire issue. apparently there is not going to be an option to keep it from rewiring on move that will keep the way you want it..

Here's the file.

[Zom-B]

This kind of relay: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062483

Approximate symbol images attached (screenshot from orcad)