Every invocation of the analyzer command adds a new set of signals to the display list.

The view is split into 3 regions: a trace window, a text window, and a banner. The banner displays the name of the simulation (from the sim file), and the pull-down menu headers. The text window is a 1-line window used to request and display certain information.

The trace window displays the following information:

left side:

names of the signals (nodes/vectors) displayed.

top side:

On the left and right sides, the time corresponding to the left and right edges of the trace window. In the center, the time of the current cursor position.

right side:

Values of the signals under the cursor.

zoom:

in Zooms in by a factor of 2 (magnify).

out Zooms out by a factor of 2 (reduce).

base:

Changes the numerical base used to display the value of the selected vector (see below how to select a trace) to one of the following:

bin (base 2)

oct (base 8)

hex (base 16)

window:1

delta T

Allows to determine the difference (in time) between any two edges. First click the mouse (any button) to the right of the first edge, then to the left of the second edge. The time of the two edges as well as their difference will be shown in the text window. As long as the button remains depressed, a line is shown between the two edges. Times are all shown in ns.

move to

Moves the left edge of the trace window to the specified time. The time is requested in the text window.

set width

Sets the number of ns. that will be displayed. The time is requested in the text window.

name length

Since the most important differentiating information in a long signal name is usually at the end, the analyzer will display the last 15 characters of a signal name. This option allows changing the maximum number of characters that will be displayed, which must be in the range [8-256].

scroll

Usually the analyzer displays simulation activity by scrolling the traces to the left, so the last changes are shown. The scroll feature enables/disables this scrolling, effectively freezing the traces. When scrolling is enabled, a check mark is shown on this menu entry.

print:

These options control the generation of a PostScript file suitable for obtaining a hardcopy of the trace window.

file

Requests the filename to hold the PostScript output. Hitting <return> will use the default name (shown in parens). Hitting <ctrl-C> will abort generation of the file. The following menu entries control the aspect of the PostScript file; a check mark in the corresponding menu entry implies that the feature will be included in the output.

banner

Generate a banner, showing the simulation name and current date.

legend

Generate (in a separate page) a description of the signals displayed: the complete names of nodes (since the first characters may be stripped), and for vectors the names of the nodes of wich it is composed.

times

Generate a time ruler at the bottom of the traces.

outline

Draw an outline around the trace window.

Signal names:

The signal name where the button was depressed will be highlighted and will be moved to the position where the button is released, scrolling the other traces if necessary. If the button is released under the same signal on which it was pressed, that signal will become selected. The selected signal is always underlined, and some information regarding that signal is printed in the text window.

If the button is released outside the traces area (above or below) the signal will be removed from the display. It can only be added again by invoking the analyzer command.

Left Arrow:

The traces are scrolled left by half a page (move back in time).

Right Arrow:

The traces are scrolled right by half a page (move forward in time).

Double Left Arrow:

Scrolls traces left by a full page.

Double Right Arrow:

Scrolls traces right by a full page.

Scrollbar:

The left button allows to stretch the left side of the window, thereby zooming in/out by an arbitrary amount. The right side of the window remains the same.

The right button allows to stretch the right side of the window, thereby zooming in/out by an arbitrary amount. The left side of the window remains the same.

The middle button moves the whole view back and forth in time. The magnification factor remains the same.

Traces

The cursor is moved to the time-step where the mouse is clicked. Some lack of accuracy in selecting the time may become apparent due to screen resolution round off.

Holding down the shift key simultaneously with the mouse button will not move the cursor, but rather show the value of the signal at the time-step where the mouse is clicked. The value is printed in the text window using the following format:

               name @ time:value=value,input=status

The value is always shown in binary, regardless of the base selected for that signal. The status is a string showing which nodes where inputs at that time. Nodes that were inputs have an i in their respective position, otherwise an -.

Cursor Values:

The selected signal value is highlighted and, when the button is released, the value of the signal is expanded in the text window. This is useful for displaying each of the bits that make up a vector. The information printed has the following format:

       name:value=value input=status

where value and status have the same meaning as above.

Banner:

Clicking on the banner brings the window to the foreground.

Box on Banner:

Clicking in the little box on the left side of the banner iconizes the analyzer window. To de-iconize the window, simply click any button within the icon.

Banner Menus:

Pressing a mouse button in one of the banner menus (on the right side) will pull down the corresponding menu.

     [name.]resource:  value

For the analyzer, the available names are irsim and analyzer. The available resources are:

background

Specifies the traces window background color. The default is black.

foreground

Specifies the text color, or the background of everything else besides the traces window. The default is white.

geometry

Specifies the default geometry (window size and screen location) of the graphic window. The default Xgeometry is "=1000x300+0+0".

reverseVideo

Specifies whether the foreground and background colors are to be reversed (on monochrome displays only). The default is off.

font

Specifies the fixed-width font displayed. The default is 6x13.

borderWidth

Specifies the width of the border (in pixels). The default is 2.

borderColor

Specifies the border color when the window is selected. The default is black.

highlight

Specifies the color used for highlighting. The default is red (color displays only).

traceColor

Specifies the color in which the traces are drawn. The default is white.

bannerBg

Specifies the background color for the banner. The default is white.

bannerFg

Specifies the foreground (text) color for the banner. The default is black.