Saber® Simulator Guide

Saber is a registered trademark of SabreMark Limited Partnership and is used under license.

Saber® Simulator Guide Reference ManualVersion Y-2006.06, June 2006

ii

Copyright Notice and Proprietary InformationCopyright © 2006 Synopsys, Inc. All rights reserved. This software and documentation contain confidential and proprietary information that is the property of Synopsys, Inc. The software and documentation are furnished under a license agreement and may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of the license agreement. No part of the software and documentation may be reproduced, transmitted, or translated, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, manual, optical, or otherwise, without prior written permission of Synopsys, Inc., or as expressly provided by the license agreement.

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Saber Simulator Guide Reference Manual, Version Y-2006.06

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Saber Guide Windows/Pulldown Menus ...................................1-1

General Pulldown Menu Operation ...........................................................1-1

Tear-Off Menus (Motif Configuration Only).........................................1-2

Pulldown Menu Names and Contents .......................................................1-3

File Pulldown Menu...............................................................................1-3

Open Design Dialog Box...................................................................1-6

Edit Pulldown Menu..............................................................................1-6

Alter Design Dialog Box...................................................................1-8

Experiment Dialog Box ....................................................................1-9

Application Preferences (UNIX) ....................................................1-10

Graph Pulldown Menu ........................................................................1-13

Signal Attributes Menu Option .....................................................1-14

Signal Attributes - View Axis Options ..........................................1-16

Axis Attributes Menu Option.........................................................1-18

Members Menu Option...................................................................1-21

Measure Results Menu Option ......................................................1-21

Selected Axes Menu Option ...........................................................1-22

Selected Signals Menu Option.......................................................1-25

Analyses Pulldown Menu ....................................................................1-28

Hierarchical Browsing in Analysis Forms ....................................1-29

Extract Pulldown Menu.......................................................................1-29

Hierarchical Browsing with the Add Signals to Plotfile Form.....1-30

Results Pulldown Menu.......................................................................1-30

Hierarchical Browsing in Report Forms .......................................1-31

Tools Pulldown Menu ..........................................................................1-31

Window Pulldown Menu......................................................................1-33

Saber Simulator Guide Reference Manual iii

Table of Contents

Help Pulldown Menu ...........................................................................1-33

Chapter 2. Quick Reference .........................................................................2-1

Saber Guide Icon Bar..................................................................................2-1

SaberGuide Mouse Usage ...........................................................................2-3

Saber Tool Bar Icons ...................................................................................2-4

Chapter 3. Text Editors ................................................................................3-1

Editors for Editing MAST Files..................................................................3-1

Client/server model .....................................................................................3-1

Non client/server model ..............................................................................3-2

UNIX and Linux systems using X Windows ........................................3-2

Windows .................................................................................................3-2

Examples ................................................................................................3-2

Index ......................................................................................................... Index-1

iv Saber Simulator Guide Reference Manual

chapter 1Saber Guide Windows/Pulldown Menus

The Pulldown menu bar runs across the top of the Saber window.

General Pulldown Menu Operation

To open a pulldown menu, follow these steps:

• Highlight the menu name by placing the mouse cursor over the menu name.

• Single click with the left mouse button on the highlighted name to open the menu.

To activate an item in a pulldown menu, follow these steps:

• Highlight the item by placing the mouse cursor over the item.

• Single click the left mouse button to activate the item.

A pulldown menu item that contains cascade menus will have an arrow to the right of the item.

Cascade Menu Arrows

• To display the cascade menu, move the cursor over the item with the arrow (Motif configuration).

• To display the cascade menu, move the cursor over the item with the arrow and single click the left mouse button.

Saber Simulator Guide Reference Manual 1-1

Chapter 1: Saber Guide Windows/Pulldown Menus

• To find out the function of a pulldown menu item, place the mouse cursor over the item. A short explanation of the item will appear in the Help field at the bottom of the window.

Tear-Off Menus (Motif Configuration Only)

You have the option of opening a pulldown menu, moving it to some other part of your screen, and keeping it displayed until you have finished using it.

To tear-off a menu, follow these steps:

• Highlight the menu name by placing the mouse cursor over the menu name.

• Press & hold the middle mouse button on the highlighted menu.

• Move the displayed pulldown menu to the desired location.

• Release the mouse button to place the menu.

To return the tear-off menu to normal control, follow these steps:

• Highlight the menu name in the Pulldown menu bar by placing the mouse cursor over the menu name.

• Single click the left mouse button.

1-2 Saber Simulator Guide Reference Manual

Pulldown Menu Names and Contents


Different menus will be displayed depending on the application you are using.

The following is a list of available menus from the Pulldown menu bar.

File Menu Open existing files, save your work to new files, create new windows, save configuration settings, open the print dialog box, and exit the application.

Edit Menu Editing operations, customizing the look and operations of the windows.

Graph Menu Operations allowing you to navigate and modify CosmosScope windows.

Analyses Menu Simulator design analysis options.

Extract Menu Simulator post-processing data manipulation.

Results Menu Simulator post-processing data display options.

Tools Menu Access to the Saber Tools available as icons at the bottom of the screen.

Window Menu Management of multiple areas in the Saber window.

Help Menu Assistance options on various Saber features.

File Pulldown Menu

The File pulldown menu allows you to open existing files, save your work to new files, create new windows, save configuration settings, open the print dialog box, and exit applications.

New Creates a new source file or XY Graph, Smith Chart, or Polar Chart window.

Open Opens an existing design or symbol using the Open Files dialog box.

Close Closes the active window or all windows.

Save Saves the active window to the current file path and name.



The Save Graph dialog box allows you to specify a path and file name. In addition, a pop-up dialog box prompts you to save the graph file in one of the following ways:

1. With a copy of the waveforms in the graph.

2. With a reference to the plot file from which the waveforms in the graph were plotted.

In the first case, all connection to the plot file is lost. In the second case, the connection to the plot is maintained. Thus, if the graph is reopened it can be automatically updated due to any Replace or Append plot actions specified for the plot file in an analysis.

The Save Outline dialog box allows you to specify a path and file name for an outline. In addition, a Graph Outline pop-up dialog box allows you to specify several attributes for the saved outline. You can select whether or not to maintain the connection to the plot file in the same way as for a graph outline. You control this by checking (or unchecking) the Dependencies checkbutton on the Graph Outline dialog box.

Export Image Opens an Export Image dialog box which allows you to export the contents of an editor window to a file in a variety of graphics formats.

Configuration Saves your configuration. There are three options.

• Save saves your configuration immediately.• Clear clears any saved configuration you have

made in the current session. The next time Saber is invoked your configuration will be the default settings.

• Save on Exit saves your session configuration upon exiting.

Output Options Opens the Set Output Options dialog box. This dialog box allows you to set up background colors and color mode for printed or exported graphics formats and printer set-ups. You can also give your colors a color boost.



If you want to save information, you must choose the File > Save item before exiting.

If you want to save your configuration settings you must choose the File > Configuration > Save item.

If you want to save your configuration every time you exit Saber use the File > Configuration > Save on Exit item, or the Edit > Application Preference > Save Configuration on Exit > Yes item.

Most Recently Accessed Files

The space at the bottom of the File pulldown menu, above the Exit item, displays the last five windows that were opened in the Saber Guide work space.

Print Opens the SaberDesigner Print dialog box. This menu item allows you to print the entire contents of a window, including graphics that may not be in your immediate view.

• To print the current design, single click on the OK button.

Printer This menu item appears in UNIX versions of CosmosScope. It allows you to Create a new printer configuration, Remove a printer from the printer list, or change the Properties of your printers.

Exit Closes Saber without saving any information.



Open Design Dialog Box

The Open Design dialog box contains the Design Files scrollable list field, Root Entity field, and Directory field.

Design Files scrollable list

Lists the files, as defined by the .ai_vhddsn file, required to simulate the design named in the Root Entity field. The files in the list are configured in the order that the simulator reads them in, from top to bottom.

To reorder files

• The up and down arrow buttons move the highlighted file up and down in the list.

• The Add... button allows you to add files to the list.

• The Delete button allows you to remove files from the list.

Root Entity field

The top-level description of the circuit you are simulating.

Directory field

The directory path to the Root Entity.

Save... button

If you make any changes to the Design Files list, this saves the changes to the .ai_vhddsn file.

Load... button

Loads a design into the Open Design dialog box.

Edit Pulldown Menu

The Edit pulldown menu allows you to perform editing operations, customize the look of the window, and customize the look and operation of the Saber Guide windows.

Undo Reverses your last completed operation. This item does not operate on general windows or UI operations. There is one level of undo. If the Undo menu item is stippled or greyed out, it will not operate on your last action.

Redo Reverts to the state you were in before you chose Undo. There is one level of redo.



Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete In Saber Guide the Cut, Copy, Paste, and Delete items operate on one or more database objects. Therefore, if you have multiple windows open that contain the same database object, performing any of these actions will affect every window that contains that database object

• For example, if you have multiple windows open of a single schematic and you Delete a wire, that wire will be deleted in every window.

Cut Removes a selected object and moves it into a clipboard.

Copy Copies a selected object in the active window into a clipboard.

Paste Pastes whatever is in the clipboard into the active window.

Delete Removes the currently selected items from the window.

Alter Changes temporarily (without deleting) the value of any element or parameter in the template describing the current block. This form does not change the file containing the template description (or netlist), but it does let you see the effect of a change before editing the file to make the change.

Experiment Allows you to execute one or more commands repeatedly.

Application Preferences (UNIX only)

Allows you to customize the text and colors of the window.

Graph Preferences Allows you to customize the appearance of your graphs.

Set Default File Type Allows you to select one of the following: Incremental pl, Text/Excel, VCD, Plotfiles, Pre 5.0 plotfiles.

SaberGuide Preferences Allows you to modify the functionality of the Saber Guide.



Alter Design Dialog Box

The Alter Design dialog box allows you:

To change a parameter value

You can change the property value of an instance without propagating the change back into the Saber Sketch design by using the Alter Design form.

1. Open the Alter Design form by selecting either Edit > Alter... or the Alter button in the menu bar.

2. Select the Netlist tab.

3. Select an instance in the Hierarchical Instance List. If there is a + next to the instance name, double click to display the lower level hierarchy of this instance. All parameters can be found in the + Parameters category.

4. Highlight the parameter you want to change by clicking on it with the mouse cursor.

5. Display the Edit Values form by clicking the Edit... button in the Alter Design form.

6. Change the value in the Value field.

7. Make the changes to the in-memory design by clicking the OK button or the Apply button. This step does not affect the schematic or the netlist file.

8. Close the Alter Design form.

Now you are ready to re-run your simulation with the new parameter value.

Optionally, you can use a wildcard expression in the Filter field to return only matching elements in the Hierarchical Instance List and Instance Arguments and Parameter Values fields. The Filter dropdown list has the selections container names and leaf names; in MAST designs, a container name is an instance and a leaf name is a parameter values or an instance argument.

To display the alter history

1. Open the Alter Design form by selecting either Edit > Alter... or the Alter button in the menu bar.

2. Select the History tab.

Saber Settings Allows you to modify the functionality of the Saber Simulator.

Update Template Information

Allows you to process templates before attempting to perform a netlist. Processing checks for errors and updates templates as necessary.



The history of alters performed in the current session will be displayed in the Alter History Listing window. This is a non-editable window.

Experiment Dialog Box

The Experiment dialog box allows you to execute one or more commands repeatedly. A design must already be opened in order to execute commands.

• Select the commands you want to run from the Analysis, Post Processing, Loop or Other pulldown menus.

• You can invoke the Analysis, Post Processing and Loop menus by placing the mouse cursor in an empty portion of the scrollable list and holding down the right mouse button.

• Fill out the forms for the different commands.

• The commands will be executed when you press the Apply or OK buttons.

Plotting simulation results in an Experiment using "ScopePlot"

To plot a specified list of signals from a single plotfile, open the ScopePlot form (by clicking on the ScopePlot button once it is placed in the experiment) and set "Specify Scope Graph/Outline" to "No". You can then select a plotfile and list of signals to plot. Setting the plotfile name to "Last" will select the most recent plotfile created by Saber (e.g. by the preceding analysis item in the experiment). You can select signals to display either by getting the current selected schematic signals, by browsing the list of signals in the design, or by browsing an existing plotfile. It is important to make sure that the signals which are selected for the specified plotfile name will be available in the plotfile when the experiment is run. In other words, make sure that the signal list specified for the analysis that creates the plotfile contains the signals that you wish to plot.

The second option is to use CosmosScope to create the desired graph and import the data necessary to recreate the graph into the experiment. The data is transferred through a CosmosScope file known as an "outline". An outline saves all information needed to format signals and measurements in the current graph including those signals created with the CosmosScope Calculator tools. An outline may be used to create a new graph with a different set of signals, different plotfiles, and different simulation end time from those which were used in the original graph.

To use this option in an experiment, set "Specify Scope Graph/Outline to "Yes". You may then choose an outline by selecting "Get From Scope" or "Get From File" using the down arrow next to the field named "Outline" in the ScopePlot form. "Get From Scope" will automatically import the data necessary for recreating the graph which is currently active. Once again it is important to



make sure that the signals and plotfiles will be available at the time that the ScopePlot is executed in the Experiment. By default, the signal and plotfile names are set the same as those used in the original graph. You may select different signals or plotfiles by pressing mouse button one in the "Signals" field in the ScopePlot form.

The "Get From File" option is similar to "Get From Scope", but reads the outline data from a file instead of directly from CosmosScope. To use "Get From File" you will need to select the item "Save>Outline" from within CosmosScope to save an outline of the graph that you wish to create in the experiment. Then use the "Get From File" item in the ScopePlot form to read the outline into the experiment. When using "Get From File" the default signal names are the same as those in the original graph, and the default plotfile is set to "Last" (which selects the most recently generated plotfile). Once again you may modify the plotfiles and or signals by clicking on the signal field in the ScopePlot form.

Application Preferences (UNIX)

The Application Preferences dialog box allows you to customize the text and colors of Saber windows, change the date format and to save configuration preferences. The Applications Preferences dialog box is not available on Windows.

To change colors:

• Single click on the Foreground, Active Foreground, Background or Active Background buttons that contain the colored square. A Color Editor dialog box will be displayed.

To change the style of text:

• Click on the ABC 123 button. The Font Selection dialog box will be displayed.

Other fields are described in the following table:

Date Format Globally changes date displays in Saber.

• To change the date display, click on the Edit button. The Edit Text Variables dialog box will be displayed.



Application Preferences - General Operation

To apply a new preference, use the Apply button. The new preference will be immediately applied. This change is good only for your current session unless you use the Save button.

To save your changes as preference for later sessions, click on the Save button. You can now exit, return, and retain your new preferences.

The Defaults button sets your preferences to the original default selections.

The Reset button returns the settings that were in place when the current session was opened, or when the last settings were applied with the Apply button.

The Close button closes the dialog box.

Application Colors

Colors can be changed on the Foreground, Active Foreground, Background and Active Background.

The Foreground consists of the pulldown menu text and the text on buttons and fields in all of the menus and dialog boxes.

The Active Foreground consists of highlighted pulldown menu text and the highlighted text on buttons and fields in all of the menus and dialog boxes.

The Background consists of the window surface, and the surface of all menus and dialog boxes upon which text and buttons are displayed.

Definition Field Displays the current date display format.

• To place an item in the Definition field, left click on the item.

Predefined Button Opens a list of predefined date displays.

Building Blocks Scrollable List

Allows you to build your own date display.

Save Configuration on Exit Gives you the option of saving whatever your configuration is when you exit.



The Active Background consists of the highlight surrounding highlighted text.

Active Background

Background

Active Foreground

Foreground

(highlighted text)(highlighted background)

(text)



Graph Pulldown Menu

The Graph pulldown menu allows you to navigate and modify the CosmosScope windows.

Paste Allows you to plot selected signals from the signal list into the graph region.

Annotate Info Allows you to insert information into the graph window.

Zoom to Fit Displays the entire design.

Zoom In Increases magnification to show increased detail.

Zoom Out Decreases magnification to show less detail but more of the design.

Signal Attributes Opens the Signal Attributes dialog box.

Axis Attributes Opens the Axis Attributes dialog box.

Toggle Axis Grid Turns the graph grid on and off.

Members Opens the Member Attributes dialog box, if a graph window containing multiple members is open.

Measure Results Opens the Measure Results dialog box.

Waveform compare

Invokes the Digital Waveforms Compare dialog box, allowing you to perform comparisons between two digital waveforms.

Signal Search Searches for signals that have been graphed.

Selected Axes Operates on one or more axes that you have selected. Selected Axes items that are available to alter or show/hide are Range, Scale, Grids, Sliders, and Lock.

Selected Signals Allows you to adjust display characteristics.

Selected Graphics

Allows you to modify graphic objects.

Font Controls the font selection, style, and size in the current graph.

Color Map Allows you to change the graph window color scheme.

Legend Allows you to change the position of the legends in the graph.



Signal Attributes Menu Option

Selecting the Graph>Signal Attributes option opens the Signal Attributes dialog box. This dialog box allows you to select any signal displayed in the graph window, change the color of the signal, change the style of the line, add a symbol to the signal, change the symbol width, fill the area under the signal, manipulate the stack region, change the point of view of the signal, and change the signal label.

Match Aspect Ratio

Allows you to change the dimensions of the graph window.

Rename window title

Allows you to rename the title on the graph.

Clear Graph Clears all signals, axes, and legends from the graph.

Signal Field Allows you to select a signal displayed in the graph window to view or modify its attributes.

To display all available signals in the graph window, single click the left mouse button on the downward pointing arrow at the right of the Signal field.

Color Field Allows you to change the color of the selected signal.

• To change colors, single click on any one of the color buttons.

Style Field Allows you to change the appearance of the signal line. Several line styles are displayed. Selecting None causes the signal line to disappear. If the signal is also represented by symbols, the symbols will still be displayed.



Symbol Field For analog signals, the Symbol field allows you to add symbols to display the signal line. Several symbol styles are displayed. Selecting None causes the symbols to disappear. If the signal is also represented by a line, the line will still be displayed.

Symbol Width Field For analog signals, the Symbol Width field allows you to change the size of displayed symbols.

Bar Field For analog signals, the Bar field allows you to fill in the area under a curve with a pattern. Several bar patterns are displayed. The pattern will be in the color of the signal.

Stack Region Field Allows you to move the signal currently selected in the Signal Attributes dialog box in and out of different graph regions.

• Digital will move the selected analog or digital signal into a single digital/trace graph region.

• New will move the selected analog or digital signal into a new analog graph region at the top of all other analog graph regions in the graph window.

• n (where n is the identifying number of a graph region) will move the selected analog or digital signal into the analog graph region specified by the number n.

Trace Height Field For digital signals, the Trace Height field allows you to change the height of selected signals.



Signal Attributes - View Axis Options

Various options for the Vertical and Horizontal Axis are available by selecting Graph>Signal Attributes; these options are implemented by setting the View: fields in the Signal Attributes Dialog Box. Details on these options are provided below.

Vertical Axis Options

• Real(x) uses the real X values of a signal as the Y-axis of the graph region. For example, if the X-axis is represented in Hertz, the Y-axis will also be represented in Hertz.

• dB(x) uses the decibels of the x value of a signal as the Y-axis .

• Real(y) plots the real value of the Y-axis.

• dB(y) plots the Y-axis in decibels.

• Mag(y) plots the magnitude of the Y-axis value.

Bus Field For digital signals, the Bus field changes the digital information display.

View Field For analog signals, the View fields allows you to change the display of the selected signal.

• The left hand field changes the Y-axis (vertical axis) plot of the selected signal.

• The right hand field changes the X-axis (horizontal axis) plot of selected signals based on different X-axis and Y-axis parameters.

Details on the Vertical Axis Options and Horizontal Axis Options are provided following this table, below.

Label Field Allows you to change the name of the signal.• To change the name type the name of the

signal in the Label field.• Click the Apply button to display the new

name in the graph window.

Close Button Closes the dialog box.



• Imag(y) plots the Y-axis in imaginary terms.

• Phase(y) deg plots the Y-axis values .

• Phase(y) rad plots the Y-axis in terms of phase in radian units.

• CPhase(y) deg plots the Y-axis in terms of continuous phase, in degree units.

• CPhase(y) rad plots the Y-axis in terms of continuous phase, in radian units.

Horizontal Axis Options

• Real(x) plots the real value of the X-axis.

• dB(x) plots the X-axis values in decibels.

• Real(y) uses the real Y values of a signal as the X-axis of the graph region. For example, if the Y-axis is represented in volts, the X-axis will also be represented in volts.

• dB(y) plots the X-axis in Y-axis terms and decibels. For example, if the Y-axis is represented in volts, the X-axis will be represented in volts and decibels.

• Mag(y) plots the magnitude of the Y-axis value.

• Imag(y) plots the X-axis in imaginary Y-axis terms. For example, if the Y-axis is represented in volts, the X-axis will be represented in imaginary volts.

• Phase(y) deg plots the X-axis in terms of phase, in degree units.

• Phase(y) rad plots the X-axis in terms of phase, in radian units.

• CPhase(y) deg plots the X-axis in terms of continuous phase, in degree units.

• CPhase(y) rad plots the X-axis in terms of continuous phase, in radian units.



Axis Attributes Menu Option

This option opens the Axis Attributes dialog box. This dialog box allows you to select an axis, zoom, pan, change the scale to linear or logarithmic, change grid increments, toggle the axis grid, and edit the axis label.

Axis Field Allows you to select and update any axis displayed in the graph window. To display and select an available axes from the graph window, click the left mouse button on the down arrow to the right of the Axis field.

Range Fields These fields allow you to zoom and pan along the axis associated with the Axis field. The field of view is displayed in the Zoom From/To field. The entire possible viewing range is displayed beneath the Slider bar.

Zoom In Button Allows you to increase magnification to show increased detail.

Zoom to Fit Button Allows you to display the maximum number of data points to show the entire range of a signal.

Zoom Out Button Allows you to decrease magnification to show less detail, but more of the graphed information.

Zoom From/To Field Displays the current field of view for the selected axis and allows you to enter values for the range you want to display.

• To change the field of view, type in the values in the From/To fields and Single click on the Apply button.



Slider Bar Allows you to pan along the selected axis.

• Press and hold the left mouse button and move the slider bar right or left. The range available to be displayed is shown below the slider bar. The range displayed is dynamically shown in the From/To field.

• Release the mouse button when the coordinates you want are displayed in the From/To field.

Scale Field Toggles the selected axis scale. The Linear button displays the selected axis scale in linear increments. The Log button displays the selected axis scale in logarithmic increments.

Increment Field (Grid, Exponent)

Allows you to change the resolution of the axis scale.

If you selected Linear for Scale, you will set the Grid Increment. If you selected Log for Scale, you will set Exponent Increment and Grids/Increment.

• Grid Increment -- Sets the unit difference between labeled grids for a linear scale. For example, inserting 20u for a time scale will set each grid marking 20usec apart. This setting is also used by the Nice Ticks option in the Axes Zoom field of the Graph Preference dialog box, the XY tab.

• Exponent Increment -- Sets the unit difference between labeled grids for a log scale. For example, inserting 1 for a frequency scale will set each grid marking exponentially apart—10, 100, 1000, etc.

• Grids/Increment -- Sets the number of unlabeled subdivisions between grids for a log scale.

Number of Tick Subdivisions Field

Allows you to change the number of gradations (ticks) between grid increments.

• To change the number of gradations, type in the number of ticks you want displayed and single click on the Apply button.



Grid Visibility Field Toggles the grid display. The Show button turns the axis grid in the active graph window on. The Hide button turns the axis grid off.

Axis Label Field Allows you to change the label of the axis. The actual units of the scale are not changed.

• To change the axis label type the name of the signal in the Axis Label field.

• Click the Apply button to display the new name in the graph window.

Close Button Exits the dialog box.



Members Menu Option

The Member Attributes dialog box is for use with multi-member waveforms. This dialog box allows you to control which members of a waveform you want to show or hide on the graph, as well as which waveform member labels you want to hide or show on the graph. The Loop Highlight button causes each of the waveform members to be highlighted sequentially.

Measure Results Menu Option

The Measure Results dialog box allows you to select a signal, delete measurements, hide measurement results, or show all measurement results.

Measurement

Status List

MeasurementDisplayed

MeasurementHidden

List

The Measurement list displays all measurements that are active for a signal. Measurement values for the selected measurement are displayed in the Status list.

Status List Displays a list of measurement values associated with the selected measurement in the Measurement list. Each value has a visibility indicator associated with it.



Selected Axes Menu Option

Operates on one or more axes that you have selected. Selected Axis items that are available to alter or show/hide are Range, Scale, Grids, Sliders, and Lock.

To select an axis, place the mouse cursor over the axis grid, the axis name next to the axis grid or the axis name in the legend, and single click with the left mouse button.

Visibility Indicator A Visibility Indicator shows the display status of a measurement value.

• To change the state of the visibility indicator, single click the left mouse button.

• An all black visibility indicator indicates that the measurement value is not displayed.

• An all green visibility indicator shows that the measurement value is displayed.

Signal Field Allows you to select any signal displayed in the graph window.

• To display all available signals in the graph window, single click with the left mouse button on the downward pointing arrow at the right of the Signal field.

Delete Measurement Button Permanently deletes the selected measurement.

Delete All Button Permanently deletes all measurements for the selected signal.

Show All Values Button Displays all values for the selected measurement.

Hide All Values Button Hides the display of all values for the selected measurement. Passing the mouse cursor over a visibility indicator in the Status list will cause a highlighted measurement value to appear on the signal.

Close Button Closes the Measure Results dialog box.



Range

The following options are available by selecting Graph>Selected Axes>Range:

• Zoom to Fit displays the maximum number of data points to show the entire range of a signal.

• Zoom In increases magnification to show increased detail.

• Zoom Out decreases magnification to show less detail, but more of the graphed information.

• Pan Right allows you to view parts of the data that are not visible to the right of the currently displayed graph. This command operates only on the X-axis.

• Pan Left allows you to view parts of the data that are not visible to the left of the currently displayed graph. This command operates only on the X-axis.

• Pan Up allows you to view parts of the data that are not visible above the currently displayed graph. This command operates only on the Y-axis.

• Pan Down allows you to view parts of the data that are not visible below the currently displayed graph. This command operates only on the Y-axis.

Scale

The following options are available by selecting Graph>Selected Axes>Scale:

• Linear sets the selected axis to a Linear scale.

• Log sets the selected axis to a Logarithmic scale.

Grids

• Show turns the axis grid in the graph regions on.

• Hide turns the axis grid in the graph regions off.

Sliders

You have the option of using a slider bar to pan along the X-axis of a graph.

• Show turns the slider bar on.

• Hide turns the slider bar off.



Lock Menu Item

Accept new signals allows signals to be added to the axis if the signals share the same units. For example, a signal with an amplitude in microvolts will share the same scaling as a signal with an amplitude in volts in the same graph region.

Lock out new signals does not allow signals to be added to the same axis even if they have the same units. For example, a signal with an amplitude in



microvolts will have a different scale from a signal with an amplitude in volts in the same graph region.

Selected Signals Menu Option

The Selected Signals feature operates on one or more graphed signals that you select, allowing you to adjust the display characteristics.

Selected Signals items that are available are Stack Region, Color, Style, Symbol, Symbol Width, View, Signal Grid Trace Height, Digital Display, Create Bus, and Delete Signals.

To select a signal, place the mouse cursor over the signal or over the signal name in the legend, and single click the left mouse button.

Selected Signals>Stack Region Menu Item

Allows you to move selected signals in and out of different graph regions.

Digital/Trace moves selected analog or digital signals into the digital/trace graph region.

New Analog moves selected analog or digital signals into a new analog graph region.



Analog n (where n is the identifying number of a graph) moves selected analog or digital signals into the analog graph region specified by the number n.

Selected Signals>Color Menu Item

Allows you to choose one of the available signal colors.

Selected Signals>Style Menu Item

Displays several line styles. Selecting None causes the signal line to disappear. If the signal is also represented by symbols, the symbols will still be displayed.

Selected Signals>Symbol Menu Item

Displays several symbol styles. Selecting None causes the symbols to disappear. If the signal is also represented by a line, the line will still be displayed.



Selected Signals>Symbol Width Menu Item

Allows you to change the size of displayed symbols.

Selected Signals>View Menu Item

Allows you to change the display of selected signals

Horizontal Value changes the X-axis (horizontal axis) plot of selected signals based on different X-axis and Y-axis parameters.

Vertical Value changes the Y-axis (vertical axis) plot of selected graph regions.

AC signals will have the option to change the display to a Nyquist plot, Bode dB plot (the vertical scale is represented in decibels), Bode Ph (phase) plot (the vertical scale is represented in degrees), or a Nichols plot.

Monotonic Plot allows you to switch to plot of selected signals between monotonic mode and normal mode.

Selected Signals>Trace Height Menu Item

Valid for digital or analog signals displayed in the Digital/Trace graph region. The Trace Height menu allows you to change the height of selected signals.

Selected Signals>Digital Display Menu Item

Allows you to display logical information in numerical forms such as binary, octal, decimal, hex, double, and stepped.



Digital signals combined into a bus can be displayed as a doubled waveform,

or as an analog stepped waveform.

Selected Signals>Delete Signals Menu Item

Deletes the signal or signals that are selected in the graph window. If the deleted signal is the only signal in the graph region, the whole graph region is deleted.

Analyses Pulldown Menu

The Analyses pulldown window contains:

Operating Point DC Operating Point, DC Transfer, Edit Initial Point.

Time Domain Transient, Operating Point/Transient.

Frequency Small Signal AC, Distortion, Noise, Two-Port.

Linear Systems Analysis Pole-Zero, Linear Time Response, Frequency Response, Estimate System Time Parameters, Estimate System Frequency Parameters.

Parametric Vary, Sensitivity.

Statistical Monte Carlo, Statistical Summary, Histogram.

Stress Stress Analysis.

Fourier Fourier, FFT, IFFT.

Batch Measure The measure command provides a means to extract performance characteristics such as the duty cycle, the 3 dB frequency, or the rise time from a waveform.

Interrupt Pauses the simulator.



Hierarchical Browsing in Analysis Forms

In general, when an analysis dialog box has fields requiring you to specify sources, signals, parameters, or arguments, you can select Browse Design from the dropdown list next to that field in order to open a dialog box allowing you to browse the design hierarchically for what the field requires.

• If there is a + next to the instance name, double click to display the lower level hierarchy of this instance.

• If the dialog box used for browsing has two panels, you can move highlighted items to and from the Selected Items list by clicking the arrow buttons.

Placing items in the Selected Items list is not necessary; Selected Items is only used to make it easy for you to keep track of which items you have selected.

• Optionally, you can use a wildcard expression in the Filter field to return only matching elements in the list fields. The Filter dropdown list has the selections container names and leaf names; in MAST designs, a container name is an instance and a leaf name is a parameter value or an instance argument.

Extract Pulldown Menu

The Extract pulldown window contains:

Continue Restarts the simulator for Transient, Operating Point/Transient, Vary, Monte Carlo analyses from the last data point calculated before the Interrupt command was issued to the simulator.

Add Signals to Plotfile Extracts specified signals and their values from a Data File and generates a plot file that can be viewed in the CosmosScope Waveform Analyzer.

Get Initial Point Extract an initial point file from the data file specified by the Input Data File field.

Transform Plotfile Reads the contents of a plot file, specified by the Input Plot File field and stores a subset of its contents in another plot file specified by the Output Plot File field.



Hierarchical Browsing with the Add Signals to Plotfile Form

You can select Browse Design from the dropdown list next to the Signal List field in order to open a dialog box allowing you to browse the design hierarchically for instances and nodes.


• You can move highlighted items to and from the Design Instance/Node List list by clicking the arrow buttons.



Results Pulldown Menu

The Results pulldown window contains:

Limit Poles and Zeros Filters the number of poles and zeros by reading the plot file, specifying ranges for values of poles and zeros, and storing results in a new plot file.

View Plotfiles in Scope Opens CosmosScope.

Operating Point Report Display the initial point values on the nodes of the current design.

Initial Point Report Reports initial point data of transistor circuits. The command creates a two part report of the initial point data in a form similar to HSPICE. The first part includes the values of all selected nets. The second part includes information about selected instances.

Plotfile Report The Plot File Report displays the values of all signals specified in the named input file.

Stress Report Generates a formatted Stress Report from an input file from a a previous stress analysis run.



Hierarchical Browsing in Report Forms

In general, when report form dialog box has fields requiring you to specify sources, signals, parameters, or arguments, you can select Browse Design from the dropdown list next to that field in order to open a dialog box allowing you to browse the design hierarchically for what the field requires.


• If the dialog box used for browsing has two panels, you can move highlighted items to and from the Selected Items list by clicking the arrow buttons.



Tools Pulldown Menu

The Tools pulldown window contains:

Sensitivity Report Generates a Sensitivity Report from an input file created by a sensitivity analysis run.

Small-Signal Report Calculates and displays the specified small signal parameters based on an initial point.

Pole-Zero Report Generates an ASCII report on a pole-zero analysis.

Plotfile Summary Summarizes the contents of a plot file, either on-screen or in a file.

Command Line Opens the Command Line tool. This tool allows you to enter AIM commands, write scripts, and save them into files. You can also view the Saber Log.

Drawing Tool Opens the Drawing tool. This tool allows you to create general graphic objects and text.



Signal Manager Opens the Signal Manager. This tool allows you to open plotfiles, filter out unwanted signals, place signals into a graph window, and place signals into the Calculator.

Measurement Open the Measurement tool. This tool allows you to perform measurement operations on displayed waveforms in the graph window. The results of the measurements are displayed in the graph along with the waveform.

Calculator Open the calculator. This tool allows you to perform operations on AIM language expressions and waveforms as well as on numbers. The calculator can be programmed to perform custom operations or a series of operations.

Macro Recorder Opens the Macro Recorder tool. This tool records a series of actions, allows you to edit these actions, and plays them back as a script.

RF Tool Opens the RF Tool. This tool allows you to perform measurements and calculations specific to RF analysis

MATLAB Command Line Opens an AIM window allowing you to issue commands to MATLAB from within Saber.

Report Opens the Report tool. This tool allows you to edit simulation files or any ASCII text. It is linked to the Saber Simulator so that new reports can be generated and displayed in the report window.

Testify Opens the Testify Test Manager tool.



Window Pulldown Menu

The Windows pulldown menu allows management of multiple windows in the primary window.

All of the windows are listed at the bottom of the Windows pulldown menu.

To open an iconized window or to bring a window to the front of a stack of windows

• Single click the left mouse button on the window name in the list.

Other functions are described in the following table:

Cascade Places windows so that they are on top of each other diagonally from the upper left hand corner to the lower right hand corner of the primary window.

Tile Places windows so they have no overlap.

Arrange Icons Neatly arranges multiple icons across the bottom of the window.

Help Pulldown Menu

The Help pulldown menu offers assistance on various Saber features.

Help on SaberGuide opens the doumentation describing this application.

Help on Scope opens the doumentation describing this application.

About Online Documentation displays the online documentation version and copyright.

About CosmosScope displays the CosmosScope version and copyright.

About SaberGuide displays the Saber Guide version and copyright.




chapter 2Quick Reference

Saber Guide Icon Bar

The following lists all SaberGuide Icon Bar icons and describes where to find information on their functions.

Open File

Open a file.

Operating Point

Open the Operating Point Analysis form. This form allows you to calculate the operating point of the system.

Frequency Response

Open the Small-Signal Frequency Analysis form. This form allows you to perform a small-signal AC analysis of a system to find the AC response.

DC Transfer

Open the DC Transfer Analysis form. this form allows you to perform an Operating Point analysis to calculate the operating point at each point in a user defined sweep.


Chapter 2: Quick Reference

Transient Analysis

Open the Time-Domain Transient Analysis form. This form allows you to perform a transient analysis of the design to find the time domain response.

Pole Zero Analysis

Open the Pole Zero Analysis form. This form allows you to determine the poles and/or zeros of a system.

Vary

Open the Parameter Sweep form. this form allows you to sweep part parameter values over a user-specified range and execute one or more analyses at each swept value.

Monte Carlo

Open the Monte Carlo Analysis form. This form allows you to execute a set of Saber commands in a statistical environment, which has the effect of performing a series of Monte Carlo runs on the commands.

Sensitivity

Open the Sensitivity Analysis form. This form allows you to set the parameters and perturbation for a sensitivity analysis, and choose the type of analysis to be performed.

List/Alter

Open the List/Alter Design form. This form allows you to change temporarily (but not delete) the value of any element or parameter in the template describing the current block.


SaberGuide Mouse Usage

Experiment

Open the Experiments dialog box. This dialog box allows you to execute one or more commands repeatedly.

Last Plot File

Load the plot file from the most recent analysis into SaberScope.

Interrupt Simulation

Temporarily halt the current simulation.

SaberGuide Transcript

Open the SaberGuide transcript window.

Busy Indicator

Rotates when the Saber simulator is working.

SaberGuide Mouse Usage

Unix systems use a three button mouse.

In Windows, you may use a two-button mouse, a three-button mouse, or a two-button mouse configured to emulate a three-button mouse.



If you use a two-button mouse, you can access the functionality provided by a third mouse button by holding down the right mouse button and selecting the function from the popup menu that appears.

Mouse Buttons Function

Left button single click Select an object

Left Button click, drag and release Select text

Left button double click Open files and directories

Middle mouse button single click Paste an object

Middle mouse button press and hold and drag

Pan across a window

Saber Tool Bar Icons

The following table lists all Saber Tool Bar icons and describes where to find information on their functions

Tool Icon Function

Command Line Tool Opens the Command Line tool. This tool allows you to enter AIM commands, write scripts, and save them into files. You can also view a log of AIM commands as executed by the application.

Draw Tool Opens the Draw tool. This tool allows you to create symbols as well as general graphic objects and text.

Signal Manager Opens the Signal Manager. This tool allows you to browse plot files and display them as graphs.

Measurement Tool Opens the Measurement tool. This tool performs measurement operations that are used to display one or more “performance measures” for a waveform.


Saber Tool Bar Icons

Calculator Opens the Calculator. This tool allows you to perform mathematical and logical operations on AIM language expressions and waveforms as well as on numbers.

Macro Recorder Opens the Macro Recorder tool. This tool records a series of actions, allows you to edit these actions, and plays them back as a script.

RF Tool Opens the RF Tool. This tool allows you to perform special measurements and calculations when running RF analysis.

MATLAB Tool Opens the MATLAB tool. This tool is an interface to MATLAB applications.

Report Tool Opens the Report tool. This tool allows you to edit simulation files or any ASCII text. It is linked to the Saber Simulator so that new reports can be generated and displayed in the report window.

Testify Open the Testify Test Manager tool.

Tool Icon Function




chapter 3Text Editors

Editors for Editing MAST Files

You can select one of three editors to edit MAST files:

• Report Tool (the default)

• GNU emacs

• User defined (you must specify how to invoke the editor).

You can invoke the editor by double clicking on an error message reported by the Saber Simulator when reading the design; such errors must have a line number. The file containing the error will be loaded in the selected editor and, if possible, the cursor is positioned on the line containing the error. If you select Report Tool as your editor, it will highlight MAST keywords, types, comments, and function calls to predefined functions with different colors. You can disable highlighting in the Preferences tab.

The built-in invocation commands for emacs works with GNU emacs.

Specification of a user editor depends on whether the editor to be configured has a client/server model (such as emacs) or not.

Client/server model

Enter the client and server invocation commands in the corresponding lines of the Preferences form. If the client can start the server, ensure that the server will come up in server mode by placing the appropriate command in the server configuration file (e.g., for emacs, place the command

(gnuserv-start)

in your ~/.emacs file). Invoke the client in no-wait mode if available. If the server must be started separately, ensure that it is started in server mode by specifying this on its command line.


Chapter 3: Text Editors

Non client/server model

Enter the invocation command for the editor in the client line of the Preferences form and leave the server line empty.

On all command lines you can use the following placeholders:

• %f to specify where the file name must appear

• %l to specify a line number where to position the cursor

If the editor you are starting is a graphical application, you can specify its invocation command directly in the corresponding line. Otherwise, you must start a window and invoke the editor in that window.

UNIX and Linux systems using X Windows

xterm -e your_command

Windows

cmd /c your_command

Examples

• vi editor (non-graphical, no client/server model) UNIX/Linux: xterm -e vi -c %l %f Windows: cmd /c vi -c %l %f

• textedit (graphical, no client/server model, Sun Solaris, no line no) textedit %f

• notepad (graphical, no client/server model, Windows, no line no): notepad %f


Index

A

Analyses menu 1-28Axis Attributes Menu Option 1-18

E

Edit menu 1-6Experiment

plotting simulation results using "ScopePlot" 1-9

Experiment dialog box 1-9Extract menu 1-29

F

File menu 1-3

G

Graph menu 1-13Grids 1-23

H

Help menu 1-33Horizontal Axis Options 1-17

I

Icon BarSaberGuide 2-1

L

Lock Menu Item 1-24

M

Measure

Results Menu Option 1-21Members Menu Option 1-21Mouse Usage

SaberGuide 2-3

O

Open Design Dialog Box 1-6

P

pulldown menucontents 1-3general operation 1-1

R

Range 1-23Results menu 1-30

S

Scale 1-23Selected Axes Menu Option 1-22Selected Signals

Color Menu Item 1-26Delete Signals Menu Item 1-28Digital Display Menu Item 1-27Menu Option 1-25Stack Region Menu Item 1-25Style Menu Item 1-26Symbol Menu Item 1-26Symbol Width Menu Item 1-27Trace Height Menu Item 1-27View Menu Item 1-27

Signal AttributesMenu Option 1-14View Axis Options 1-16

Sliders 1-23

Saber Simulator Guide Reference Manual Index-1

Chapter :

T

Tool Bar IconsSaberDesigner 2-4

Tools menu 1-31

V

Vertical Axis Options 1-16

W

Window menu 1-33

Index-2 Saber Simulator Guide Reference Manual

BOOKSHELF

OVERVIEW

Saber® Examples User Guide

DESIGN - GENERAL

Saber® Sketch User Guide

Saber® Parts Gallery Reference Manual

Saber® Property Editor Reference Manual

DESIGN - SPECIFIC

Saber® Harness Quick Start

Saber® Harness User Guide

Saber® Sketch iQBus User Guide

SIMULATION

Saber® Quick Start

Saber® User Guide

Saber® Simulator Command Reference Manual

Saber® Simulator Guide Reference Manual

Saber® HDL Command Reference Manual

Saber® Netlist Options Reference Manual

Saber® Simulator Real Time (RT) Interface User Guide

Synopsys Online Documentation Y-2006.06

ANALYSIS

CosmosScope™ Reference Manual

CosmosScope™ MATLAB® Interface User Manual

Saber® Simulator Testify Quick Start

Saber® Simulator Testify User Guide

UTILITIES

CosmosScope™ Calculator Reference Manual

Saber® and CosmosScope™ Command Line Tool User Guide

Saber® and CosmosScope™ Draw Tool User Guide

Saber® and CosmosScope™ Hotkeys User Guide

Saber® and CosmosScope™ Macro Recorder User Guide

Saber® and CosmosScope™ Report Tool Reference Manual

Saber® and CosmosScope™ StateAMS Reference Manual

Saber® Design Browser Tool Reference Manual

Saber® Model Architect Tool User Guide

MODELING AND MODEL LIBRARIES

Saber® Library and Model User Guide

Saber® Managing Symbols and Models User Guide


Saber® MAST Language Reference Manual

Saber® MAST Language, Book 1, User Guide

Saber® MAST Language, Book 2, User Guide

AIM FOR CUSTOMIZATION

Saber® and CosmosScope™ AIM User Guide

Saber® AIM Reference Manual

INTEGRATION WITH THIRD-PARTY PRODUCTS

Saber® Frameway for Cadence Design Framework II User Guide

Saber® Frameway for Mentor Graphics ePD User Guide

Saber® Frameway for Mentor Graphics Falcon Framework User Guide

Saber® Frameway Integrations Quick Start

Saber® Simulator Co-Simulation with ModelSim Quick Start

Saber® Simulator Co-Simulation with ModelSim User Guide

Saber® Simulator Co-Simulation with Verilog User Guide

Saber® Simulink Co-Simulation Interface User Guide


Documents

Saber® Simulator Guide