LTspice IV Basic Lab Class
Presented by Thomas Mosteller ADI FAE
Copyright © 2017 Analog Devices. All rights reserved.
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Why Use LTspice?
Stable SPICE circuit simulation with
Over 2500 macromodels of
Unlimited number of nodes
Linear Technology products
Schematic/symbol editor
Waveform viewer 1400+ power products
Library of passive devices
Fast simulation of switch mode power supplies
Steady state detection
Turn on transient
SPICE = Simulation
Step response Program with Integrated
Efficiency / power computations Circuit Emphasis
Advanced analysis and simulation options
Not covered in this lab class (sort of)
Outperforms or as powerful as pay-for tools
In other words LTspice is free!
Automatically builds syntax for common tasks
LTspice is also a great schematic capture / BOM tool
© 2017 Analog Devices
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How Do I Get LTspice and Documentation?
Go to http://www.linear.com/software
Left-Click on Download LTspice IV
Follow the instructions to install
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How Do I Get Started using LTspice?
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How Do I Get Started Using LTspice?
Demo Circuits: Use one of the 100’s demo circuit available on
linear.com
Designed and Reviewed by Factory Apps Group
Go to http://www.linear.com/software or browse through the part’s webpage
(right column)
JIG Files: Use a pre-drafted test fixture (JIG)
Provides a good starting point, but is not production-ready
Used to prove out part models, and are not complete designs.
Components are typically “ideal” components and will need to be modified
based on your operating conditions
Blank: Use the schematic editor to create your own design
LTspice contains models for most LTC power devices and many more
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Demo Circuits on linear.com
Go to http://www.linear.com/software or …
What if I’m browsing the part’s webpage?
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Demo Circuits on linear.com (cont.)
Go to the part’s webpage
http://www.linear.com/product/LTM4620
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What are Demo Circuits ?
Circuits designed and reviewed by factory apps group
What if I cannot find a demo circuit ?
It remains the customer’s responsibility to verify proper and reliable operation in the
actual application
Printed circuit board layout may significantly affect circuit performance and reliability
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How Do I Get Started Using LTspice?
Demo Circuits: Use one of the 100’s demo circuit available on
linear.com
Designed and Reviewed by Factory Apps Group
Go to http://www.linear.com/software or browse through the part’s webpage
(right column)
JIG Files: Use a pre-drafted test fixture (JIG)
Provides a good starting point, but is not production-ready
Used to prove out part models, and are not complete designs.
Components are typically “ideal” components and will need to be modified
based on your operating conditions
Blank: Use the schematic editor to create your own design
LTspice contains models for most LTC power devices and many more
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Pre-drafted Test Fixture
These simulations / designs are not production-ready
Used to prove out part models, and are not complete designs.
Components are typically “ideal” components and will need to be
modified based on your operating conditions
It remains the customer’s responsibility to verify proper and reliable operation in the
actual application
Printed circuit board layout may significantly affect circuit performance and reliability
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Opening a Test Fixture
3. Click
Here
1. Edit menu, 2. Search for
select macromodel
“Component” (ex. LT8640)
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Opening a Test Fixture
Voilà !
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How Do I Get Started Using LTspice?
Demo Circuits: Use one of the 100’s demo circuit available on
linear.com
Designed and Reviewed by Factory Apps Group
Go to http://www.linear.com/software or browse through the part’s webpage
(right column)
JIG Files: Use a pre-drafted test fixture (JIG)
Provides a good starting point, but is not production-ready
Used to prove out part models, and are not complete designs.
Components are typically “ideal” components and will need to be modified
based on your operating conditions
Blank: Use the schematic editor to create your own design
LTspice contains models for most LTC power devices and many more
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Start With a New Schematic
To open up a blank schematic screen select “File”
Menu and “New Schematic”
Blank schematic
a.k.a.
MasterPiece in progress
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Using the Schematic Editor in LTspice
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How to Wire up a Simple RC Circuit
The completed exercise:
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How to Wire up a Simple RC Circuit (cont.)
Step 1: Open up a blank schematic screen
Select “File” Menu and “New Schematic”
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How to Wire up a Simple RC Circuit (cont.)
Step 2: Add the passives and grounds
Using the toolbar, select Resistor, Capacitor and Ground.
Place these symbols on the schematic as shown below. Use
Ctrl+R to rotate before placement.
Select and
place res, cap
& GND
Tip: Ctrl+R to
rotate before
placement
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How to Wire up a Simple RC Circuit (cont.)
Step 3: Add the voltage source
Select “Edit” Menu and “Component”. From the component
window, start typing “voltage” in the dialog box, and click “OK”
2. Type
“Voltage”
3. Click
“OK”
1. Edit menu,
select
“Component”
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Toolbar and Keyboard Shortcuts
Place Circuit Element [F2]
Zoom In Place Diode [D]
Pan Place Inductor [L]
Zoom Out Place Capacitor [C]
Autoscale Place Resistor [R]
Label Node [F4]
Place Ground [G]
Draw Wire [F3]
Move [F7]
Drag [F8]
Undo [F9]
Delete [Del] Redo [Shift+F9]
Duplicate [Ctrl+C] Rotate [Ctrl+R]
Paste b/t Schematics [Ctrl+V] Mirror [Ctrl+E]
Find [Ctrl+F] Place Comment/text [T]
Place SPICE directive [S]
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How to Wire up a Simple RC Circuit (cont.)
Step 4: Wire up the circuit
Using the toolbar, select Wire
1. Select
“Wire”
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How to Wire up a Simple RC Circuit (cont.)
Step 4: Wire up the circuit (cont.)
Left-Click ground “Pull” wire through the resistor “Pull” wire down through the
capacitor
“Pull” wire up through the source Left-Click here to anchor
Left-Click here to anchor &
Left-Click here to anchor finish
Hint: Press the ESC key at any time to clean up the schematic
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How to Wire up a Simple RC Circuit (cont.)
Step 5: Add net labels
Using the toolbar, select Label Net. Label the input/output nodes as shown below
1. Select
“Label Net”
2. Enter net
name
3. Place on
wire
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How to Wire up a Simple RC Circuit (cont.)
Step 6a: Component values
Right-Click on each component symbol to change its value as shown below
Right-click on
symbol
Or Right-click
on value
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Using Labels to Specify Units for Component Attributes
K = k = kilo = 103 M = m = milli = 10-3
MEG = meg = 106 U = u = micro = 10-6
G = g = giga = 109 N = n = nano = 10-9
T = t = tera = 1012 P = p = pico = 10-12
F = f = femto = 10-15
Hints
Use MEG (or meg) to specify 106, not M
Enter 1 for 1 Farad, not 1F
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Editing Components
Right-Click on the component to edit attributes
You can also edit the visible attribute and label by pointing at the text
with the mouse and then right-clicking
Mouse cursor will turn into a text caret
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Component Database
Resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, Bipolar transistors,
MOSFET transistors, JFET transistors, Independent voltage
and current sources
You can access a database of known devices
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How to Wire up a Simple RC Circuit (cont.)
Step 6b: Source parameters
Right-Click on the voltage source and enter the parameters shown below under
the “Advanced” tab.
Click
“Advanced”
Right-click
source
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How to Wire up a Simple RC Circuit (cont.)
Step 6b: Source parameters
Right-Click on the voltage source and enter the parameters shown below under
the “Advanced” tab.
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Running and Probing a Circuit in
LTspice
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Running a Circuit Simulation
Access the LT8640 circuit
Click File ---> Open, and navigate to the LTspice Lab folder
on your desktop. Look for the file titled “LT8640DCLoad.asc”
Or click “c” symbol on the right LT8640DCLoad.asc
Hotlink Nomenclature:
Class exercise
Solution to exercise
Circuits to explore at your leisure
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Viewing Voltage Waveforms
Plot the voltage on any wire by Left-Clicking it
Tip: All Demo Circuits have INs and OUTs clearly labeled to help you
quickly select them
Click here
for output
waveform
LT8640DCLoad.asc
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Viewing Current Waveforms
Plot the current through any component by Left-Clicking on
the body of the component
Current flowing into a node is defined as being positive
Click here for
inductor
current
waveform
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Zooming In and Out on a Waveform
In the waveform window, use the mouse to zoom in and out.
Click and drag a box about the region you wish to see drawn
larger
Using the toolbar, click on “Zoom full extents”, to zoom back
out
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Measuring V, I and Time in the Waveform
(Measurement Using Cursors)
1. Right-Click on the waveform name in the waveform window
2. For “Attached Cursor”, select “1st & 2nd”
3. Position cursors to make desired measurements
1. 2. 3.
Result
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Measuring V, I and Time in the Waveform
(Measurement Using Zoom Window)
1. Drag a box about the region you wish to measure
Left-Click, drag, and hold
2. View the lower left corner of the window for the status bar. The dx
and dy measurement data is displayed here.
3. Use Undo from the File menu or press “F9”
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Viewing Differential Voltage Waveforms
Left-Click on one node and drag the mouse to another node
Red voltage probe at the first node
Black probe on the second
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Viewing Differential Voltage Waveforms
To create a measurement reference node, Right-Click on the
desired node and select “Mark Reference”
A black voltage probe is anchored to the selected node
All measurements in the circuit are now referenced to the
node with the black probe
Hit the ESC key to remove the reference mark
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Viewing Wire Current Waveforms
Plot the current through any wire by Alt-Left-Clicking on the
wire
An ammeter will appear to indicate that the wire current will be
displayed
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Average & RMS Calculations
Average & RMS Current, Voltage, or Power Dissipation
Calculated only for the visible area of the plot window
Click on inductor L1 to display the inductor current waveform
Ctrl-Left-Click the I(L1) trace label in the waveform view
Example:
Measure average
and RMS current
for inductor in
LT8640 circuit.
Zoom in as shown
for this waveform.
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Instantaneous & Average Power Dissipation
Instantaneous Power Dissipation
Alt-Left-Click on the symbol of the
LT8640
Waveform is displayed in units of Watts
Average Power Dissipation
Click, hold, and drag in the waveform
window to display waveform at steady
state
Ctrl-Left-Click on the Power
Dissipation Trace Label in the
waveform view
Waveform summary window will appear
which shows power dissipation in the IC
Example:
Measure the power dissipation
in the LT8640 IC
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Deleting Waveforms
Method #1: Right-Click on a trace label to be deleted
Select “Delete this Trace”
Deletes only the selected trace
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Deleting Waveforms
Method #2a: Right-Click on the plot background and select “Delete
Traces”
Method #2b: If the plot window is active hotkey F5 is equivalent
Cursor turns into scissors
Left-Click on one or more trace labels to delete. ESC(ape) to quit
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Deleting Waveforms
Method #3: Plot the same waveform twice in succession
Deletes all but that waveform
Click,
click
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Current Sources
The simulation shows the output momentarily going to -1.2V
but this can’t happen in the real world – what’s going on?
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Current Sources (cont.)
Ideal current sources source current even with zero or
negative differential across them
This results in the output capacitor initially charging to a
negative value
Ideal current source charging cap to a negative voltage
Output current of the LT8640 begins ramping up
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Current Sources (cont.)
Active load
Modifies the ideal current source’s behavior such that current is
zero for zero or negative voltage differentials
Roughly emulates the behavior of an integrated circuit load
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Current Sources (cont.)
Active load (cont.)
Ideal current source charging cap to a negative voltage
Current is zero until voltage differential becomes positive
Output current of the LT8640 begins ramping up
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Net Labeling
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Advantages of Labeling
Replaces arcane SPICE machine node names with easy to understand
and remember human names
Allows LTspice circuit nodes to match those on your production
schematic, i.e. “TP15”
Without With
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Labeling - Trick
Highlight net from waveform viewer
Alt-Left-Click on the label in the waveform viewer (i.e. V(n006)) and it will now
highlight that particular net on the schematic
Alt-Left-
Click
Net
Highlighted
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Generating a BOM and Efficiency
Report
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BOM
Under View select Bill of Material
Displayed on Diagram
Paste to Clipboard
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Steps to Computing Efficiency
Note: Efficiency will only be calculated in the steady state condition
1. Right-Click the .tran statement on the schematic to bring up the
Edit Simulation Command dialog box
2. Check the box “Stop simulating if steady state is detected” …
1. Simulate menu, 2. Check
select “Edit Box
simulation Cmd”
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Steps to Computing Efficiency
3. Load must be a current source labeled Iload* or resistor labeled Rload**
The Good The Bad
This will be treated
just like any other
resistor – efficiency
will read ZERO
*If there is more than one current source
**If there is more than one resistor
4. Run the simulation …
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Steps to Computing Efficiency
5. Upon completion select the View dropdown menu, Efficiency
Report, then Show on Schematic
6. Efficiency report will be pasted under the schematic
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SMPS Efficiency Tips
LTspice will not always be able to determine steady state, but this
is rare!
Workaround: Alt-Left-Click & Calculator
Probe the various nodes and verify the circuit is stabilized
If not edit the .tran statement and increase the Stop Time
parameter. Re-run simulation
For multiple output and/or multiple input supplies, efficiency must
be determined partially by hand from the efficiency report
Alternatively use behavioral models
Right-Clicking any component will report power dissipation if
steady state has been detected or Mark Start/End has been used
If circuit has stabilized for a long time and LTspice still hasn’t
detected the steady-state
Use Mark Start/End (Simulate -> Efficiency Calculation)
Only steady-state data is displayed before Mark End
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Simulating a Transient Response
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Current Load and Pulse Function
You can simulate a load with a Resistor or Current load
In particular the Pulse function in a current load is helpful in
transient response analysis
Steps a current load from one value to another value
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Edit the Current Load to a Pulse Function
Edit the .tran directive to disable steady state detection
Right-Click on the current load
Select “Pulse”
Modify the attributes (see next slide). Click “OK”
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(*)
(*) Forces current to be zero when voltage is zero
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Run the Simulation for Transient Response
Run the simulation
Click on the OUT
node to display
Vout
Click on the output
current load to
display Iout
Notice the
presence of the
pulse load
LT8640PulseLoadSolution.asc
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AC Analysis
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AC Analysis Overview
Performs small signal AC analysis linearized about the DC
operating point
Useful for analysis of filters, networks, stability analysis, and
noise considerations
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Simulating AC Analysis – RC Filter
Single pole filter using RC network
Syntax: .ac <oct, dec, lin> <Nsteps> <StartFreq> <EndFreq>
Example: RC network and .ac dec 100 .01 1MEG
-3dB point:
1/(2*pi*R*C) = 159Hz
AC amplitude must be
set to 1 for accurate
results
Right-click on .tran
command and select
“AC Analysis”
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Simulating AC Analysis – RC Result
RCFilterACAnalysis.asc
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Simulating AC Analysis – Active Filter
Single pole active filter using an opamp
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More Information and Support
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Reminder to Periodically Sync Release
It is important to sync your release of LTspice once a
month to get the latest updates
Software updates and bug fixes
Models
Sample circuits and examples
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Reminder to Periodically Sync Release (Windows)
Vista, Win7, and Win8 users (any UAC-enabled OS)
You must “Run as administrator” scad.exe or its shortcut
even if you are logged in as an administrator
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Reminder to Periodically Sync Release (Mac)
1. Open 2. Under
“Control Panel” “Operation”
3. “Sync
Release”
for Mac
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Built-in Help System
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Appendices
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Other Resources
LTspice forum: Use simulation circuits posted on LTspice
Yahoo! User’s Group
Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Ltspice/info
Also contains many very helpful discussion threads
Educational Files: Check out LTspice capabilities using the
education examples
Available on C:\ … \LTspiceIV\examples\Educational
LTspice videos: Video tutorials by Linear’s technical staff
http://video.linear.com/all--ltspice
LTwiki: Undocumented features …
http://ltwiki.org/
Wurth LTspice Book
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Other Resources – Yahoo LTspice Forum
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Ltspice/info
Join the group
here.
As of April 2015,
there are over
53,329 members!
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Other Resources – Educational Files
\Example\Educational subdirectory
Design examples
demonstrating LTspice
capabilities
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Other Resources – LTspice Videos
A continuously
growing
collection of LTC
videos for you to
discover.
Click, Relax & Enjoy !
Alcoholic beverages and
chips not included … But
highly recommended by
LTC sales teams !
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Other Resources - LTwiki
LTwiki
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Other Resources – LTspice Book
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Appendix - Steps to Calculate Power Supply
Efficiency
Efficiency will only be calculated in the steady state condition
Right-Click the .tran statement on the schematic to bring up the
Edit Simulation Command dialog box
Check the box “Stop simulating if steady state is detected”
Load must be a current source or resistor labeled Rload
Run the simulation
Upon completion select the View dropdown menu, then Efficiency
Report, then Show on Schematic
Efficiency report will be pasted under the schematic
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Appendix – Summary of Special Mouse and Keyboard
Commands
Schematic-Based Special Commands
Alt-Left-Click on a wire
This will display the waveform for the current flowing in the wire
Alt-Left-Click on a component
This will display the instantaneous power dissipation in the component
Ctrl-Right-Click on a component
Allows you to edit embedded component attributes
Waveform-Based Special Commands
Ctrl-Left-Click on a waveform title
Displays the average and RMS values for the waveform
Left-Click on node and drag to another node
Displays differential voltage
Alt-Left-Click on the label in the waveform viewer (i.e. V(n006))
Particular net on the schematic is highlighted
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Appendix – Summary of Additional Features
Pause a simulation
“Simulate” pull down menu ---> Pause
There is no toolbar button for this function
Zoom in/out using the schematic editor:
Just use the wheel on your mouse
Pan around a schematic
Left-Click the mouse and hold, then drag
Tilt wheel to move right and left
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Thank you for attending, and happy
simulating!
Homework: Once you return to the
office, go back over the training materials
within a week!
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