irsim-analyzer - A graphical interface to irsim
The analyzer provides a graphical interface to irsim; displaying
the state of the nodes (or vectors) node...
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 one 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 which it is
composed.
- times
- Generate a time ruler at the bottom of the traces.
- outline
- Draw an outline around the trace window.
The analyzer provides various functions depending on where in the
window a mouse button is depressed. All buttons have the same meaning,
except inside the scrollbar. Pressing a mouse button in the following
regions will provide:
- 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 one 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 one 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.
The analyzer application uses the appropriate resource
specification at startup time to customize the appearance of its window. The
format for a resource specification in the .Xdefaults file is:
-
[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.