CADSTAR Schematic Capture

CADSTAR Schematic Capture provides a fast, efficient way to capture design intent, rules and constraints for smooth and error-free transition to PCB Layout for product realization.

Data Integrity and Organisation

Key to the success of the CADSTAR suite is the true connective data structure that ensures net integrity throughout the design flow, so you can be sure the logical connections you add in Schematic Capture will be present in the finished PCB Layout.

Organise your design with hierarchy, multiple flat sheets, or any combination. Zones provide an intelligent means to navigate the design and jump to any location.

CADSTAR Schematic Capture constantly tracks your design to maintain the integrity of the netlist, ensures reference names are unique, and tracks the currency of parts in the design so that your ideas are accurately captured. Version control of both Symbols and Parts ensures your design is up to date with the latest library changes.

Speed and Accuracy

Work smarter and faster by re-using your existing design data, or even import it from another system using the free Design Migration tool*. 

Copy and paste design blocks, entire sheets, or just individual parts from another design, or use known-good ‘golden’ circuits (both Schematic and PCB Layout) with Design ReUse. Adding Variants can also maximise the potential of your product in different markets by denoting non-fitted or alternate parts.

Definition of Rules and Constraints

In addition to track width, Net Class and Spacing Class (special spacing rules) you can assign a wide range of constraints to drive the CADSTAR High-Speed Design suite, Signal Integrity Verify and Power Integrity Analysis tools with the Constraint Browser.

Generating Outputs

Schematic Capture can generate Intelligent PDF, Bill-of-Materials and other standard formats outputs, or any custom format using the built-in Report Generator. Netlist data, including Spice format and pinlist files for FPGA integration, can also be exported to 3^rd party tools. Need more? Add your own applications and integrate them with CADSTAR using the OLE toolkit.

Viewing and Verification

Zones make tracking signals across a design simple, while full cross-probing helps you locate and highlight items in any CADSTAR application including Schematic Capture, Constraint Browser, PCB Layout, PREditor Router, Signal Integrity Verify and Power Integrity Analysis.

You can even share design data (Schematic and PCB Layout) with your colleagues and customers using the free CADSTAR Design Viewer.

Libraries

CADSTAR Schematic Capture includes a library of ready-made parts and the Graphical Library Editor with symbol Wizards so that you define your own, or select from the Zuken on-line library of over 250,000 parts which is regularly updated and expanded.

Attributes in the library help you maintain version control, integrate links to datasheets and web sites, and add custom fields as required.

Key Features

• Fully integrated with CADSTAR Design Editor
• Configurable G.U.I. with the capability to  integrate your own tools, macros and custom reports
• Hierarchical, flat sheet or mixed design mode
• Full bi-directional ECO and cross probing
• Unlimited design capacity
• Unlimited range of user defined attributes
• Configurable Design Templates
• Open or Restrictive Busses
• Signal References with Zones
• Drafting tools with auto-Snap including duplicate / replicate / trim / scale shape
• Graphical Part browser and parametric search
• Variant Manager with display control
• Rename parts by sheet
• Symbol avoidance and overlap checking
• Preset net attributes (width, spacing, etc..)
• Configurable Parts list
• Access multiple libraries in Classic or Database (ODB) format
• Symbol & Part version control
• Ability to extract a library from design
• Exports to PDF, DXF, Netlist, PSpice, etc.
• Design import from competitive systems (Orcad™, PCAD™, Protel™ and PADS™)
• FPGA integration with CADSTAR FPGA
• Full ASCII archive (input / output)