Creating a Design

CST DESIGN STUDIO™ offers a schematic layout editor where a design can be easily obtained by inserting and connecting components according to a physical model. The most important components are the blocks that implement the physical behavior of an elementary sub-system. Except for some basic simulation tasks, a valid design requires the presence of external ports, which represent the sources and sinks of the system, i.e., they mark its inputs and outputs.

Insertion of a component

The insertion of a component into the schematic view is performed by drag 'n' drop from the block selection tree. For the insertion of an external port you can also use the shortcut 'p' (for port). As far as the insertion of a block is concerned, depending on the type of block, a common file dialog box or other dialog box may appear before the insertion is completed. In the file dialog box you must specify a file that the block's data will be based on.

Changing properties of a component

After a component is inserted, it can be selected and moved inside the schematic view. You may also change its properties by customizing the associated property dialog box that you can access by choosing Home: Edit Properties; alternatively, you may change its properties using its context menu.

Connecting components

Except for some types of block, a block shows a certain number of internal ports in the block selection tree and in the design. Such an internal port represents an interface of a block and can be connected with another block or with an external port. To establish a connection, choose Home: Components Connector or use the shortcut 'c' (for connector) and perform two mouse clicks — one at each (internal or external) port. Alternatively, you can double-click on the highlighted port to enable the connection modus. Initially, an internal port in shown in a red color; after it is connected it will turn blue. To obtain a valid design, the inserted components must be properly connected.

In circuit design, you may want to have a component connected to more than one component. Or, conversely, you may want to have nodes without physical behavior that are connected to more than two components in order to establish T-junctions, cross-junctions or junctions of more than four components. These nodes are automatically inserted when a connection is established of, e.g., an internal port and a connector. Therefore, proceed as explained above, but perform one of the clicks over the connector element. If a connector can be connected, it is highlighted green.

Another noteworthy feature is auto-connection. A connection can also be established by the following action: Move the cursor over, e.g., a block's internal port, until it is highlighted (i.e., a red circle is drawn there), then click the left mouse button there and keep the button pressed. Now move the cursor towards the, e.g., internal, port to which you want to connect the selected internal port. This second port is also highlighted when it is hit by the cursor. Then, release the mouse button. The selected internal ports will then be connected. Note that this auto-connection also works directly after dragging the block from the block selection tree.