Sheet Symbol Filename

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Modified by Admin on Nov 20, 2013

Parent page: Objects

File Name of the Sheet Symbol.

Summary

The sheet symbol filename is a non-electrical child object of an electrical design primitive. It provides the link between the sheet symbol and the schematic sub-sheet that the symbol represents.

Availability and Placement

The sheet symbol filename is automatically placed when the parent sheet symbol object is placed. As such, it is not a design object that can be accessed and placed by the user.

Non-Graphical Editing

The following methods of non-graphical editing are available:

...via an Associated Properties Dialog

This method of editing uses the following dialog to modify the properties of a sheet symbol filename object.

The Sheet Symbol File Name dialog.

This method of editing uses the following dialog to modify the properties of a sheet symbol filename object, independently of the parent sheet symbol object.
The Sheet Symbol File Name dialog can be accessed prior to entering sheet symbol placement mode, from the Schematic - Default Primitives page of the Preferences dialog (Tools » Schematic Preferences). This allows you to change the default properties for the sheet symbol filename object, which will be applied when placing subsequent sheet symbols.
After placement, the Sheet Symbol File Name dialog can be accessed in one of the following ways:

double-clicking on the filename field of the placed sheet symbol object
selecting the filename field of the sheet symbol object and choosing Properties from the right-click pop-up menu
choosing the Change command from the Edit menu and then clicking once over the filename field of the placed sheet symbol object.

The Filename property of the sheet symbol, which can also be set on the Properties tab of the Sheet Symbol dialog, must be set to the file name of the schematic sub-sheet that the symbol represents.

Multiple sub-sheets may be referenced by a single sheet symbol. Separate each filename by a semi-colon, in the Filename field. With the effective use of off-sheet connectors, placed on the sub-sheets, you can effectively spread a section of your design over multiple sheets, treated as though they were one giant (flat) sheet. Note however, that use of off-sheet connectors is only possible for sheets referenced by the same sheet symbol.

...via an Inspector Panel

An Inspector panel enables the designer to interrogate and edit the properties of one or more design objects in the active document. Used in conjunction with appropriate filtering, the panel can be used to make changes to multiple objects of the same kind, from one convenient location.

...via a List Panel

A List panel allows the designer to display design objects from one or more documents in tabular format, enabling quick inspection and modification of object attributes. Used in conjunction with appropriate filtering, it enables the display of just those objects falling under the scope of the active filter – allowing the designer to target and edit multiple design objects with greater accuracy and efficiency.

Graphical Editing

This method of editing allows you to select a sheet symbol filename object directly in the workspace and change its location graphically. Sheet symbol filenames can only be adjusted with respect to their size by changing the size of the font used (accessed through the Sheet Symbol File Name dialog). As such, editing handles are not available when the sheet symbol filename object is selected:

Click anywhere inside the dashed box and drag to reposition the sheet symbol filename object as required. The object can be rotated or flipped while dragging:

Press the Spacebar to rotate the filename. Rotation is anti-clockwise and in steps of 90°.
Press the X or Y keys to flip the filename along the X-axis or Y-axis respectively.

If attempting to graphically modify an object that has its Locked property enabled, a dialog will appear asking for confirmation to proceed with the edit. If the Protect Locked Objects option is enabled on the Schematic – Graphical Editing page of thePreferences dialog, and the Locked option for that design object is enabled as well, then that object cannot be selected or graphically edited. Double click on the locked object directly and disable the Locked property or disable the Protect Locked Objects option, to graphically edit the object.