Loading A Schematic Distribution File

Overview:

A Schematic Distribution file (*.dis) is like a ZIP file - it contains a snapshot of the whole hierarchy of a design. If you loose or otherwise mistakenly change a schematic you can unpack the distribution file again and recover the whole hierarchy. A distribution file allows the primitive elements to change: the state of the primitives that made up your design is stored in the distribution file. Use a distribution file to send a design to your colleagues who are not at the same site. Note that the names and hierarchy can be changed as you unpack a distribution: to do this right click on the items and choose “Rename”, or drag and drop within the colored outline to rearrange the hierarchy. (Using these features you can unpack and review a design that may otherwise have some name conflicts with your existing designs). Note also that if any items appear in yellow on the outline this means that Schemata has found a similar design on your machine but that it differs from the one in the distribution. Click right and choose “show differences” to see what has been changed. You may then choose to no unpack the one in the distribution (ie keep your own copy) or overwrite your own copy, or rename the one in the distribution to something else and so keep both. Read about how to create a distribution file.

Details:

Follow these steps to unpack a distribution file:

- Double click on a Distribution file in the File Manager -or- in the schematic choose "File" > "Unpack Distribution". If you choose to double click on the file the Schematic need not be open (The Windows OS will open the Schematic if needed). [Actually sometimes it does not open – if the schematic does not open, open it manually and then click on the .dis file].

In the example here we will double click on a file:

- After a few seconds the Schematic will start (if it is not already running) and this window will appear

This window shows the components that make up the top level schematic (in bold - in this case "Top"). It also shows us what we already have on this machine, and if the schematics on the machine are different it tells us that as well (in yellow - none shown here).

- Click on the "Unpack" button. A window like this one will appear - this is the Logical Pathname Translation window and we are being asked to define what directory on what drive we wish to use for those schematics that are in the Buck_Boost_v1 library.

Note the "?" in the file box indicating what is to be filled in.

- To define the pathname translation simply type the directory name into the pathname column, or, if you wish to browse to the directory, click on the little box with the three dots next to the "?" item. A window like this (but a little smaller to begin with) will open up:

In this window open up the files on your machine to the directory you want to use (open by clicking on the little "plus" sign not by clicking on the file if you click on the file the window will close assuming you clicked on the file you wanted). You may then click once on a directory (I have choosen "Schemata" in this example) and then you may type a subdirectory name in the lower window. I have typed "Pipeline". Then choose "OK". The Logical Pathname window should then look like this:

Click "OK" to close the LPN window

- After a few seconds the files will all be extracted to your machine with the logical pathname translations you defined. A small window will appear confirming this action:

You have now successfully unpacked the distribution file into files on your machine (or in your network server if you choose to operate in network wide mode). Click "Continue" in the small confirmation window.

- To open the top level of the schematic that you have just unpacked, go to the "Projects" tab and open the "Active Projects" item:

Double click on the named Schematic (“Top” in this case). The Schematic will then open for you to edit: