The SLiCAP-workshop software environment

SLiCAP user interface

SLiCAP uses SPICE-like text input for the netlist (’title line’ and ’element lines’). ’Instruction lines’ that contain parameter, source, load and loopgain reference definitions, as well as instructions and options, can be added with the SLiCAP web interface.

Many schematic capture programs can be used to generate netlists for circuit simulators or PCB lay-out packages. With the aid of the SLiCAP syntax description from the SLiCAP manual, you can write your own scripts to convert any text-based netlist into SLiCAP input. In this way you can turn your favorite schematic capture program into a SLiCAP front-end.

SLiCAP Schematic Capture front-end, and Scientific Word Processing back-end software

For SLiCAP-compatible schematic capture, you also can use the simulation environment as it is used during the workshops on analog electronics from Montagne Design & Consultancy. This requires you to work with Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Vista as operating systems. This environment will be kept up-to-date.

Installation of the SIMetrix SLiCAP-workshop environment

Download the demo version of SIMetrix from: http://www.simetrix.co.uk/site/downloads/download.htm

  1. Start the installation file by double clicking its icon. You will see the install shield page from figure 1.

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    Figure 1: The install shield of the SIMetrix Intro software.

    Click Next >

  2. Be shure the SIMetrix Intro is selected as displayed in figure 2.

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    Figure 2: Check SIMetrix Intro

    Click Next >

  3. Read and accept the licence agreement (see figure 3)

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    Figure 3: Read and accept the licence agreement.

    Click Next >

  4. Choose the install directory (see figure 4).

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    Figure 4: You can install the SIMetrix Intro software in any directory.

    Click Next >

  5. Check the install directory (see figure 5).

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    Figure 5: Please remember where you install the SIMetrix Intro software. You’ll need this path later for installing the SLiCAP-workshop environment.

    Click Install

  6. The files will be installed (see figure 6).

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    Figure 6: Finish the installation after the files have been installed.

    Click Finish

    If you want to place a shortcut on your desktop or in any specific directory, please follow steps 8 and 9.

  7. Make a shortcut to start the SIMetrix Intro software. Open a filemanager and go to the installation directory (see figure 7).

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    Figure 7: Open the installation directory in a file manager.

  8. Go to the bin directory and create a shortcut. Select SIMetrix.exe, right-click your mouse and select Create Shortcut. Drag this shortcut to your desktop, or to any other location from which you want to start the SIMetrix Intro software (see figure 8).

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    Figure 8: Make a shortcut to the SIMetrix Intro executable, and place it on a location from where you want to start the program.

  9. After you have installed the SIMetrix Intro software, you need to install the SLiCAP-workshop environment. You can download this environment from: http://www.analog-electronics.eu/downloads/SLiCAP.exe

    After you have downloaded this file, start the installation of the SLiCAP-workshop environment by double-clicking its icon (see figure 9).

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    Figure 9: Start the installation of the SLiCAP-workshop environment.

    Click Next >

  10. Read the install information: in the next step you need to browse to the installation directory of the SIMetrix Intro software (see figure 10).

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    Figure 10: The installation will only work if you select the installation directory of the SIMetrix Introsoftware.

    Click Next >

  11. Browse to and select the installation directory of the SIMetrix Intro software (see figure 11).

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    Figure 11: Browse to, and select the SIMetrix Intro installation directory.

    Click Next >

  12. Check the installation directory (see figure 12).

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    Figure 12: Final check before you install the environment.

    Click Install

  13. The SLiCAP-workshop environment files will now be added to the SIMetrix Intro software setup (see figure 13).

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    Figure 13: The SLiCAP-workshop environment for the SIMetrix Intro software has been installed.

    Click Finish

  14. Start the SIMetrix Intro software by double-clicking the shortcut you created. At the first run of this software you will get the file associations dialog box (see figure 14).

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    Figure 14: It is advised that you carry out the file associations.

    Select Yes or No and then Close.

  15. After you closed the file associations dialog box of the SIMetrix Intro software, you will see the welcome screen (see figure 15).

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    Figure 15: Welcome screen of SIMetrix Intro.

    Click Ok.

  16. If the environment has been installed properly you will see the SIMetrix/SIMPLIS Command Shell from figure 16.

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    Figure 16: SIMetrix/SIMPLIS Command Shell at the first start after the SLiCAP-workshop environment has been installed.

  17. If you want to proceed symbolic calculations and/or generate LATEX typesetted documents from the SLiCAP output, you can obtain 30-days free trial versions of Scientific Workplace, Scientific Word or Scientific Notebook from the MacKichan Software website: http://www.mackichan.com/licensing.net/dnloadreq.aspx

    If you experience problems with licencing of the MacKichan software, please read http://www.montagne.nl/downloads/mackichan-licensing.pdf