Graph View
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- TODO: make sure to describe navigation using arrow keys and cone-view
- TODO: Images
- TODO: Links
The Graph View shows the visual representation of the netlist as a graph. It illustrates all gates, modules and nets connecting them as individual graphical entities.
Gates display their name, their type, their input pins and their output pins.
The name can be changed by using the action Change gate name in the context menu that opens when right clicking a gate in the Graph View.
Modules display their name, their type, their input ports and their output ports. For better distinction, a module color is automatically assigned to the graphical entity representing the module.
The name and type can be changed by using the action Change module name / Change module type in the context menu that opens when right clicking a module in the Graph View. The color can be changed in the Modules Widget via the action Change module color.
The camera in the Graph View can be moved by simultaneously pressing Shift, left clicking in the view and moving the mouse.
The zoom level of the Graph View can be adjusted by scrolling the mouse wheel. Alternatively pressing the shortcut Shift + + can be used to zoom in and the shortcut Shift + - to zoom out.
Gates, nets and modules can be assigned to groupings in the Graph View or via the action Assign to grouping in the Selection Details Widget toolbar. To assign a grouping to elements in the Graph View select them, open the context menu by right clicking on one element of the selection and choose the action Assign to grouping. Additionally the context menu allows for deletion of the current assignment. The groupings names and colors can be changed in the Groupings Widget.
The elements assigned to a grouping are highlighted in the respective grouping color in the Graph View.
To move elements to a module, select a single or multiple elements in the Graph View and right click on one of them. Choose the action Move to module in the context menu that opens. The action offers the options to add the selected elements either to a new or existing module.
The Graph View will be updated and all selected elements will be condensed into a single graphical entity representing the module.
The action Move to module in the Selection Details Widget toolbar also offers a quick way to add the current selection to a new or existing module.
To make all elements of a module visible in the current view, select a module in the Graph View and right click on it. Choose the action Unfold module in the context menu that opens.
The Graph View will be updated and all elements assigned to the selected module will be shown in the graph. The color of the elements assigned to a module is the same as the color of the parent module.
To condense all elements assigned to a module back to a single graphical entity, right click one element which is assigned to the module. Choose the action Fold module in the context menu that opens.
The Graph View will be updated and all elements assigned to the parent module of the selected element will be condensed back into a single graphical entity.
By using the arrow keys on the keyboard it is possible to navigate through the graph element by element. To allow navigating first select a single gate or module in the graph. The pins/ports of that gate/module are not highlighted in the selection color cyan to indicate that the navigation feature is enabled and navigation towards the pins/ports is available.
Then use ← or → to choose the direction of the navigation. ← is used to navigate to the input pins/ports of the element and → is is used to navigate to the output pins/ports of the element. The first pin/port of the gate/module is now also highlighted. It's always possible to switch from input to output and vice versa by using the arrow keys in the opposite direction.
From there its possible to cycle through the individual pins/ports with ↑ and ↓. When the desired pin/port is selected confirm the direction with ← or → to follow the net connected to that pin/port.
If the net connected to the starting pin/port of the navigation has only one source/destination the navigation will trigger and the element which has been navigated to is selected in the Graph View. The source/destination pin where the followed net has its source/destination is highlighted.
If the net connected to the starting pin/port of the navigation has multiple sources/destinations a table will be opened where the desired location has to be chosen. After choosing with Enter or double click the navigation will trigger and the element which has been navigated to is selected in the Graph View. The source/destination pin where the followed net has its source/destination is highlighted.
The Cone View allows the graph to be explored starting from a point of interest. The idea is that the Cone View only shows a small subset of gates, nets and modules at the start of exploring. By navigating to an element using the arrow keys the element will also be added to the view. Additionally its possible to add all successors and predecessors to the view. Adding elements step by step that are connected to the starting point of the exploration slowly reveals the structure of the netlist and its components.
To open a new cone view first select a single or multiple elements of interest in the Graph View. Right click an element of the current selection and chose the action Isolate in new view in the context menu that opens.
A new tab showing only the selected elements will be added to the Graph View. The view is also added to the available views in the Views Widget. This newly created view is the starting point for further exploration. It only shows the elements selected before.
Their are two ways to further explore the graph at this point. Firstly the navigation using the arrow keys can be used. Additionally the context menu actions Add predecessors to view and Add successors to view are available.
Using the arrow keys to navigate yields the same results as described before. After navigating to an element it is added to the current view.
To add all predecessors or successors of a single or multiple elements to the view at once first right click on a singe element of the current selection. Choose the action Add predecessors to view or Add successors to view in the context menu that opens.
Depending on the action now all predecessors or successors are added to the view.
