Using the Interface

This section describes the elements that compose the Constraints Editor interface and how to use them.

Note: Menus, dialog boxes, and parts of the application window are documented as they appear on a PC. Differences between the PC and the workstation applications are noted if there is a difference in operation between the two platforms.

Main Window

This section describes the Constraints Editor's main window. By default, the window contains a menu bar and toolbar at the top and a status bar at the bottom of the window. When you start the application, the main window appears, as shown in the following figure.

Figure 2.1 Constraints Editor Main Window

You can hide the status bar and toolbar from view by selecting Toolbar or Status Bar from the View menu.

Title Bar

The title bar displays the program name (always Constraints Editor) followed by the name of the active tab window and the names of opened NGD and UCF files; for example,

Constraints Editor [Advanced - wwsc.ngd/wwsc.ucf].

Menu Bar

Commands are available in the pull-down menus when a design is loaded. Certain commands and some command options are disabled and not available, depending on whether the open design is for an FPGA or a CPLD.

You can select menu commands with the mouse or the keyboard. See the “Using the Mouse” or “Using the Keyboard” section for more information. When you select a menu command with either method, a brief description of the command's function appears in the status bar at the bottom of the main window. In addition, some commands have keyboard shortcuts and accelerators. For complete command descriptions, see the “Menu Commands” chapter of this manual.

Toolbar

The toolbar appears at the top of the window just below the menu bar. The toolbar provides button access to frequently used commands in the menus. Textual labels for the buttons appear when you move the cursor arrow over a button. A longer description also appears in the status bar. On a PC, the toolbar can be arranged in a variety of ways. The toolbar can either be docked (that is, attached to the main window) or floating (that is, contained in its own window).

You can arrange the toolbar in these ways.

• To move the toolbar, point to a spot between toolbar buttons (or to the title bar, if the toolbar is floating), then drag and drop the toolbar to the desired location. If you drop the toolbar near an edge of the main window, it will be docked on that edge. If you drag the toolbar away from the window edge, it will float instead of being docked.
  
  
• To toggle between a floating toolbar and a docked toolbar, double-click on a spot between toolbar buttons (or on the title bar, if the toolbar is floating).
  
  
• To prevent the toolbar from being docked, hold down the Ctrl key as you move the toolbar.
  
  

Common Fields

Many menu commands display dialog boxes in which you can enter information and set options. This section describes dialog box common fields.

The following fields are common to many of the Constraints Editor dialog boxes.

• OK closes the dialog box and implements the intended action according to the settings in the dialog box.
  
  
• Cancel closes the dialog box without effecting any action.
  
  
• Help displays information on that particular dialog box.
  
  

Moving Items in List Boxes

Many of the dialog boxes feature list boxes. You can select and move items from one list box to another using one of four buttons.

• Add adds selected items to a target list box.
  
  
• Add All adds all items to a target list box. It is not necessary to select the items.
  
  
• Remove removes selected items from a list box
  
  
• Remove All removes all items from a list box. It is not necessary to select the items.
  
  

Using the Mouse

Use the mouse to perform the following operations.

• To select toolbar buttons, menus and menu items, and dialog box options, click the left mouse button on the desired item.
  
  
• To execute a “drag and drop” operation, place the cursor on the object you wish to move, press and hold the left mouse button as you move the cursor to the location you wish to move the object, then release the mouse button.
  
  
• To display a context-sensitive menu, move the mouse cursor over the appropriate area in the main window and then click the right mouse button. A menu will appear displaying possible operations you can perform. Click the right mouse button on the desired operation.
  
  

Using the Keyboard

Use the keyboard to select objects on your screen, such as a dialog box button or a menu option.

• To choose a menu and display its options, press the Alt key and the appropriate underlined letter key corresponding to the menu you want. For example, press Alt F to select the File menu.
  
  
• Use the arrow keys to scroll down the list of options in a menu or list box. Press Enter or space bar when the option you want to use is highlighted or, in the case of a menu item, press the underlined letter corresponding to the menu option you want. For example, press the N key to select the New command of the File menu.
  
  
• To select a dialog box option, use the Tab key to position the cursor on that object and highlight it. Press Enter to process the selection.
  
  To cancel out of a dialog box without changing anything, press the Esc key.
  
  
• To move to previous fields within dialog boxes, press and hold the Shift key, then press the Tab key.
  
  
• To obtain help, press the F1 function key.