Models and Symbol Attachment

Models and subcircuits are obtainable from most component vendors or new ones may be created. Models and subcircuits (see symbols for models below, for more info) can be attached to symbols using only mouse clicks. To connect a symbol to a model or subcircuit, first double-click on a component symbol that has been placed on the schematic. Select the model tab of the dialog box and press the 'Select model' button. Select the file that the model/subcircuit is in and the actual model/subcircuit in from the appropriate list boxes. To add new model files that contains user modes/ subcircuit, press the 'Add Model File' button. Browse to where you model file is located in the file dialog box, select the file and press the ok button. You should now be able to select the required model from the file, press ok, and it should now show up in the model tab of the component dialog box. Press ok and your done.

There are symbols for most common devices in SuperSpice. However, contact AnaSoft, if additional help is required, and we will usually provide new symbols if they are standard components. Spice models may be obtained from a wide variety of sources on the Internet. Most manufactures supply models for their own devices, so go to their web site and try searching for 'spice models' or 'spice'.

To understand the model syntax or write custom models have a look at the Spice3 manual.

Symbols for Models/Subcircuits/Schematics

Symbols can be attached to one of 4 types of circuit description in the Symbol Editor These are .model .subckt, schematics or a voltage/current source. A type must be selected when making symbols. This may be changed after the actual model/subckt/schematic is attached once the symbol is placed on the schematic, but not the type.

.model is a standard spice descriptions of basic inbuilt components such as fets, diodes, transmission lines etc.

.subckt is a standard spice subcircuit netlist text description of a circuit.

Schematic is a regular SuperSpice schematic. This allows schematic based hierarchical designs to be made.

Voltage/current source is a standard Spice source (Pulse, Sine, Exp etc.)

Symbols and Editor Created Symbols with Hierarchical Support

Symbols can be attached to any compatible (same number of pins) schematic. Keyboard "d"ing when the mouse has highlighted the component symbol or ctrl double-click will descend into it or create it if does not exist. "q"ing or double clicking on the component will allow an existing schematic to be attached to the symbol via its setup dialogue. Symbol pin names are connected to the subckt pin connectors name on the schematic. The easiest way to set up a hierarchical block is to:

1 Create and draw a new symbol, or place an existing schematic attached symbol, e.g. the ones in the schematic blocks symbol folder. The automatic symbol creation features of SuperSpice may also be used..

2 Make sure that its attached model type check in the Symbol Library Manager (Edit menu, or right click properties in the symbol file folder tree) is set to schematic.

3 Place the symbol on the schematic.

4 If symbol pins have not been named, "q" the symbol to get its properties, go to the pins tab and name all the pins. Mouse over each pin to make sure of what pin name is attached to its pin id.

5 Mouse over the symbol and press the keyboard "d" key. This will pop up a dialog asking if you want to create a new schematic, if a schematic is not already attached to the symbol.

6 The default schematic name may be accepted, or it may be changed. If the name is changed, a new copied symbol for that schematic will be made and inserted into the schematic blocks folder. You can copy and paste to move this symbol to another symbol file later.

7 Ok'ing will generate a new schematic, with all its connector pins with the correct pin names.

8 The schematic pin names may be changed, whenever there is an hierarchical schematic open via decent from its symbol, and have those changes automatically reflected back in the schematic. Additional, if the pin name on the symbol block is changed, it will propagate to the schematic as well.

For any additional help, email support at spice@ansoft.co.uk and we will do our best to get you sorted out.

Quick Adding of Symbol Files

You can drag symbol (*.ssm) files straight from the Windows Explorer file manager to the SuperSpice main window. SuperSpice will ask if you want to add that file to the SuperSpice component symbol list.

Note. Real player uses the same file extension i.e. "ssm"

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