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Connecting Components

The examples presented thus far use arcs to connect components. This section describes arcs and some of the features they provide in more detail. If you click on the right side of a component, when the cursor is in the "+" shape, a rubberband line displays from the component to the cursor. If you don't see this line, it means that the component doesn't support arcs directed away from it. You will not get an error message. If there is a rubberband line attached to the cursor, when you click in another component that supports arcs directed towards it, the rubberband line is replaced by a solid arc. If, while the rubberband line is connected to the cursor, you move the cursor to the right or below the window border, the window will scroll automatically. This is power scrolling, and it allows you to connect components that may not be visible in the window simultaneously. If you click outside the window border while power scrolling, then the rubberband line is dropped.

There are two types of arcs: regular arcs and segmented arcs. As the name implies, segmented arcs are composed of multiple line segments. Figure 3.22 shows the two types of arcs.

Figure 3.22: Two Types of Arcs

If you click on the simulation window background while a rubberband line is connected to the cursor, the selected point ends one line segment and begins another. In this way you can create circuitous routes between components.

Notice the rectangular handle in the center of the arc. This is the arc's "hot spot." If you click the right mouse button while the cursor is over the hot spot, a menu associated with the arc pops up.

Figure 3.23: Pop-Up Menu for a Segmented Arc

In the pop-up menu for segmented arcs in Figure 3.23, there is a selection called Perpendicular. This selection causes the arc to be drawn so that the line segments are perpendicular to each other. As the numerous selections in Figure 3.23 show, a full range of capabilities are available.