Setting up a simulation

The parameters with which a simulation is performed are configured in the Simulation Environment view.

About this task

Setting up a simulation with the appropriate parameters ensures that it will produce meaningful results.

Before you begin

You need a schematic that you can simulate. We recommend using the schematic that you have created in Creating a schematic. If you use a different schematic, the process is the same, but some of the settings may not be available or may need to be different.

Procedure

1. If the schematic that you want to simulate is not already open, open it.

   For example, you can double-click it in the Workspace view.

2. If the Simulation Environment view is not open, choose View > Simulation Environment to open it.
   
   
   
3. Create a new simulation profile.

   Simulation profiles collect the settings with which a simulation is run. By storing settings in a profile, you can quickly recall them for future simulations in the same project or in others.

   1. In the toolbar of the Simulation Environment view, click .

      The toolbar is overlaid with a text entry field.

   2. Enter TutorialProfile into the field and click OK.

   The Simulation Environment view displays the new, empty profile TutorialProfile. Any changes you now make to the settings in the view change this profile but not others.

4. Specify what kind of analysis the simulation should provide.

   In this case, it will perform a transient analysis.

   1. In the Analyses section, check the Transient option.

      If the option is already checked, leave it on. If OP or DC are checked, uncheck them

   2. In the Stop Time field, enter 1u.

      This value corresponds to one period of the sinusoidal input voltage source.

5. Specify the desired outputs to be measured.

   Outputs are the signals that are plotted in the Waveform Viewer after the simulation. You can add more outputs after running the simulation, but specifying them upfront helps you see the important results immediately.

   For this example, the output voltage and the current through the capacitor of the low-pass filter will be plotted.

   1. Click the Plot Setup section of the Simulation Environment view.

      The section expands.

      
      
      
   2. In both the Voltages and Currents sections, choose Signals only.
      This setting determines which information is stored in the results database. Signals only means that only the outputs you specify are stored. With this setting, you cannot plot additional outputs without rerunning the simulation but the simulation runs faster and uses less disk space.
   3. In the Signals section, choose the Select Output on Schematic tool ().
   4. Click the wire labeled "IN" between the voltage source and the resistor.
      A new signal named "IN" with the type "Voltage" is added to the signal list.
   5. With the same tool, click the "OUT" wire between the resistor and the capacitor and then click the pin of the capacitor that is connected to ground.

      Typically, you click a wire to add a voltage and a pin to add a current.

      Two more signals are added, "OUT" (a voltage) and "C0:MINUS" (a current).
      
      
   6. Click the button in the Signals section again to deselect the tool.
6. Choose File > Save to save the settings.

Results

The simulation is now set up and ready to run.

What to do next

Run the simulation as described in Running a simulation.