Output File Feature
Brought to you by:
carlburch
Menu
▾
▴
#1 Output File Feature
An output file could be opened that would record the state of each pin in
a tab delimited text format. Recording to the file could be started and
stopped from the menu much like the tics control.
Opening a new file would close the currently open file.
This output file could then be used in a spreadsheet or other program to
analyize the circuit.
Logged In: YES
user_id=1288695
The idea sounds promising, but I'd like to clarify exactly
what you're describing. Are you thinking that each time the
user toggles a pin's value (by clicking it), the new value
would be propagated through the circuit and after the state
fully settled, all values of pins in that circuit layout
would be saved into the file? I can imagine Logisim doing
such a thing.
And: Could you explain how you would use such a file?
Understanding the context in which it would be used would
make it easier for me to appreciate its importance. Right
now, I'm a bit of a loss to think of a situation where I
would analyze a file rather than look at the circuit
directly. (Well, I can think of how it might help with
grading a simple circuit, but you're surely thinking of
something different.) Of course, you must have an idea of
such a situation.
Of course, it may be that I'm misunderstanding the
suggestion completely. I'd certainly welcome correction.
(Incidentally, you may not be aware Logisim does have a
facility that resembles this functionality loosely: If you
choose "Analyze Circuit" for a combinational circuit,
Logisim will generate a truth table. You can't toggle the
pins yourself, though, and there's currently no option for
saving this truth table into a file.)
(Also: an attempt to respond to a private mailing bounced.
If you send me an e-mail directly to logisim at the
cburch.com address, I won't let the e-mail go out.)
---Carl Burch
Logged In: YES
user_id=1288695
In a private e-mail, Bud clarified with the following. I
plan for this feature to show up in early 2006. Any
suggestions about associated features would be welcome.
"This was exactly what I had in mind, but seeing it written
down this way it occurs to me it might also be useful to
grab a snap shot every so many tics, or by manually
selecting to record the current state. But if recording
every change is simpler, I would go that way. The proposed
feature when used with some graphing software, would be
almost like having a Logic Analyzer(the test instrument kind.)
"I'm really thinking of two uses. One being for
documentation. The other being for error checking...."
Logged In: YES
user_id=1288695
A first cut at this feature appears in version 2.0.3, via
the Logging... option in the Simulate menu. The feature, as
it appears, is somewhat more sophisticated than the previous
discussion indicates, but it has a lot of potential for
improvement, if user interest exists.
I encourage you to send me any comments on ways that you
think the logging module can be made more useful to your
purposes. Also, since this is the first release of a fairly
complex task, there are likely some bugs and other rough
spots; as always I welcome any such reports.
---Carl Burch