Orcad - difference between off-page connector and port. - Electronic Circuits Projects Diagrams Free

alphadog · 25th March 2009, 11:26 PM

I have learnd that for connecting two schematic pages, you can use off-page connectors with the same name in the desired page.
On the other hand, I saw an engineer uses ports to connect two schematic pages.

What is the difference between ports and off-page connector, and what is more common?

Thanks.

dknguyen · 25th March 2009, 11:31 PM

I just use ports everywhere.

alphadog · 25th March 2009, 11:46 PM

Yeah.
You know, I'm studying Orcad from the link you once gave me, and they teach it very well.
I guess that the problem is that this file was written in 2002 and maybe then it was common to use off-page connectors.

Are you familiar with anything that is more up to date?

dknguyen · 25th March 2009, 11:49 PM

I am not aware. I found it, it suited my purposes and so I never bothered to look for another one. I actually didn't read it or follow it as closely as you. I mainly used it to figure out how to convert a schematic to a layout and how footprints worked on both capture and layout.

MoRoH · 26th March 2009, 01:51 AM

I've always used off page connectors with the same name, but that was the way i was taught in school. They have always worked fine for me but i have never used ports.

Not sure of the difference. Whatever works i guess, depends on the application.

alphadog · 26th March 2009, 06:36 AM

They teach you that in school?
What do you mean?

dknguyen · 26th March 2009, 06:39 AM

We have classes in university where they teach us how to use CAD software.

maxx · 27th March 2009, 09:03 AM

You can use hierarchical blocks to interconnect schematics between 2 pages .

JBrock · 27th March 2009, 10:12 AM

Maxx is on the right track. Ports are for hierarchical schematics. Fortuneately, these can usually be avoided! Just use the off-page connectors. And if you are not going off-page, just use a net alias and not an off-page connector.

maxx · 27th March 2009, 04:11 PM

Many people use just "netalias" to interconnect one or more pages of schematic .

dknguyen · 27th March 2009, 05:27 PM

WHat is a hierarchal block? I could never understand what the help files were talking about. THe best I could get was it let you make a resusable "black-box" type component.

Apparently you can also do the same thing for a PCB layout.

JBrock · 27th March 2009, 06:20 PM

Maxx, that is not correct! They may do so, but those nets will not be connected without an off-page connector!
To be certain of what I speak, i just tested this. When you generate a netlist, you will find OrCad will append some numbers to one of the net-names, making them distinct nets.
To connect nets on different pages, that is what off-page connectors are for!
A good reason to avoid using off-page connectors when a net does NOT go off-page is that you can pick up design rule errors in the design rules check.
Sadly, I am something of an expert, as I do this all day long

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25th March 2009, 11:26 PM	#1
alphadog	Orcad - difference between off-page connector and port. I have learnd that for connecting two schematic pages, you can use off-page connectors with the same name in the desired page. On the other hand, I saw an engineer uses ports to connect two schematic pages. What is the difference between ports and off-page connector, and what is more common? Thanks.

25th March 2009, 11:31 PM	#2
dknguyen	I just use ports everywhere. __________________ Tanaka Sensei (avatar) says: Please spell it "ridiculous" correctly! Not "rediculous". ^^

25th March 2009, 11:46 PM	#3
alphadog	Yeah. You know, I'm studying Orcad from the link you once gave me, and they teach it very well. I guess that the problem is that this file was written in 2002 and maybe then it was common to use off-page connectors. Are you familiar with anything that is more up to date?

25th March 2009, 11:49 PM	#4
dknguyen	I am not aware. I found it, it suited my purposes and so I never bothered to look for another one. I actually didn't read it or follow it as closely as you. I mainly used it to figure out how to convert a schematic to a layout and how footprints worked on both capture and layout. __________________ Tanaka Sensei (avatar) says: Please spell it "ridiculous" correctly! Not "rediculous". ^^ Last edited by dknguyen; 25th March 2009 at 11:50 PM.

26th March 2009, 01:51 AM	#5
MoRoH	I've always used off page connectors with the same name, but that was the way i was taught in school. They have always worked fine for me but i have never used ports. Not sure of the difference. Whatever works i guess, depends on the application. __________________ There are no spare parts! -MoRoH

26th March 2009, 06:36 AM	#6
alphadog	They teach you that in school? What do you mean?

26th March 2009, 06:39 AM	#7
dknguyen	We have classes in university where they teach us how to use CAD software. __________________ Tanaka Sensei (avatar) says: Please spell it "ridiculous" correctly! Not "rediculous". ^^

27th March 2009, 09:03 AM	#8
maxx	You can use hierarchical blocks to interconnect schematics between 2 pages . __________________ Electronics schematics and software

27th March 2009, 10:12 AM	#9
JBrock	Maxx is on the right track. Ports are for hierarchical schematics. Fortuneately, these can usually be avoided! Just use the off-page connectors. And if you are not going off-page, just use a net alias and not an off-page connector.

27th March 2009, 04:11 PM	#10
maxx	Many people use just "netalias" to interconnect one or more pages of schematic . __________________ Electronics schematics and software

27th March 2009, 05:27 PM	#11
dknguyen	WHat is a hierarchal block? I could never understand what the help files were talking about. THe best I could get was it let you make a resusable "black-box" type component. Apparently you can also do the same thing for a PCB layout. __________________ Tanaka Sensei (avatar) says: Please spell it "ridiculous" correctly! Not "rediculous". ^^

27th March 2009, 06:20 PM	#12
JBrock	Net alias does not go offpage Maxx, that is not correct! They may do so, but those nets will not be connected without an off-page connector! To be certain of what I speak, i just tested this. When you generate a netlist, you will find OrCad will append some numbers to one of the net-names, making them distinct nets. To connect nets on different pages, that is what off-page connectors are for! A good reason to avoid using off-page connectors when a net does NOT go off-page is that you can pick up design rule errors in the design rules check. Sadly, I am something of an expert, as I do this all day long