External Tools Dialog
To access: Tools > External Tools.
Use this dialog box to define external programs (such as the layout tool), tcl scripts, and tcl commands that can be invoked directly from the Tools menu.
Figure 16-2.
External Tools Dialog Box: Script Tool
The contents of the dialog box depends on the selected item. For example, selecting the external tool PADS Designer includes a Command and an Arguments field. The commands available in the External Tools dialog are described in Table 16-13.
Table 16-13. External Tools Dialog Box Contents
|
Field |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Add |
The drop-down lists lets you select the type of tool to add. The available options are External tool, Tcl script, and Tcl command. Depending on the type of tool you select, the dialog displays additional data-entry fields. |
|
Delete |
Deletes the selected tool. You are asked to confirm the operation. |
|
Move Up / Move Down |
Moves the selected item up or down the contents list. The order is reflected in the Tools menu. |
|
Default |
Loads the default tools from the configuration file and adds them to the list. |
|
Title |
The name script or tool. This name can be edited. |
|
Script |
Lets you specify a tcl script. Click the Browse icon to search for the correct location. Executing tcl scripts affects the state of open PADS I/O Designer documents and is therefore useful for automating frequently-used sequences of commands. |
|
Command |
This is where you specify the path to the executable. Click the Browse icon to search for the correct location. If required, this line can also contain tcl variables and expressions. Hold the mouse cursor over the field to display the full contents of the field (type of tooltip). This also applies to the Arguments and Initial directory fields.
When adding a tcl command in the Command field, you can provide the name of the tcl command. See “PADS I/O Designer TCL Commands” for a list of commands. |
|
Arguments |
Lets you specify arguments for the command. |
|
Initial directory |
Points to the directory or folder from where the tool is invoked. |
|
Displays a list of available tcl arrays and variables. Click a tcl variable to insert it into arguments or into the initial directory. |
The checkboxes at the bottom of the dialog box, do the following (when checked):
- Block PADS I/O Designer: External programs are invoked in a modal way such that other actions and user events in PADS I/O Designer are suspended until the external tool finishes its execution.
- Use console for output: All standard output from the executed program is printed to the PADS I/O Designer console window.
- Use console for error output: All error output from the executed program is printed to the PADS I/O Designer console window.
Figure 16-3.
External Tools Dialog Box: PADS Layout