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I am still using version 24.0.11, and I am finding some problems with drawing a block diagram of a multi-stage circuit as a schematic. I know that LTspice isn't intended for that, but It's much simpler to use than some other drafting apps. The problems are:

1. I can't see the grid points. They have always been minute but now I can't see them at all. They used to be more visible on print-outs of schematics.

2. Drawing a wire with CTRL held down doesn't allow the wire to start and end off-grid. It's the same if I draw lines instead of wires. I can't find a 'Snap to grid' check box to untick.

3. Is there any way to change the dimensions of a? rectangle after it is drawn? I guess not.

Would it be better to use the symbol drafter?

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Thank you.

As for #3 below;

Hit the "S" key.

Drag a box around an entire edge of a rectangle, top to bottom, or right to left.

Drag that edge of the rectangle to a new desired position.

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All for now

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Sent:?Saturday, March 08, 2025 at 3:13 PM
From:?"Andy I via groups.io" <AI.egrps+io@...>
To:?[email protected]
Subject:?Re: [LTspice] Schematic drawing issues

On Sat, Mar 8, 2025 at 01:53 PM, John Woodgate wrote:

1. I can't see the grid points. They have always been minute but now I can't see them at all. They used to be more visible on print-outs of schematics.

Are you sure they are enabled?? Right-click in schematic window > View > Show Grid.? Or Ctrl-G should toggle them.

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Zooming in and out MIGHT help make them marginally more visible, but my eyes are not what they used to be.? Changing screen colors may help too.

?

2. Drawing a wire with CTRL held down doesn't allow the wire to start and end off-grid. It's the same if I draw lines instead of wires. I can't find a 'Snap to grid' check box to untick.

I am not sure, but I think "Snap to Grid" might be always enabled for wires in the schematic viewer.? CTRL might toggle "snap to grid" for certain objects other than wires; and it lets? you draw wires at angles - but to grid only.

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3. Is there any way to change the dimensions of a? rectangle after it is drawn? I guess not.

I do not think so.? I always need to draw a new one.

?

Would it be better to use the symbol drafter?

Maybe.

?

Andy

?

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Thanks, Andy.

On Sat, Mar 8, 2025 at 01:53 PM, John Woodgate wrote:

3. Is there any way to change the dimensions of a? rectangle after it is drawn? I guess not.

To which I replied, "I do not think so".? But I'm wrong.? I was using the "Move" and "Drag" buttons incorrectly in this case.? "Move" moves the entire rectangle.? "Drag" drags only the lasso'ed portion, thus allowing its size to be changed.

?

So yes, you can change the size of a rectangle, with the "Drag" tool.

?

Andy

?

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I have succeeded, but without really resolving the issues:

1. I have the background colour for both schematics and waveforms set to white, because that saves a lot of toner when printing out. I think I can see very faint grid lines on the schematic screen, although that might be imagination. I also think that there are some tiny black dots, but they may be artefacts of my aged vision. I wonder what I should see, with the grid enabled.

2. This is still the case, but I have changed the rectangles of the block diagram to have sides that are odd numbers of grid steps, so that a wire can be taken from, and to, a centre of a side.

3. Acting on advice received, I have managed to do that.

I have not tried to use the symbol drafter, because I don't know how to run it other than by creating or editing a symbol from within a schematic.

If anyone is interested, I could upload the resulting block diagram.

I am still using version 24.0.11, and I am finding some problems with drawing a block diagram of a multi-stage circuit as a schematic. I know that LTspice isn't intended for that, but It's much simpler to use than some other drafting apps. The problems are:

1. I can't see the grid points. They have always been minute but now I can't see them at all. They used to be more visible on print-outs of schematics.

2. Drawing a wire with CTRL held down doesn't allow the wire to start and end off-grid. It's the same if I draw lines instead of wires. I can't find a 'Snap to grid' check box to untick.

3. Is there any way to change the dimensions of a? rectangle after it is drawn? I guess not.

Would it be better to use the symbol drafter?

--
OOO - Own Opinions only If something is true: * as far as we know - it's science *for certain - it's mathematics *unquestionably - it's religion

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Thanks, Andy. I have to print to .JPG, and doing that directly from LTspice doesn't produce a good output, so I Print Screen and copy to Irfanview, crop and print from there. I think I will ask for an option to make the dots actually visible.

On Sun, Mar 9, 2025 at 06:07 PM, John Woodgate wrote:

1. I have the background colour for both schematics and waveforms set to white, because that saves a lot of toner when printing out.

The on-screen background color does not affect the printed output, in my experience.? That is true whether or not I have "Print Monochrome" selected, at least when printing to PDF.? I suppose Your Mileage May Vary.

?

I wonder what I should see, with the grid enabled.

For schematic grids, you should see dots, not lines.? They are so tiny, I can barely see them.? Changing the on-screen colors does not seem to help me see them better.? Perhaps LTspice uses a size of 1 pixel, making them less apparent with high-res displays.? As far as I know, the schematic grid dots are on-screen only, not in the Printed output.? As you might notice (if you can see them), the on-screen dot spacing is not the functional grid spacing when you zoom out.? That is, it may show you one grid dot for every 2 or 4 or X functional grids - presumably so that the screen does not become filled with dots.

?

In contrast, the waveform grids are dotted lines, and they are much more visible.? I have to tone-down their color so that they don't overwhelm the waveform lines.

?

Andy

?

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Thank you.

What I meant to say is of course "lasso one of the anchor points", depending on the direction in which you want to enlarge the rectangle.

?

Ryu

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I thought there was an option to change the dot size, but maybe there isn't. Don't have a copy handy to check at the moment.

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It is black if the background is set to white, as I have it, but the default background is black. The white dots are no more visible. How do I ask ADI to consider a larger dot option, or a grid option? I looked on EZ, but I don't see anything but discussions.

On 10/03/2025 11:42, Alan Pearce via groups.io wrote:

I thought there was an option to change the dot size, but maybe there isn't. Don't have a copy handy to check at the moment.

No there isn't, but there is an option to set the dot colour, but I think the default is black, anyway.

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Regards,
Tony

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Thanks, Tony. I will try.

You have to start a discussion and title it "Feature Request, or similar.

--
Regards,
Tony

On 10/03/2025 12:51, John Woodgate wrote:

It is black if the background is set to white, as I have it, but the default background is black. The white dots are no more visible. How do I ask ADI to consider a larger dot option, or a grid option? I looked on EZ, but I don't see anything but discussions.

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So I tried. You can't use the word 'schematic' in a question without uploading a schematic! This is not sensible. I worked round it by writing 'circuit diagram' instead. Three cheers for British English!

Thanks, Tony. I will try.

On 2025-03-10 12:50, Tony Casey wrote:

You have to start a discussion and title it "Feature Request, or similar.

--
Regards,
Tony

On 10/03/2025 12:51, John Woodgate wrote:

It is black if the background is set to white, as I have it, but the default background is black. The white dots are no more visible. How do I ask ADI to consider a larger dot option, or a grid option? I looked on EZ, but I don't see anything but discussions.

--
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