Logicator for PIC Micros Help             Click a link below: 

Logicator Commands

Logicator Toolbar and Menus

Building and Editing Flowsheets


Building and Editing Flowsheets  
    Click on a link below to see more information
 
   Flowsheet cells and routes

   Creating a command

   Deleting a command

   Selecting cells

   Moving cells

   Cutting, copying and pasting

   Drawing routes

   Deleting routes

   Inserting rows and columns

   Adding Comments
 

 

Flowsheet cells and routes

A Logicator flowsheet is a chart made up of cells into which commands may be placed.
It is called a flowsheet because it is cellular like a spreadsheet, but is also like a flowchart.
Each command that is placed on the flowchart can be clicked to put information into the cell.
The information will define what the command has to do.
Routes can be drawn from one cell to the next. Routes are also referred to as 'lines'.
You can also draw routes sideways from a cell and in either of the two vertical rails between cells.
The grid of dotted lines on the flowsheet shows the available positions for the cells and rails.
Large cells that hold Command data are called 'data cells'.
Small cells for holder route information are called 'flow cells'.
When a flowsheet is run, the flow of control passes from one command to another following the route that has been drawn. As each command is reached, the action defined by the command will take place.
Cells are arranged in rows and columns. Each flowsheet has 22 columns and 25 rows.
You can increase or decrease the size of your flowsheet using the Edit Grid Size menu option.

Return to Top

Creating a command

A command can be dragged from the Command List and placed on an unoccupied cell. Double click on the command to open its Cell Details dialog box, and set the details of the command as required. When the necessary details have been entered, click OK to close the dialog box.

Return to Top

Deleting a command

To delete a command from the flowsheet first click it to highlight it.  Then press the delete key.
To delete a block of commands, we select the block of cells containing the commands and press the Delete key.

Return to Top

Selecting cells

To select a block of cells first click the top command in the block. Then hold down the SHIFT key, and click the bottom cell in the block.

Return to Top

Moving cells

To move a command point to it, hold down the mouse button, and move the pointer to drag the command to the new cell position.

Return to Top

Cutting, copying and pasting

The easiest way to copy a single command cell is to hold down the CONTROL key and drag the command to an empty cell. A copy of the original command will be made.
Use the Cut, Copy and Paste options from the Edit menu, right click menu or keyboard shortcuts. [Copy = CTRL+C, Cut = CTRL+X, Paste = CTRL+V]

Selected cell(s) can be copied or cut and then pasted into another part of the same flowsheet or into a different flowsheet. Note that your paste area must be the same size and shape as your copy area and it must be clear of any routes or cells. You can select your paste area to start from a cell by highlighting any empty cell, but this must be of the same type as the first cell in your copy area. For example, if your copy area starts in a command cell (data cell) you must start the paste in a similar type cell – you cannot start the paste from a flow cell.

A block of cells spanning more than one column can be selected and dragged to an empty block of cells - as long as the selected area includes the rails on either side of the block.

Return to Top

Drawing routes

Drawing mode can be selected by clicking the pencil icon on the toolbar.
Select mode can be selected by clicking the arrow icon.
Drawing mode can also be selected by pointing to a command, clicking the right mouse button, and choosing 'Start Line'.  A 'tooltip' will invite you to click to start a new route, or right click to exit drawing mode.
                                                        
                            
Once we start drawing the route we can just click to place the route along the dotted path.
We can click again when ending the route or when we turn corners. When the route is complete we click the right mouse button to end drawing mode. Note that this is a rapid route drawn method that improves on earlier versions of the software.

Return to Top

Deleting routes

To delete a route, click at the beginning of the route to be deleted, and press the Delete key.
The route will be deleted up to the next command cell.
To delete a Line without deleting the cell in which it starts: first click on the cell to select it.
Then hold down the Ctrl key as you press the Delete key.
This will delete the entire line from the starting cell up to the next command cell.
When you draw a new route from a cell, the existing route from the cell will automatically be deleted.

Return to Top

Inserting cells and columns

To insert a row or column, click at the cell position where a new row or column is to be insert and choose : Edit > Inset Column, or Edit > Insert Row.
A new row or column will be inserted and the routes will be continued themselves over the new row or column.

To delete a row or column click at the cell position where the row or column is to be deleted and choose Edit > Delete Row or Edit > Delete Column.  A dialogue box will ask you to confirm your choice.

Return to Top

Adding Comments

The comment command allows a flowchart to be annotated.
This can make the function of the flowchart clear to someone else.
    Comment   Comment
Cell Comments can also be attached to individual commands. These will 'float' above the command on the flowsheet proving additinal explanation. Most command dialogue windows have a place to type a cell comment.
Cell Comment   Cell comment

Return to Top