Using Xref inside modules and connecting a NET in different modules

[deepak_elango]

Hi there,

I've been working on Modules, I was not able to connect net's inside a module to a net on another module. But Xref was working fine when connecting Nets on different sheets but when using Xref I was not able to connect Nets in different modules.

Is there any way to do this Xref? Is there a different way to use Xref when connecting NET's in different modules 

[edpataky]

Hello there, modules are intended to isolate and provide a different scope for nets, so in fact you cannot conenct from inside a module, unless you go through its defined PORT objects.  

Here are the steps to be able to connect to your module from outside of it. 

Once you place your new module, add PORTs to connect externally to signals internal to the module. 

When you connect the PORT it will ask what NET it should connect to

In this case you can see I added two PORTs

You can connect externally to any net using the external PORTs.  

Does this help answer the question?

[technikertea]

Thanks for your solution, but I can't connect any port from my module to other modules or components. If i choose the net and pass over a component input than the pin get two green circles, but if I do the same at the port, it shows only one green circle. I can't connect these parts together, am I in the right layer?

[edpataky]

Following up with a similarly simple example, here I made a video, so you can see how it works today.  

I think maybe because there are no green indicator circles on the Module port, you are thinking you cannot connect, but you can .. there is just no indicator.  As we discuss this feature we will consider this thank you.  

You should be able to connect as in the video shown here.  Pay attention to the pin type also but you should not have any issue connecting .. you can check by moving the Module object as I did in the video.

[technikertea]

Good evening, thank you for your fast support!

Now it runs, but after a time it doesn't work again. I don't know why, but
I put you a screenshot in the attachment. There you can see that I can’t
connect a net to the module port. I did the same thing as at the other
module before: Clicked on "Module" selected the same module an put it in my
schematic, but then I wanted to connect the module to another module.
Nothing happens. The big issue is, if I disconnect the first module, and
try a reconnecting with a net, it also doesn’t work. So where is the error?
I hope you can help, because it’s very frustrating.

If I restart the software, it doesn't works too...


Best regards

[edpataky]

Hello, are you able to record what is happenning?  I am not clear on how it is not working for you .. connecting modules works the same way as connecting standalone components, you just connect nets to the ports .. if you can record your screen so we can see what you see that would be helpful .. if not we can find another way.  Thank you

[technikertea]

Good evening!

I found my mistake, I used the same prefix on two different modules.
I thought that the system use intern the module name an not the prefix, but
I was wrong.

It would be nice if a used prefix cannot be reused as a prefix when
creating a new module.

I have to say, your support is incredible, and I really appreciate it.

Best regards

[edpataky]

Great! No problem ask anytime that is why we are here 🙂 

About the prefix, there are many components that might have the same prefix, for example you might use “U” for all ICs etc .. I have seen many conventions .. the prefix though is not a unique identifier .. the prefix is just that, the first part before the actual unique id .. all placed components and modules will always have a  unique identifier (number is always added to the prefix) but the system definitely allows you to reuse prefixes .. (otherwise, if your prefix is one letter, and the if the prefix had to be unique, you would only have 26 available!).  This is why prefixes cannot be unique but the final ID when you place the module or component is unique.  

Example below I made two modules, both with "U" prefix, but when placed, you get U1, U2, etc

Ed