Digital value display reference
Read binary, hexadecimal and decimal values in ALcad digital waveforms.
In Cloud or the Windows app, the digital time waveform shows each signal’s value at the selected sample. Use this reference to read individual bits, buses and signed values.
Open the value display
In Schematic, open a digital circuit. In the circuit toolbar, set Digital analysis to Time waveform and choose Run digital simulation. In the waveform, choose Waveform value format to set the format of the Value column.
The starting format is Binary. Each signal name includes its width in square brackets. Values use that declared width, from 1 to 64 bits. The leftmost bit is the most significant bit (MSB first).
Value formats
Format | Display rule | Example for |
|---|---|---|
Binary | Shows the complete bit string, including leading zeroes. |
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Hexadecimal | Uses |
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Unsigned decimal | Reads the bits as a non-negative integer. |
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Signed decimal | Reads the bits as a two’s-complement integer at the declared width. |
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For example, the 4-bit value 1111 reads as -1 in Signed decimal, while the 8-bit value 00001111 reads as 15. The width is part of the interpretation.
Four-state values
Digital values use 0, 1, X and Z. A value containing X or Z appears as its complete bit string in every format. With a numeric format selected, the value also shows Numeric value unavailable (X/Z).
With Hexadecimal, Unsigned decimal or Signed decimal selected, known values also show their original Binary string beneath the formatted value. The waveform’s bus bands also show the original bit strings.
Values at the cursor
Move the waveform sample cursor to read another sample. The Value column updates for all displayed signals at that time. Choose Follow latest sample to return to the final sample. The cursor time is shown in seconds.