Bus

The 'Bus' command is used to draw lines representing a common connection bus. This is most often used in electronic schematics, where it is logical not to have connection lines directly between components, when you have multiple common connections between components that represent a similar function, e.g. data bus, address bus, etc.. It can also be used to represent many lines that continue in another location, e.g. other pages.

To draw a bus, select the 'Bus' command and enter the start and end points on the screen, or by inputting the co-ordinates. The procedure is the same as for the 'Lines' command.

The bus is drawn in a line width thicker than the normal connection lines and the default colour can be set independently of the other lines.

Hint

You cannot name a BUS line

The function of a bus differs enormously from a normal connection line:

The bus line is only a visual representation for when many lines are continued at other locations, e.g. different pages.  Con­nection lines can end at a Bus, but each connection line must have a 'line name' associated with it. For those connection lines ending at a bus, the cross reference capability, (to other line ends with the same name), is disabled. The bus has no effect on the electrical connection, open ended lines, connected to the bus, with the same line name are recog­nised as being connected (there will just be no cross reference generated). The list generator recognises the connection lines as being tied together (and NOT to the BUS) only by use of the line names. It makes no difference if the connection lines end at one or more busses, if they are open or go to a plug.

You can draw as many separate Bus lines as you want.