Theme: Signal trace, signal segment, trace, signal, net
Can I connect signals by labels instead of green signal wires?
Yes, therefore please use "reference symbols" (REFs), for example a ground symbol or labelled arrows or just labels. In the schematic view please click on the ground symbol in the sidebar:
(Image 1: Reference symbols from the side bar)
Now the component browser will open showing the list of REFs (right, green). To the left in the schematic there have been placed some just to illustrate it.
(Image 2: To the right: List of reference symbols in green. To the left: Some examples.
REFs are needed, if a signal shall be dissipated to more than one schematic page. You won't be able to place a green signal wire from page 2 to page 4 for example. So you need a REF. If one with a leading "!" is chosen, a dialog pops up asking for the signal name before the REF will be inserted.
Also the toolbar gives opportunity to insert a REF:
(Image 3: Opening the list of reference symbols, REFs, by the toolbar
In menu "Components/Place reference symbols" you'll have that opportunity too. Experienced users hover the mouse to the spot where the REF shall appear and simply press keyboard key [r].
Remember the golden rule: All which carries the same signal name in the schematic expects to be connected in the lyout!
Alternatively, for illustration, you may wish to fix the signal name at a certain spot to your signal wire in the schematic. Hover the cursor exactly to the desired spot on the green line and press keyboard key [n] for "name". Now a text dialog opens and by [OK] you can generate the net/signal name to the wire.
(Image 4: Label the signal wire by its name (signal name, net name)
If you move the name "Clock" later, it shows by a ribbon to which signal wire it belongs which is helpful in narrow designs. But: This adjacent label does not substitute a REF. If you would have labelled two islands of the same signal just that way you will get the alert "Signal island without REF" when checking the project later. So always use a REF to any island of a signal.
