Graph and Pattern Templates

Graph and Pattern Templates are predefined graph or pattern files (.sgrx or .sptx) containing the graph settings including color, format, port properties, frequencies, angles, markers, axes, and other settings used in your graph. You may want to apply a template to your graph to use settings that were used previously when plotting other projects.

Creating a Template

You may create and save your own templates to apply to your projects. Any graph or pattern can be saved as a template. Please note that a template file is the same as a graph or pattern file (.sgrx or .sptx).

To create and save a template based on your presently opened graph, select File - Save As Template and a browse window will appear. You may save your template to any folder, but the default folder is your Sonnet Template folder. See the Preferences section below to learn how to change your default folder.

Applying a Template

When you want to apply a template to a project select Graph - Apply Template from the Graph or Pattern tab main menu. This opens a browse window from which you may select a pre-defined template file. Once you have selected the template file, it will be applied to your graph. If you were plotting multiple projects, the template settings will be applied to all the projects.

Built-in Templates

Sonnet provides a few general templates which you may find useful. If you have not added your own customer templates yet, when you select Graph - Apply Template, you will see the following choices:

Graph Templates

• Cartesian_Sn1_dB: A Cartesian graph with n curves per project, where n is the number of ports. For example, if your project is a 3 port, it will create 3 curves: dB[S11], dB[S21], and dB[S31].
• Cartesian_Snn_dB: A Cartesian graph with n curves per project, where n is the number of ports. For example, if your project is a 3 port, it will create 3 curves: dB[S11], dB[S22], and dB[S33].
• L_and_Q: A Cartesian graph with two curves per project. The first curve is Inductance1 on the left axis and the second curve is Q-Factor1 on the right axis.
• Smith_Sn1: A smith chart with n curves per project, where n is the number of ports. For example, if your project is a 3 port, it will create 3 curves: S11, S21, and S31.
• Smith_Snn: A smith chart with n curves per project, where n is the number of ports. For example, if your project is a 3 port, it will create 3 curves: S11, S22, and S33.

Pattern Templates

• 3D_FineAngles: A 3D pattern using a phi and theta step size of 2 degrees.
• Cartesian_DirectiveGain: A Cartesian plot of directive gain at phi=0 and 90 degrees. Since directive gain requires sweeping over the entire sphere or hemisphere, theta is swept from -180.0 to 180.0 degrees in steps of 5.0 degrees and phi is swept from 0.0 to 180.0 degrees in steps of 5.0 degrees. To increase the figure of merit, you may wish to use a smaller step size.
• Polar_DirectiveGain: A Polar plot of directive gain at phi=0 and 90 degrees. Since directive gain requires sweeping over the entire sphere or hemisphere, theta is swept from -180.0 to 180.0 degrees in steps of 5.0 degrees and phi is swept from 0.0 to 180.0 degrees in steps of 5.0 degrees. To increase the figure of merit, you may wish to use a smaller step size.

Preferences

There are several graph preferences that affect templates. You may set preferences using Edit - Edit Preferences and opening the New Graph Page.

Initial Graph Type: This section determines which type of graph will be opened when you first open a graph tab. If you select Template, you may choose between always opening a particular template file or to open your template folder and allow you to choose a template.

Template Folder: The template folder is the default location for your templates. A template file may be saved into or loaded from any folder, but Sonnet will first open the template folder when you save or load a template. You may then browse to any other location.

Restore factory templates: Clicking on this button will copy the original factory templates into your template folder and will overwrite any changes you have made to them. Templates added by you will be unaffected. This is useful if you accidentally deleted one of the built-in templates and you wish to restore it.

Startup Graphs

You may also set up your project to open one or more graph templates whenever you open a new graph for that project. To do this, select Circuit - Settings from the Project Editor tab and open the Startup Graphs page. You may then add one or more template files. Note that Startup Graphs override any New Graph or New Pattern settings.