A graphical user interface for CAD programs

Abstract

The aim of this project is to outline the design and implementation of graphical user interfaces for engineering and scientific computer-aided design tools. Graphical interfaces are quite important for sophisticated software tools because they simplify the use of the tools and reduce the learning phase. A properly designed user interface "guides" a user through the interactions with design tools, clearly indicating the design decisions and supplying all relevant information which is helpful in making these decisions. -- A package for graphical presentation and manipulation of numerical results is designed and implemented for existing computer aided design programs SPICE-PAC and FIT. The implementation is based on the Athena widget set under the X Window system. -- The methodology developed during this project is applicable to many other tools, reducing their development time and simplifying the use of developed programs.