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.

A template file is the same as a graph or pattern file (.sgrx or .sptx) but when used as a template, the source file names are replaced with the file names in your present graph.

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 New Graph 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 or click the Templates toolbar button Template button. 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 files, the template settings will be applied to all the files.

Built-in Templates

Sonnet provides a few general built-in templates which you may find useful.

Graph Templates

If you have not added your own custom graph templates yet, when you select Graph > Apply Template from a Graph tab, you will see the following built-in 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

If you have not added your own custom pattern templates yet, when you select Graph > Apply Template from a Pattern tab, you will see the following built-in 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.

You may delete any built-in templates you do not want. You can always restore them by selecting Edit > Preferences > [New Graph] and clicking the Restore factory templates button.

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, open your project in the Project Editor, and select Circuit > Settings > [Startup Graphs]. You may then add one or more template files. Note that Startup Graphs override any New Graph preferences.