Our new AI-powered custom design solution, Virtuoso Studio, leverages our 30 years of industry knowledge and leadership, providing innovative features, reimagined infrastructure for unrivaled productivity, and new levels of integration that stretch beyond classic design boundaries. In this blog series, learn how the best analog design tools just got better to help you keep pace with your challenging design issues.

In our previous blogs in this series, we’ve already seen how updates like the dark gray theme, TrueType fonts, and LPP transparency help create a cleaner, clearer, and more efficient design environment.

Today, we’re looking at another improvement that enhances your day-to-day productivity — the notification display.

This feature makes it easier to stay aware of important events without breaking your design flow or requiring you to switch windows constantly. 

Why the Notification Display Matters

Design work often involves frequently viewing design progress through CIW notifications: warnings, info messages, or occasional errors. But switching attention back and forth to the CIW can interrupt your rhythm. The new notification display can help by bringing messages directly where you’re working—the canvas.

Here’s what makes the notification display helpful:

• Only the active window shows the notification, keeping your workspace focused.
• Messages are displayed as lightweight pop-ups — clear, visible, and out of the way.
• Notifications update smartly, mimicking your existing CIW background and color scheme.
• You can fully customize how notifications behave.

Introducing the Notification Indicator

The bell icon reflects the message state using updated visuals (color + shape). It is designed to be consistent with CIW styling and gives at-a-glance clarity on whether something needs your attention.

Right-click (RMB) the icon at any time to access:

• Notification options
• Mute mode
• Raise CIW
• Display preferences

You’ll also find the same settings under:
CIW - User Preferences - Notifications

Smart Read/Unread Behavior

The notification display includes an intuitive read/unread model that ensures you never lose track of important information.

A message counts as read when:

• The mouse is hovered over the message (keeps it displayed)
• You hover over the bell icon (reopens the last message)
• You left-click the message (raises the CIW)

A message counts as unread when:

• The pop-up auto-closes after the first display
• You have not yet interacted with the message

Right-clicking (RMB) a message allows you to close it immediately.

More Control When You Need It

The notification display includes several adjustable behaviors to match your workflow:

Focus policy

• Ensures messages appear only in the active window
• Prevents visual noise when multiple windows are open

Focus delay and canvas delay

• Default delay: 200 ms
• Helps avoid flicker or abrupt pop-ups while navigating

Display options

• Choose which notification types to show: error, warning, info
• Adjust background color
• Toggle “mute mode” when you want silence without missing messages later

Everything is designed to be configurable — so you stay in control.

A Small Change That Keeps You Moving

The notification display is all about keeping your attention where it belongs — on your design. By delivering messages directly to the canvas, reducing unnecessary context switching, and offering intelligent control, it ensures a smoother and more continuous workflow.

Coming Up Next

In our final post of this Virtuoso Studio Refresh series, we’ll introduce the Virtuoso Dashboard — your new command center for managing active sessions and multitasking effortlessly across designs.

In previous editions of this blog series, we looked at some usability enhancements in Virtuoso Studio. If you've missed these editions, I would highly recommend that you read them:

• Virtuoso Studio: A Fresh Look - Redefining Your Design Experience
• Virtuoso Studio: Working in Comfort - New Display Theme and Readability Upgrades
• Virtuoso Studio: Viewing Designs Clearly - Understanding LPP Transparency

Related Resources

Video	Virtuoso Notification Display
Product Manual	Virtuoso Studio Design Environment User Guide

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For more information on Cadence circuit design products and services, visit www.cadence.com.

Happy Reading!

Vipin Singh