Ascent: Training Insights: Controlling Design Versions in Allegro System Capture

The Version Control feature in Allegro® System Capture lets you track every modification in the design database. While working on a design, if you change your mind or make any mistakes, you can revert to any clean previous version of the design.

Version control is represented by the branches of the version control tree, where you can Save or Commit newer versions of a design. From a single-user standpoint, version control is helpful for trying out different ideas. In a multi-user scenario, version control is integral for team design.

Viewing Design Versions

To check the version details of an active design, hover the mouse pointer over the project name in the Project Explorer pane. The tooltip shows the version or revision number, the login of the user who made the last change, the date and time when the changes were made, and any comments.   

Whenever you save or commit the design, a new version gets created. Use the File – Version Control menu command to view the latest version. In the Version Control window, you can see the Details and History panes for the Allegro System Capture project.

To enable the version control features, ensure that the Pulse server is in the Running state when you start Allegro System Capture.

To view the first version of a design, scroll through the History pane and click on version 1.0, which is a blank schematic. A circle and the number on the version timeline represent the Save operation. For example, 2.0.1, 2.0.2, and so on.

Versioning Scheme

A version number comprises a three-digit version scheme:

• The first and second digits represent the Major and Minor versions of the design. Use the File - Commit menu command to commit a new major or minor version. Each commit operation creates a new version of the design in the Version Control tree. You can select the major or minor versions from the Commit dialog box.
• Examples of the Major version change: 1.0.0 and 2.0.0
• Examples of the Minor version change: 1.1.0 and 1.2.0.
• The third digit represents the number of times a design is Saved. Saved versions are created when you save a design by incrementing the third digit in the version scheme. You can save the design using the File – Save command or by enabling the Generate auto-recovery data option in the Preferences dialog box. The Generate auto-recovery data option automatically saves the project at specified time intervals. You can override the default value of the time duration in the Interval field.

Saved versions are visible only to the user who has created them.

• Examples of a Saved version are: 1.0.1 and 1.0.2.

Committing a Design

To mark design milestones, use the Commit command to publish the design. Committing a design creates an additional node on the main (blue) trunk in Version Control. You can also share your changes with all the team members. Committed versions are visible to all the members of the design team. When committing a design, add comments and tags to help identify versions of the design in the version history.

Watch the following video on how to leverage version control features in Allegro System Capture:

Restoring a Version

You can restore any previous version using the Open Version command from the Version Control window.

To learn in detail about version control and other helpful features, watch Allegro System Capture videos on the Cadence Support portal.

If you find the post helpful and want to delve deeper into Allegro System Capture, enroll in the Allegro System Capture v17.4-2019QIR4 (Online) online training course.

You can become Cadence Certified once you complete the course. 

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