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Interface, Project & Navigation

To start using SIMBA, visit www.simba.io.

What is a SIMBA project file (.jsimba) ?

A SIMBA project file is the container for your work. A single project can host:

  • Multiple designs (circuits and associated analyses)
  • Custom libraries (your reusable models)
  • Thermal data
  • Test benches
  • Python scripts

Step 1 — Start from the Welcome tab

When SIMBA starts, you typically land on the Welcome tab.

  • New Project… creates a new project.
  • Open… opens an existing project file.
  • Open Design Examples loads a ready-to-use example project (perfect for learning).
  • Recent projects helps you reopen work quickly.
  • You may also see technical resources and latest news

Welcome tab

For this tutorial, open an example project so the interface is fully populated.

  1. Click Open Design Examples.

Open design examples

Step 3 — Understand the main layout (at a glance)

SIMBA is organized into a few key zones:

  • Title bar (top): menus, unified search box, job selection, run/settings actions, and panel toggles
  • Sidebar (left): navigation across project sections (Design, Library, Results, …)
  • Editor area (center): tabbed workspace for designs and documents (docking + floating supported)
  • Property grid (right): properties for the current selection
  • Bottom panel (bottom): job output, errors/warnings, progress and related tools
  • Status bar: quick status feedback

UI overview

Step 4 — The Title Bar (menus, search, jobs, run)

The title bar provides the main application menus (for example, creating, opening, and saving projects), except on macOS, where these menus appear in the system menu bar at the top of the screen.

The Unified Search Box is a fast command palette that helps you jump to items (for example, models/documents) without hunting through lists.

  • Click the search box, or use Ctrl/Cmd+P to open it.
  • The search box watermark shows the project name.
  • A black circle indicates unsaved changes in the project.

Search box project name and unsaved changes dot

Using the Unified Search Box, you can quickly access:

  • Designs (d)
  • Libraries (l)
  • Results (r)
  • Thermal Data (td)
  • Test Benches (tb)
  • Python Scripts (s)

To filter your search, start your query with the appropriate prefix. For example, type d LLC to search only within Designs.

Search box example

Job selection (auto-updated)

The job list in the title bar updates automatically to match your current selection (whether you select an item in the sidebar or switch to a different tab):

  • Selecting a Design selects its analysis job (for example, transient analysis)
  • Selecting a Test Bench selects the corresponding job
  • Selecting a Script selects its script analysis job

This ensures the Run and Settings actions always target the right analysis.

Job list auto-updating

Step 5 — Run a transient simulation (quick demo)

Before exploring navigation, run a simulation to see where progress, logs, and results appear.

  1. Select a design
  2. Click Run (or press F5).
  3. Watch the progress indicators and output.

Run transient simulation

Step 6 — The Sidebar (project navigation)

The Sidebar is your primary navigator across the content of a project:

  • Design: your circuits/designs
  • Library: model libraries (including custom libraries)
  • Results: simulation jobs and signals/charts
  • Thermal: thermal data and views
  • Test Bench: test bench definitions and runs
  • Spice: SPICE model library
  • Script: Python scripts and their execution context
  • Assistant: SIMBA AI assistant sessions

Sidebar sections

Step 7 — Tabs, preview tabs, and docking/floating

Editor tabs (center workspace)

Most work happens in the editor tabs in the center. SIMBA supports both:

  • Docked tabs (inside the main window)
  • Floating tabs (their own windows), which can be docked back into the layout (including docking to the side)

To dock a tab, simply drag it to a side to the editor area.

Dock tabs

To make a floating tab, simply drag it out of the editor window.

Floating tabs

Preview vs persistent tabs

SIMBA uses two tab behaviors to keep navigation fast:

  • Preview tab: opened by a single click; the title is shown in italics and the preview can be replaced by another preview.
  • Persistent tab: opened by a double click; stays open until you close it.

Common workflow:

  1. Single-click to quickly preview items.
  2. Double-click to “commit” the one you want to keep open.

Preview tab italics

Step 8 — Property Grid (right) and Bottom Panel (bottom)

Property Grid (right)

The Property Grid displays editable properties for the currently selected item (device, design element, analysis settings, etc.).

Property grid

Bottom Panel (bottom)

The Bottom Panel is where you monitor what’s happening during and after a run:

  • Job output / console messages
  • Errors and warnings
  • Progress and job-related tools

Bottom panel output

Step 9 — Settings (theme, license, and more)

Open Settings from the sidebar to access application-wide preferences.

Common first stops:

  • Theme: switch to Dark, Light, or System
  • License & Account: review activation/account information and license status

There are many additional settings available (for example: results retention, Python configuration, external libraries, compiler tools), so it’s worth browsing the sections once you’re comfortable.

Settings theme and license

Next steps

  • Try opening a few designs and practice preview vs persistent tabs.
  • Run a simulation and explore where results are listed and how charts open.
  • Use the Unified Search Box (Ctrl/Cmd+P) to jump directly to what you need.

If you want a quick reference for shortcuts, see keyboard_shortcuts.md.