Graphic User Interface

Product Main GUI

The software interface adopts the Ribbon style, integrating multiple tabs with different functions into the menu bar in the upper left corner of the software. Adding solvers and running projects generates new highlighted tabs. These different tabs contain relevant commands and icons, making it convenient for users to use different functions in a targeted manner. The tabs are divided into several sections, allowing users to make more detailed settings. The software main GUI is shown below:

Explanation:

Number	Name	Description
1	Objects tree	Contain a tree of structures, solvers, sources, monitors, etc. See Objects Tree.
2	Watch	Provide a quick view of the properties/datasets of selected components.
3	Optimizations and sweeps	See Optimizations and Sweeps.
4	Script file editor	Write script programs. See Scripts.
5	Script console	Run script commands. See Scripts.
6	Script workspace	Store variables created through the command line. You can edit, save, and delete variables. See Scripts.
7	Global variables	Define global variables. See Global variables.
8	Composite viewer	It is in 3D CAD window. See CAD.

In addition to the area marked by the serial number in the figure, the software also provides shortcut buttons for Save, Undo, Redo, and other operations in the menu bar in the top right corner. The user can freely select the shortcut button to be displayed from the drop-down menu. To the right of the login avatar, the user can choose to hide the entire menu bar. Finally, the software also provides the background color switching function for a theme, allowing users to switch between dark and light colors as required, making the software experience more pleasant and interesting.

Standard GUI

Title Bar

Title bar format:

Project name - [Project path] - Software name

Ribbon

The ribbon is located above the main interface of the software. The ribbon contains all the project file settings, GUI settings, simulation settings, and so on.

Name	Description
File	Click to display the application menu, which includes relevant options for project file settings;
Home	The main tab contains global functions such as the clipboard, as well as buttons for adding material, solvers, and more;
View	The tab for window view is used to configure the visual display in the composite viewer. You can make changes here to meet your personalized needs;
FDTD/FDFD/FDE	The highlighted tab generated after adding the solver. Depending on the added solver, the functions and settings in the tabs may vary slightly. It is worth noting that a project can add multiple solvers, but only one solver can be enabled at the same time;
Simulation control panel	The simulation control panel displays the details of FDTD/FDFD simulation process and controls the visualization of the time-domain field.

• File
  Clicking on this option will display the application menu, which includes the following settings:

Name	Description
New project	Create a new project file;
Open	Open the project file;
Recent	Recently opened project files;
History	Simulation history records;
Save	Save the current project file;
Save as	Save the project as a new one;
Save a copy as(without data)	Save as a copy project without result data;
Close	Close the current project;
Application Gallery	Link to the Application Gallery;
Documentation	Link to knowledge base, the dropdown list includes User Manual and Script Commands;
Account	Account login;
Workbench	Cloud Computing Workbench;
Setting	Include auto backup files, Physical Units, and Pulse Normalization;
Help	The drop-down menu includes settings for automatic software updates and viewing current software version information;
Exit	Exit the software.

• Home
  The main tab is used to add basic components of the project, such as solvers, structures, and structural groups.

	Name	Description
	Copy	Copy various components other than the solver, such as structures, sources, analysis groups, etc.;
Clipboard	Paste	Paste the copied components;
	Photonic crystal	Add photonic crystal structure.
	Edit properties	Edit the selected component properties;
Edit tools	Delete	Delete the selected component;
	Select all	Select all components.
Materials	Materials	Add the material needed for the project in the built-in material library, please refer to the Material.
	FDTD	Add FDTD solver, please refer to the FDTD Solver Settings;
Simulation	FDFD	Add FDFD solver, please refer to the FDFD Solver Settings;
	FDE	Add FDE solver, please refer to the FDE Solver Settings.
	Structures	Add structures to the project in the built-in structure library. The structure library adopts the In-Ribbon library format. Click the dropdown button to expand the display, please refer to the Structures;
Structures	Import	Import structure files, please refer to the Import and Export;
	Export	Export structure files, please refer to the Import and Export.
	Group	Create a Group;
Group	Structure Group	Create a structure group, please refer to the Custom Structure Group;
	Structure library	Add the structure group needed for the project in the built-in structure group library, please refer to the structure group.
Jobs	Jobs	Add jobs, and multiple simulation jobs can be added at the same time.
Cloud	Cloud	Used to select computing resources for cloud computing, please refer to the Computing Resources.
Preference	Preference	Click to pop up the preferences window, including theme switching, form styles, CAD background settings, automatic backup, automatic updates, cloud computing account management, and other functions.

• View
  The visualization tab is used to set the interface display in composite viewer, including the following settings:

	Name	Description
Working grid	Show working grid	Click to display the background grid lines in the composite viewer, click again to cancel the display;
	Edit working grid	Set parameters for the background grid lines.
	View simulation mesh	Click to display the simulation results of mesh partition, click again to cancel the display;
Simulation memory	Recalculate simulation mesh	Update the display of mesh partition results;
	Check simulation memory	Check the required memory size for simulation, please refer to the Memory Preview before Simulation;
	View the current mesh data	View the spatial distribution of refractive index under the current mesh partition.
Data visualizer	Mode expansion	Set FDFP monitor and port mode expansion, please refer to Mode Expansion;
	Data visualizer	Display the result of the selected object, please refer to Data Visualization.
Layout	Windows	Click to pop up a context window. The context popup contains check boxes for all modules on the main page. Users can enable the required display modules to customize their main page. In addition, users can switch between Ribbon and Classic style in the Window style.
View options	View options	Adjust the visual effects of composite viewer, such as color, transparency, etc. Please refer to Visual Effects.

• FDTD/FDFD/FDE
  This tab is generated by the added solver, and it is used to add components required for simulation and calculation, such as monitors, analysis groups, etc. Due to different algorithms, the available components for different solvers are not exactly the same.
  The components available for FDTD are introduced below.

FDTD	Name	Description
	Dipole	Add a dipole source, please refer to Settings for Dipole Sources for specific settings;
	TFSF	Add a Total-Field Scattered-Field source, please refer to Settings for TFSF Sources for specific settings;
Sources	Plane	Add a plane source, please refer to Settings for Plane for specific settings;
	Mode	Add a mode source, please refer to Settings for Mode Sources for specific settings;
	Gaussian	Add a gaussian source, please refer to Settings for Gaussian Sources for specific settings;
	Import	Add an import source, please refer to Settings for Import Sources for specific settings.
Port	Port group	Add a port group and continue adding the port for use. The port can serve as both a mode source input and a monitor output. In a port group, only one port can be selected as the input for the mode source. Please refer to Port Setting for specific settings;
	Mode port	Add a port in the a port group. The port can be used for mode solving as a mode source, and can also be used as a FDFP monitors to record results. With the S-matrix sweep, the complete S-parameters of the device can be obtained. Please refer to Port Setting for specific settings.
	FDFP	Add a FDFP monitor, please refer to FDFP monitor for specific settings;
Monitors	Time	Add a time monitor, please refer to Time monitor for specific settings;
	Index	Add an index monitor, please refer to Index monitor for specific settings.
Analysis	Analysis group	Add an analysis group where users can set their own variables and scripts, please refer to Analysis group for specific settings;
	Analysis library	Offer the built-in analysis library where users can select the analysis groups based on their needs. Please refer to Analysis Library.
Mesh	Mesh	Add a custom mesh, please refer to User Mesh for specific settings.
Run	To run	Prepare to start simulation, generate and enter highlighted tab FDTD Simulation Control Panel.

The FDFD solver calculates the spatial distribution of electromagnetic fields at the target frequency by solving the frequency-domain Maxwell's equations. Compared to FDTD solver, it cannot use time monitors and related analysis groups. The other components are basically the same, without being further elaborated here.

The FDE solver calculates the spatial mode field distribution of a structural by solving Maxwell's equations on the cross-section. It does not require adding additional components, and the relevant results are displayed in the eigenmode workbench.

FDE	Name	Description
Mesh	Mesh	Add a custom mesh.
Run	To run	Enter the eigensolver workbench.
Dock	Show/Hide Eigensolver workbench	-

• Simulation control panel
  The simulation control panel has different settings for different solvers. The image below shows the simulation control panel for the FDTD solver. For a detailed introduction to the control panel, please refer to simulation overview.

Status Bar

The status bar includes:

• Software status: Ready;
• Display of pulse normalization;
• Current coordinate position.