.. |trace-drive-load| image:: ../../images/icons/act16/trace_drive_and_load.png
  :class: inline

.. |trace-drive| image:: ../../images/icons/act16/trace_drive.png
  :class: inline

.. |trace-load| image:: ../../images/icons/act16/trace_load.png
  :class: inline

.. |show-root| image:: ../../images/icons/act16/trace_show_root.png
  :class: inline

.. |show-full-hierarchy| image:: ../../images/icons/act16/trace_in_full_hierarchy.png
  :class: inline

.. |show-as-list| image:: ../../images/icons/act16/trace_content_as_list.png
  :class: inline

.. |show-hide-signals| image:: ../../images/icons/act16/show_hide_ports.png
  :class: inline

.. |show-diagram| image:: ../../images/icons/obj16/diagrams.png
  :class: inline  

The **Trace Connections View** presents a hierarchy similar with the **Design Hierarchy View**:

-  The connected instances are displayed, the rest are filtered out.
-  You can use **Show Root** and **Show Full Hierarchy** options to show the entire design. The connected instances are colored, the rest are grayed-out.
-  Port icons indicate the direction of the signal.
-  Sources and destinations are marked with red/green decorations.
-  You can search for a specific connected instance or signal with :ref:`Quick Search in Views`.

.. figure:: ../../images/common/trace-connections-presentation.png
	:align: center




The toolbar buttons allow you to change the **trace kind**:

- |trace-drive-load|  **Trace Drive and Load** shows the connected instances across the drive and load paths (how is this signal connected in the design)?
- |trace-drive|  **Trace Drive** shows the connected instances across the drive paths (who drives this port?).
- |trace-load| **Trace Load** shows the connected instances across the load paths (who does this port drive?).

Other buttons:

- |show-root|  **Show Root** shows the path to the **hierarchy root**, even if the signal doesn't reach it. It provides the enclosing context for deep traces, for example when tracing a signal many levels below the top module. This option is enabled by default.
- |show-full-hierarchy|  **Show Full Hierarchy** shows the full hierarchy, whether it is reached by the **traced signal** or not (how is this signal connected in the whole design context?).
- |show-as-list|  **Show As List** to view only the sources and destinations as a list.
- |show-hide-signals| **Show/Hide Signals** shows or hides the ports or internal signals of the currently selected instance.
- |show-diagram|  **Show Diagram** to view a graphical representation of signal traces.



At any time you can see the **traced signal** (the port or internal signal you are currently tracing). It is indicated in the info label.
The two connected instances that are bold colored in the tree represent:

-  The instance with the **traced signal**.
-  The instance with the signal shown in the trace path. More details :ref:`Trace Path`.

.. figure:: ../../images/common/trace-connections-current-port.png
	:align: center






*Double-click* on an element to go to code:

-  For a connected instance, go to its declaration.
-  For a port, go to where it is connected in the *trace path*.
-  For a signal, go to where it is declared.



When the signals panel is hidden, *right-click* on an instance in the tree to show the context menu.

.. figure:: ../../images/common/trace-connections-hide-ports-menu.png
	:align: center

When visible, *right-clicking* on a port or internal signal to show the context menu.


.. figure:: ../../images/common/trace-connections-show-ports-menu.png
	:align: center

The options in the context menu are :

-  **Trace** > **trace kind** Trace signals found on the drive or load paths of the current **traced signal**.
-  **Go to** Go to the port connections or signal declarations of the selected instance. The same as double-clicking on a particular signal in the signals panel.
-  **Show Path** Show the *trace path* from the **traced port** to the selected port or internal signal. More details :ref:`Trace Path`.