Searches are defined in terms of Signals matching specific criteria. Depending on the search type, one or more signals are selected and a match pattern, match value or other conditions are defined for each. All Boolean and Bus signals use the Pattern Search type and all other signals (including those derived from Plug-ins), use the Sequential Search type.
Sequential searches allow a sequence of match conditions consisting of fields within frames among a sequence of frames. Each field match can have a specific value or a "don't care" (Any) value, and a specific skip count or a skip count of "Any". With the sequential search a very long sequence, consisting of multiple wildcards (any Field, any Frame, any Field Value) and specific frame or field skip counts and specific Fields and Field values, can be defined to locate the proverbial "needle" in a very long "hay stack". Sequential searches also have the option of placing the match marker at a specific point in the match sequence.
Pattern searches match a pattern across multiple signals at a single point of time in the capture.
When ALL specified signals and conditions match the search criteria, the time of the match condition (or Match Point) will be centered in the window that has "focus". Any other windows that are a member of the same Link Group, will also center on the match point. (see: Searching, Link Groups)
Details of each search type are explained in the following sections.
