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The Setup Page

This page contains a number of check boxes which apply during format conversion. These options are described below.

Strip For Export
When the Strip For Export button is active, converted output will contain physical data only, and all masters, and will contain no Xic extensions. The Strip For Export box should be checked when creating an export file for use in generating photomasks. Note that the electrical information can never be recovered from a stripped file. The check box tracks the state of the StripForExport variable.

This mode can also be enabled by setting the boolean variable StripForExport with the !set command. The variable tracks the state of the check box.

Include library cell masters
If the input file references library cells (which have the LIBRARY flag set) whose masters are not found in the file, then these masters are not written to output unless this box is checked. With the box not checked, the output file will require the referenced library be preesent and open when the file is read into Xic (the same requirement as the input file). With the box checked, the masters are written to the output file, which will therefor not need the library.

This tracks the state of the KeepLibMasters variable.

Include parameterized cell sub-masters
When this check box is checked, output saved to disk files will include sub-master cells. Ordinarily, sub-master cells are not included, as they will be re-created when the file is read. However, when exporting to a system that does not support the pcells in use, the sub-masters must be written if the file is to have any value. With the sub-masters present, the cells/instances will look like normal cell placements.

This applies when writing all output, except when using the Save and Save As buttons in the File Menu, and the equivalent text accelerators and including the prompts when exiting the program. It is also ignored when using the Save script function.

Xic native pcells are only supported in Xic. OpenAccess-based pcells might be supported by other systems, that is certainly the intent of the Ciranova PyCells. Even if another system supports the OpenAccess PyCells, it may not have the logic to rebuild the pcells coming from a GDSII or other file source. In that case one will probably have to ship the OpenAccess library files.

The StripForExport variable and the equivalent check box will have the same effect when set.

The PCellKeepSubMasters variable tracks the state of this check box.

Include standard via cell sub-masters
When checked, standard via cell sub-masters are included in the output file. This will be required when sending output to another system, as this implementation is specific to Xic. An exception may be systems that share an OpenAccess database with Xic. If the cells are written to the OpenAccess database, the standard vias should translate properly, and be recognized by other tools (e.g., Virtuoso) that share the database.

This applies when writing all output, except when using the Save and Save As buttons in the File Menu, and the equivalent text accelerators and including the prompts when exiting the program. It is also ignored when using the Save script function.

The StripForExport variable and the equivalent check box will have the same effect when set.

The ViaKeepSubMasters variable tracks the state of this check box.

Don't flatten standard vias, keep as instance at top level
This mode may apply when flattening a physical cell hierarchy. When set, instances of standard vias are retained as such, rather than being written as geometry. This check box tracks the state of the NoFlattenStdVias variable.

Don't flatten pcells, keep as instance at top level
This mode may apply when flattening a physical cell hierarchy. When set, instances of parameterized cells (pcells) are retained as such, rather than being written as geometry. This check box tracks the state of the NoFlattenPCells variable.

Ignore labels in subcells when flattening
When flattening a cell hierarchy, if this check box is checked labels found in subcells are ignored, meaning not reparented to the top level. Pre-existing labels at the top level are not affected. This is intended to prevent net name labels from subcells conflicting with net name labels defined at higher hierarchy levels. The check box state tracks the NoFlattenLabels variable.

Skip reading text labels from physical archives
When set, text labels will not be read from a layout file when reading physical-mode data. It is not generally advisable to use this, as text labels, though not physical objects, should be assumed to be present for a purpose. However, this check box gives the user the flexibility to strip these out. This check box tracks the status of the NoReadLabels variable.

In Xic, text labels are included when the bounding box of a cell is computed. If a text label actually determines the boundary of a cell, the bounding box of the cell may report differently from other tools. The effective size of a text label is not well defined, and other tools will probably make different assumptions about font size, etc., or may not include text labels in bounding box computations.

Keep bad output (for debugging)
When generating an archive file and an error occurs. the archive file will normally be deleted. However, if this box is checked, the output file will be given a ``.BAD'' extension and retained. This file should be considered corrupt, but may be useful for diagnostics. This tracks the state of the KeepBadArchive variable.


next up previous contents index
Next: The Convert File Page Up: The Format Conversion Button: Previous: File Format Selection   Contents   Index
Stephen R. Whiteley 2024-09-29