Product Documentation
Pcell IDE - Quick Start Guide
Product Version IC23.1, November 2022

Virtuoso Quick Start: Debugging Pcells

Purpose

This document provides you a quick overview on how SKILL Pcells use the following commands.

  • Debug Super Master
  • Debug Instances
  • Debug Abutment
  • Debug Hierarchy Pcell Mode

For more information, see Debugging SKILL Pcells.

Prerequisites

  • The Pcell source file must be available.
  • The Pcell library must contain a libInit.il file that loads all the needed files.
  • Pcell IDE should be launched by selecting Launch — Pcell IDE from either of the VLS, VSE, and VSE-Symbol editor window.

Pcell IDE — Debug Commands

This section lists various commands for debugging SKILL Pcells.

Debugging the Super Master

To debug the Pcell super master, you need to perform the following steps:

  1. Select the Pcell source filename from the Source File drop-down list of the Pcell IDE assistant.
  2. Debug the Pcell super master by using one of the methods provided in the table below:
    • Direct Debug Pcells: Click Run once it gets enabled on the Pcell IDE toolbar.
    • Indirect Debug Pcells: Type the function call either in CIW or SKILL IDE if the Run button is not enabled on the Pcell IDE toolbar after you load the Pcell source file.

Table 1-1 Debugging Methods

Debugging Methods Steps

Direct Debug Pcells
    1. From the Pcell IDE toolbar, click Run to start debugging. The debug flow stops at the initial breakpoint.
    1. From the SKILL IDE window, debug Pcell source file using SKILL IDE debug navigation commands.
    1. During the Pcell debugging process, you can see the graphic being updated simultaneously in the editor window.

Indirect Debug Pcells
    1. Type the function call either in CIW or SKILL IDE if the Run button is not enabled on the Pcell IDE toolbar after you load the Pcell source file. This function contains the call to pcDefinePCell and enables the Run button on the Pcell IDE toolbar.
    1. The rest of the debugging steps are the same as the direct debugging Pcells method.
  1. After the evaluation is successfully completed, the Pcell default parameters are displayed in the Pcell IDE assistant. However, these parameters are not editable, as shown below.
    Figure 1-1 The Debug Super Master

Debugging an Instance

To debug a Pcell instance, you need to perform the following steps:

  1. Select a Pcell instance at any level of the hierarchy design.
  2. Select the Pcell source file path from the Source File drop-down list.
    If the Pcell source file does not match with the selected Pcell instance, the Run button on the Pcell IDE toolbar is not enabled and the “SuperMaster not loaded" message is displayed. To start debugging the Pcell instance, you need to either select the corresponding Pcell instance, or select the correct Pcell source file to enable the Run button on the Pcell IDE toolbar. There might be instances where the Run button is not enabled on the Pcell IDE toolbar after you load the Pcell source file. In such cases, you need to type the function call either in CIW or SKILL IDE to enable the Run button on the Pcell IDE toolbar. For more information, refer to Table 1-1.
  3. Pcell parameters are displayed in the Pcell IDE assistant. You can modify the value of any parameter. In addition, you can copy another Pcell instance parameter using the Copy button.
  4. On the SKILL IDE window, click Step to step through the Pcell source code. The graphic is incrementally updated and the Pcell instance is displayed in the editor window, as shown below.
    Figure 1-2 Pcell Instance in the Editor Window

Debugging Hierarchical Pcells

To debug Pcells at any of the displayed hierarchical levels, you need to perform the following steps:

  1. Turn on the Debug Hierarchy Pcell mode by clicking the Debug Hier Mode button from the Pcell IDE toolbar, any time while debugging Pcells.
  2. When the dbCreateParamInst SKILL statement is met, click Step or Continue from the SKILL IDE window. The Load Pcell Source File form is displayed in the Pcell IDE assistant for you to select the Pcell source file.
    Figure 1-3 Load Pcell Source File Window
    To skip debugging the next level, click the Next button from the Debug toolbar of the SKILL IDE window.
  3. The Load Pcell Source File form shows the debugged super master's library name, cell name, and view name.
  4. You need to select the Pcell source filename in Source File drop-down list.
    If it is an indirectly generated Pcell, click Run and enter the function call.
  5. Click OK to debug the next-level Pcell.
  6. Click Cancel to skip the next-level Pcell debugging.

Debugging an Abutment

To debug a Pcell abutment, you need to perform the following steps:

  1. Click the Debug Abutment button from the Pcell IDE toolbar.
  2. Select the abutment action and set the desired abutment events to be debugged.
  3. In the Pcell IDE assistant, fill in the abutment instance and pin information.
    Figure 1-4 Debug an Abutment
  4. Click the Run button to start the abutment simulation.
To debug the Pcell evaluation during debug abutment, you can turn on the Debug Hierarchy Pcell mode by clicking the Debug Hier Mode button when any one of these functions — dbReplaceProp, dbReplacePropList, or dbReplaceInstParamList is called.

Cross-highlight between Pcell IDE and SKILL IDE

You can cross-highlight between the graphic objects and the source code.

To do this, you can do either of the following:

Figure 1-5 Cross-highlight Pcell IDE and SKILL IDE


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