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Preface

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This manual assumes that you are familiar with the development and design of integrated circuits. It contains reference information about the Dracula® standalone verification product.

The preface discusses the following:

• Related Documents
• Typographic and Syntax Conventions

Related Documents

The Dracula Reference is often used with other Cadence products, or requires knowledge of special language (SKILL, TLF, DEF, Verilog). The following documents give you more information about these tools and languages.

• See the Virtuoso Layout Editor User Guide if you want to use the Cadence layout editor to enter your design.
• See the Cadence Installation Guide for information about how to install the product.
• See the Dracula User Guide for detailed instructions on how to perform Dracula tasks.
• See the Virtuoso Design Environment User Guide for information on how to
  • Start the Cadence software
  • Get around in the Cadence software
  • Get help on a command
  • Use the mouse
  • Use menus
  • Use standard and options forms
  • Start a design session

Typographic and Syntax Conventions

This section explains the conventions that this manual uses when describing commands.

text

Text in courier font indicates text that you must type exactly as it is presented.

argument

Text in italic font indicates text that you must replace with an appropriate argument.

{ }

Surrounds optional input.

/

Separates a choice of options.

...

Indicates that you can repeat the previous argument.

The following syntax shows a choice between two items:

ABORT-SOFTCHK = YES/NO

With this syntax, you can type one of the following:

ABORT-SOFTCHK = YES
ABORT-SOFTCHK = NO

The following syntax shows how this manual represents Dracula options:

ELEMENT MOS {[option]} layer-a layer-b layer-c {layer-d}

Here is an example of how you might type this command:

ELEMENT MOS[N] ngate poly nsd pwell

Type the command name, ELEMENT MOS. You then have the option of typing a code, represented in the syntax by the variable option, that specifies the type of the MOS device. The command does not require a device type to run properly, but you can specify it if you want. You must put brackets around the device type.

The names of layer-a, layer-b, and layer-c are all required. However, the name of layer-d, in braces, is optional.

All Dracula commands are available for all checking methods unless otherwise stated in the command description. Checking methods are modes (flat, hierarchical, cell, and composite) and Dracula applications (DRC, ERC, LVS, LPE, PRE). Commands that do not offer all checking methods include a “Checking Methods” section that lists the modes and applications available with that command.

An icon in the margin indicates an option that you can use only with hierarchical Dracula.

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