14

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CDBA Technology File Functions

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This chapter includes the following topics:

• Technology File Overview
• Administrative (File) Functions
• Technology File Management Functions
• Control Class Functions
• Layer Functions
• Equivalent Layer Functions
• Via Layers Functions
• Derived Layers
• Layer-Purpose (LP) Pair Functions
• Layout Suite L Rule Functions
• Virtuoso Layout Suite XL Functions
• Place and Route Rule Functions
• viaDef Functions
• viaHeader Functions
• Site Definition Functions
• Site Pattern Functions
• Physical Constraint Functions
• Electrical Rule Functions
• Technology File Database Functions
• Trim Layer Functions

Technology File Overview

This section describes the technology file C functions that are administrative in nature. They do not affect the technology data of the technology file.

For more information on the technology file functions and technology file constraints, see these sections.

• Uses for Technology File Functions
• Accessing Technology Data
• Technology File Constraints
• Warnings in Functions
• Speed of Implementation in Functions
• Ordered Properties in Functions
• Pointers in Technology File Functions

Uses for Technology File Functions

Use technology file C functions to access technology data. Specifically, you can

• Open and close a technology file in virtual memory
• Manage files opened in virtual memory. This includes
  • Purging virtual memory
  • Refreshing virtual memory with the disk version
  • Getting identifiers of open technology files
• Save the technology file opened in virtual memory to disk
• Attach a technology file to a Design Framework II library, cell, or cellview
• Set and get control parameters for use in the technology data

Accessing Technology Data

When accessing technology data, keep the following in mind:

• Retrieve a technology file from the cellview, not from the library.
• Most rules are no longer stored in classes. Now, rules are defined in constraint groups. See the Technology File Constraints sections below.
• All display information is contained in packets. Each layer-purpose pair has an associated packet stored as the packet name.

Technology File Constraints

The basic structure of a constraint section in the technology file is as follows.

constraintGroups(
("constraintGroupName"
   constraintType(
   ( specificConstraint )
   ( specificConstraint )
   );constraintType
);constraintGroupName
);constraintGroups

Constraint information is defined in constraint groups. The constraintGroups section contains the following.

• constraint group name, such as foundry.
• constraint categories, such as physical constraints.
• constraint types, such as spacings.
• collection of constraints, such as minSpacing. The constraints are used as input to compilation during loading.

For example.

constraintGroups(
("foundry"
   ; physical constraints
   spacings(
   ( minSpacing Metal1 0.3 )
   ( minSpacing Metal1 0.4 )
   );spacings
);foundry
);constraintGroups

Warnings in Functions

Some pairs or groups of functions differ only in the type and specificity of error or warning messages generated when the function returns FALSE. Functions whose names do not include NoWarn return more general error messages and are useful for simpler tasks. Functions whose names do include NoWarn are called when you are performing a more complex task, which requires a more specific and meaningful error message.

An example pair of functions differing in this respect is techList2LP and techList2LPNoWarn. In both cases, the C code prompts you to enter a layer-purpose pair. You enter a layer-purpose pair the equivalent of ("someLayer" "somePurpose"). The C code is passed this layer-purpose pair and calls the function to break the layer-purpose pair into smaller units of code for processing.

If techList2LP determines that someLayer does not exist, it gives you a general message such as "layer’someLayer’ does not exist" and returns FALSE.

If you enter a layer-purpose pair which is used for a very specific task, such as for a third-layer metal, the C code might call the techList2LPNoWarn function. If the function returns FALSE (indicating an error occurred), you have the option of printing out a more meaningful message such as “The third-layer metal specified by the layer-purpose pair does not exist. Try again.”

Speed of Implementation in Functions

Some pairs or sets of functions differ only in the speed and thoroughness in which they are implemented. The difference is indicated in the function names by the contrasting use of 2 or To in the function name. When 2 is used in a function name, the function processes information more quickly but not as thoroughly. Functions whose name includes To process information more slowly and thoroughly.

An pair of functions differing only in this respect is techList2LP and techListToLP.

Ordered Properties in Functions

A calling function passes in TRUE or FALSE to specify whether a particular property is an ordered property or not. If a property is ordered, a property between layer1 and layer 2 might have one value, whereas the a property with the same name between layer 2 and layer 1 might have another value.

If the property is not ordered, a property between layer 1 and layer 2 of a particular name has the same value regardless of whether layer 1 and layer 2 or layer 2 and layer 1 is referred to. The function returns a value of type techGroupId.

If the two-layer property is successfully created, a valid techGroupId is returned. If the return value is techcNullGroupId, an error occurred and the property was not created.

Pointers in Technology File Functions

A function updates the values indicated by the pointers. For example, the dbGenFig function updates a dbFigId pointer, techGenLP updates techLayerNum and techPurpose pointers (for a layer-purpose pair). The techGenSpacingRule updates pointers to layers, purposes, dbPropType, and dbPropValue, the latter being the spacing rule value.

See “Getting Started with CDBA” for more information on pointers in generator functions.

See “techGenSpacingRule” for an example of how these pointers are used.

Attach Functions

Use attach functions to attach, or bind, a specific technology file to a Design Framework II library. You can also delete the binding.

The technology file binding is made up of the techLibName property, which is defined as follows:

Administrative (File) Functions

Administrative functions do not affect the technology data of the technology file. Use administrative file functions to open, close, and manage files in virtual memory. The open functions provide three modes that control what remains on disk and what is loaded into virtual memory. The modes are

• Read—loads the contents of the binary technology file into virtual memory and does not allow any edits to the file
• Append—loads the contents of the binary technology file into virtual memory and does allow edits
• Write—deletes the contents of the binary technology file on disk and loads the empty file into virtual memory
  
  Write mode does allow edits. Use this mode with extreme caution!

techCloseTechFile

Boolean

techCloseTechFile(
techFileId techfile
);

Description

Closes the technology file and decrements the opencount. The technology file is not purged from virtual memory until the system needs to use the memory and the open count is equal to zero. Internally, the system maintains a count of the number of times you open and close a specific technology file. The count increments when you open and decrements when you close. When the open count is 0 and the system needs more virtual memory, it purges the technology file from virtual memory.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

Boolean status;
techFileId techFile;
status = techCloseTechFile(techfile); 

techCopyTechFile

techFileId 

techCopyTechFile(
techFileId   oldTechFile,
String       newLibName,
String       path,
Boolean      deleteOriginal
);

Description

Copies a technology file to a new location and optionally deletes the original. This function is especially useful for separating technology data out of libraries that contain both design data and technology data.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

techFileId newTechId;
newTechId = techCopyTechFile( oldTechId,
"newTech", "/usr/myDir/TechFiles", TRUE);

techDeleteTechFile

Boolean

techDeleteTechFile(
techFileId techFile
);

Description

Deletes a technology file. This function is useful for deleting redundant technology data from design libraries that have been updated to share one technology library.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

Boolean status;
techFileId techFile;
status = techDeleteTechFile(techFile);

techGetCreateTime

time_t

techGetCreateTime( techFileId    techfile 
);

Returns the time at which the technology file was created.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

techFileId techFile;
techfile = techGetCreateTime();

techGetTechFileDdId

ddId

techGetTechFileDdId(
techFileId techfile
);

Description

Returns the design data identifier for the technology file attached to the specified Design Framework II library or cellview. If the technology file does not exist, this function returns techcNullTechFileId.

For more information about design data identifiers, refer to the Virtuoso Design Environment SKILL Reference.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

ddId id;
techFileId techfile;
id = techGetTechFileDdId(techfile);

techGetTimeStamp

techTime

techGetTimeStamp(
techFileId techfile
);

Description

Gets the internal time stamp of the technology file to the current time. The time stamp is an integer representing the number of seconds elapsed since 00:00:00 GMT, January 1, 1970. The time stamp represents the last time the technology file was updated.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

techTime currentTime;
techFileId techfile;
currentTime = techGetTimeStamp( techfile);

techOpenDefaultTechFile;

techFileId

techOpenDefaultTechFile(
);

Description

Loads the default binary technology file in virtual memory in read mode and returns the database identifier. The default technology file resides at

your_install_dir/tools/dfII/etc/cdsDefTechLib

If the default technology file is not at the expected location, this function returns an error.

Arguments

None.

Return Values

Example

techFileId techFile;
techfile = techOpenDefaultTechFile();

techOpenTechFile

techFileId

techOpenTechFile(
String   libName,
String   path,
String   modeString
);

Description

Loads a binary technology file in virtual memory with a specified mode and returns the database identifier of the file. If you specify r mode, the file can only be read. If you specify w mode, the contents of the disk file are deleted or truncated, and an empty technology file is loaded into virtual memory. If you specify a mode, the technology file is loaded in append mode, which means that you can edit the contents of the file.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

techFileId techFile;
String libName = "myLib";
String techfile = "techfile.cds";
String modeString = "a";
techFile = techOpenTechFile(libName,techfile.cds, modeString);

techPurgeTechFile

Boolean

techPurgeTechFile(
techFileId techfile
);

Description

Deletes the file from virtual memory, regardless of the open count.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

Boolean status;
techFileId techFile;
status = techPurgeTechFile( techfile);

techRefreshTechFile

Boolean

techRefreshTechFile(
techFileId techfile
);

Description

Replaces the technology file loaded in virtual memory with the binary file stored on disk. The edit mode (append, read, or write) of the file remains the same. If you refresh a technology file open in append mode, any changes you made and did not save are lost. If you refresh a technology file open in write mode, the empty disk file is loaded into virtual memory. This function is sometimes referred to as DiscardEdits.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

Boolean status;
techFileId techFile;
status = techRefreshTechFile( techFile);

techReopenTechFile

techFileId

techReopenTechFile(
techFileId  techfile,
String      modeString
);

Description

Changes the mode of a technology file that has been opened. Use this function to upgrade the mode from read to append.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

techFileId techFile;
techFile = techReopenTechFile( techFile, "a");

techSaveTechFile

Boolean

techSaveTechFile(
techFileId techfile
);

Description

Saves the specified technology file from virtual memory to the disk file (including all devices) from which it was opened.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

Boolean status;
techFileId techFile;
status = techSaveTechFile(techFile);

techSaveTechFilesInITDBGraph

Boolean

techSaveTechFilesInITDBGraph(
techFileId  techId,
Boolean     forceToOpen
);

Description

Saves the specified technology database and its referenced technology databases from virtual memory to disk.

Arguments

Return Values

techTruncateTechFile

Boolean

techTruncateTechFile(
techFileId techfile
);

Description

Deletes the contents of the technology file stored on disk. This has the same effect as opening the technology file in write mode.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

Boolean status;
techFileId techFile;
status = techTruncateTechFile( techFile);

techVerifyTechFileId

Boolean

techVerifyTechFileId(
techFileId techfile
);

Description

Indicates whether the specified database identifier is for a technology file.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

Boolean status;
techId techfile;
status = techVerifyTechFileId( techfile);

Technology File Management Functions

The following functions pertain to technology file management.

*FuncConflictTriggerPtr

Boolean

( *FuncConflictTriggerPtr )
( techConflictType       conflictType,
  int                    numObj,
  techId                *conflictIDs 
);

Description

Prototype for application code to follow when it is necessary to execute a function when there are conflicts in incremental technology databases. The value of the pointer (*conflictIds) is valid only if the function returns TRUE.

Arguments

Return Values

*FuncGraphTriggerPtr

Boolean

( *FuncGraphTriggerPtr )
( techFileId          techId
);

Description

Prototype for application code to follow when it is necessary to execute a function to modify the technology database graph.

Arguments

Return Values

techDeleteCellViewTechLibName

Boolean

techDeleteCellViewTechLibName(
dbCellViewId cv
);

Description

“Unattaches” a technology library name attached to a specified cellview.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

Boolean status;
dbCellViewId cv;
status = techDeleteCellViewTechLibName(cv);

techDeleteObjTechLibName

Boolean

techDeleteObjTechLibName(
ddId obj
);

Description

“Unattaches” a technology library name from an object. The object now inherits the attached technology file from its parent object.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

Boolean status;
ddId obj;
status = techDeleteObjTechLibName(obj);

techHasConflict

Boolean

techHasConflict(
techFileId    techId
);

Description

Checks whether or not a specific technology database has one or more conflicts or is incomplete.

Arguments

Return Values

techExit

void

techExit(
);

Description

Frees up memory and prepares for the exit of the process. Do not call any technology file functions afterwards.

Arguments

None.

Return Values

None.

Example

void

techExit();

techGetCellViewDeviceTechFile

techFileId 

techGetCellViewDeviceTechFile(
dbCellViewId cv
); 

Description

Returns the database identifier of the technology file containing technology file devices.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

techFileId techFile
dbCellViewId cv;
techFile = techGetCellViewDeviceTechFile(cv);

techGetCellViewTechFile

techFileId 

techGetCellViewTechFile(
dbCellViewId cv
);

Description

Returns the technology file attached to a specific cellview. If it is not explicitly attached at the cellview level, this function will work its way up the hierarchy from the cellview level to the cell level, and finally, to the library level.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

techFileId techfile;
dbCellViewId cv;
techFile = techGetCellViewTechFile( cv); 

techGetCellViewTechLibName

String

techGetCellViewTechLibName(
dbCellViewId cv
);

Description

Returns the name of the technology library attached to a specified cellview of dbCellViewId.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

String techlib;
dbCellViewId cv;
techlib = techGetCellViewTechLibName(cv);

techGetDefTechLibName

String

techGetDefTechLibName(
String viewType
);

Description

Returns the default Cadence^® defined default technology file, usually cdsDefTechLib.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

String defTech;
defTech = techGetDefTechLibName( "dbcNullString");

techGetObjTechFile

techFileId 

techGetObjTechFile(
ddId obj
);

Description

Returns the attached technology file of ddId. ddId can be that of a library, cell, or cellview.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

ddId obj;
techFileId techfile;
techfile = techGetObjTechFile(obj);

techGetObjTechLibName

String

techGetObjTechLibName(
ddId obj
);

Description

Retrieves the technology library name of the technology file attached to an object.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

ddId obj;
String name;
name = techGetObjTechLibName(obj);

techGetReadFileName

String

techGetReadFileName(
techFileId techfile
);

Description

Returns the path of the binary technology file (techfile.cds).

Arguments

Return Values

Example

String techFilePath;
techFileId techfile;
techFilePath = techGetReadFileName( techfile);

techGetTechFileMode

String

techGetTechFileMode(
techFileId techfile
);

Description

Returns the current open mode of the technology file, either "r" = read, "w" = write, or "a" = append.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

String openMode;
techFileId techfile;
openMode = techGetTechFileMode(techfile);

techGetTechFileName

String

techGetTechFileName(
techFileId techfile
);

Description

Returns the name (string value) of the of the binary technology file. This is currently always techfile.cds.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

String techFileName;
techFileId techfile;
techFileName = techGetTechFileName(techfile);

techGetTechLibName

String

techGetTechLibName(
techFileId techfile
);

Description

Returns the string value of the techLib name.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

String libName;
techFileId techfile;
libName = techGetTechLibName(techfile);

techGetWriteFileName

String

techGetWriteFileName(
techFileId techfile
);

Description

Returns the path of the write technology file.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

techFilePath = techGetWriteFileName(techfile);

techIdToList

list

techIdToList(
techId id
);

Description

Creates a list containing the specified identifier of the technology file or technology file object. This function is useful for passing an identifier to the SKILL level.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

list techobj;
techId id;
techobj = techIdToList(id);

techInit

String

techInit(
int    *pArgc,
char   *pArgv
);

Description

Initializes all internal technology file data structures. This function must be called prior to any technology file functions, usually in main(). The arguments *pArgc and *pArgv are not used when the function is passed from main().

Arguments

Return Values

Example

String version;
int argc;
char *argv;
version = techInit( &argc, argv);

techIsLPId

Boolean techIsLPId(
techLPId lpId
);

Description

Determines whether the passed identifier is that of a layer-purpose pair.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

Boolean status;
techLPId lpId;
status = techIsLPId(lpId);

techRegConflictTrigger

Boolean

techRegConflictTrigger(
FuncConflictTriggerPtr    triggerFunc,
unsigned int              priority,
const char                *name
);

Description

Registers an application’s function to the conflict trigger.The value of the pointer (*name) is valid only if the function returns TRUE.

Arguments

Return Values

techRegGraphModTrigger

Boolean

techRegGraphModTrigger(
FuncGraphTriggerPtr       triggerFunc,
unsigned int              priority,
const char                *name
);

Description

Registers an application’s function to the graph modification trigger.The value of the pointer (*name) is valid only if the function returns TRUE.

Arguments

Return Values

techSetCellViewTechLibName

Boolean

techSetCellViewTechLibName(
dbCellViewId cv, String tfName
);

Description

Sets the technology library name to attach to a specified cellview.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

Boolean status;
dbCellViewId cv;
String tlName;
status = techSetCellViewTechLibName(cv, tlName);

techSetObjTechLibName

Boolean 

techSetObjTechLibName(
ddId obj, String tfName
);

Description

Sets the technology library name of the technology file to attach to an object.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

Boolean status;
ddId obj;
String tfName;
status = techGetObjTechLibName(obj, tfName);

techStringToPurpose

techPurpose

techStringToPurpose(
techFileId      techfile,
String          name
)

Description

Returns techPurpose from the purpose name.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

techPurpose     purpose;

techfile = techGetTechFile(ddGetObj("mylib"));

purpose = techStringToPurpose(techfile "drawing");

techUnattachTechFile

Boolean

techUnattachTechFile(
ddId obj
);

Description

“Unattaches” a specific technology file from an object. The object now inherits the attached technology file from its parent object.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

Boolean status;
ddId obj;
status = techUnattachTechFile(obj);

techUnregConflictTrigger

Boolean

techUnregConflictTrigger(
FuncConflictTriggerPtr    triggerFunc
);

Description

Unregisters the specified conflict trigger function.

Arguments

Return Values

techUnregGraphModTrigger

Boolean

techUnregGraphModTrigger(
FuncGraphTriggerPtr    triggerFunc
);

Description

Unregisters the specified graph modification trigger.

Arguments

Return Values

Control Class Functions

Use the control class functions to set global parameters and permissions that affect all constraints of the technology file.

techGenAllRef

Boolean 

techGenAllRef 
techGenStateId     state,
string             *refLibName
); 

Description

Generates the name of the next reference technology database in the graph from a technology database specified by state. The value of this pointer (*refLibName) is valid only if the function returns TRUE.

Arguments

Return Values

techGenAllRefLibName

Boolean 

techGenAllRefLibName 
techGenStateId     state,
string             *refLibName
); 

Description

Generates the name of the next technology library in a graph that contains technology databases referenced, both directly and indirectly (by way of the references throughout the graph), from a technology database specified by state. The value of this pointer (*refLibName) is valid only if the function returns TRUE.

Arguments

Return Values

techGenParam

Boolean

techGenParam(
techGenStateId   stateId,
String           *pParamName,
techPropType     *pType,
techPropValue    *pValue
);

Description

Generates the next parameter from a technology file specified by stateId. The next parameter name, the type, and the value are returned via indirection. The values of these three pointers (*pParamName, *pType, and *pValue) are valid only if the function returns TRUE.

Arguments

Return Value

Example

stateId = techStartGenParam(techfile);
while techGenParam (stateId, &name, &type, &value){
}.....
techStopGen (stateId);

techGenRef

Boolean 

techGenRef 
techGenStateId     state,
techFileId         *techId
); 

Description

Generates the next direct reference technology database from a technology database specified by state. The value of this pointer (*techId) is valid only if the function returns TRUE.

Arguments

Return Values

techGenRefLibName

Boolean 

techGenRefLibName 
techGenStateId     state,
string             *refLibName
); 

Description

Generates the name of the next technology library that contains technology databases directly referenced by a technology database specified by state. The value of this pointer (*refLibName) is valid only if the function returns TRUE.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetDerivedLayerLayer1Num

techLayerNum 

techGetDerivedLayerLayer1Num( 
techLayerId      derivedLayerId 
); 

Description

Gets the layer number of layer1 associated with the specified derived layer.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetDerivedLayerLayer2Num

techLayerNum 

techGetDerivedLayerLayer2Num( 
techLayerId      derivedLayerId 
); 

Description

Gets the layer number of layer2 associated with the specified derived layer.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetLayerMfgResolution

Boolean 

techGetLayerMfgResolution( 
techFileId         techfile. 
techLayerNum       layerNum, 
techPurpose        purpose, 
techPropType       *ptype, 
techPropValue      *pvalue 
) 

Description

Gets the manufacturing grid resolution assigned to the specified layer.

If the layer attribute is not set (is equal to 0), then the function will attempt to look up the default technology wide value and return it. If this value is not set, then it will return NULL.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetParam

Boolean

techGetParam(
techFileId      techfile,
String          paramName,
techPropType    *pType,
techPropValue   *pValue
);

Description

Returns the value of the specified control parameter. The parameter type and value are returned by indirection. The type and value are only valid if the function returns TRUE.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

techFileId techfile;
String name = "lambda"; 
techPropType type;
techPropValue value;
Boolean status;
status = TechGetParam(techfile, name, &type, &value);

Retrieves the value of the lambda control parameter in the techfile technology file.

techIsMfgGridResolutionSet

Boolean 

techIsMfgGridResolutionSet( 
techFileId         techId 
); 

Description

Determines whether or not the manufacturing grid resolution is set in a specific technology database.

Arguments

Return Values

techMakeEffectiveLPsLocal

Boolean

techMakeEffectiveLPsLocal(
techFileId     techId
);

Description

Adds all layer-purpose pairs in the graph that are currently being used for the local technology database to the local technology database.

Arguments

Return Values

techPurposeDefHasDescription

Boolean

techPurposeDefHasDescription(
techPurposeDefId   purposeDefId
);

Description

Returns TRUE when the description attribute has been set on the specified purpose definition.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

Boolean hasDescription = techPurposeDefHasDescription(userPurposeDef3);

techPurposeDefHasParent

Boolean

techPurposeDefHasParent(
techPurposeDefId   purposeDefId
);

Description

Returns TRUE if the parent purpose attribute has been set on the specified purpose definition.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

Boolean hasParent = techPurposeDefHasParent(userPurposeDef3);

techPurposeDefHasSigType

Boolean

techPurposeDefHasSigType(
techPurposeDefId   purposeDefId
);

Description

Returns TRUE if the signal type attribute has been set on the specified purpose definition.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

Boolean hasSigType = techPurposeDefHasSigType(userPurposeDef3);

techPurposeDefHasVoltageRange

Boolean

techPurposeDefHasVoltageRange(
techPurposeDefId   purposeDefId
);

Description

Returns TRUE if the voltage range attribute has been set on the specified purpose definition.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

Boolean hasVoltageRange = techPurposeDefHasVoltageRange(userPurposeDef3);

techSetEvaluateFlag

void 

techSetEvaluateFlag(
Boolean value
);

Description

If, for some reason, you want the un-evaluated parameter expression, use techSetEvaluate (FALSE) before calling the Get function of your choice. Remember to call techSetEvaluate (TRUE) when you are finished, or the next user calling a Get function will most likely be unpleasantly surprised.

Arguments to Get functions are returned by means of indirection. You supply pointers to objects of a given type as arguments. These pointers are updated by the Get function if it is successful. The pointers are invalid if the generator or function returns FALSE.

All Get functions return any parameters through the techPropType and techPropValue pointers. The parameter returned by techPropValue is either evaluated or raw data. Unless specifically directed, all Get functions evaluate parameters before return. The ASCII dumper is the only utility or application that needs the unevaluated expression.

Arguments

Return Value

Example

_______ = techSetEvaluateFlag(value);

techStartGenAllRefLibName

techGenStateId 

techStartGenAllRefLibName 
techFileId         techId
); 

Description

Initializes the generator function to generate the names of all of the libraries in a graph that contain technology databases referenced, both directly and indirectly (by way of the references throughout the graph), by a specific technology database.

Arguments

Return Values

techSetLayerMfgResolution

Boolean 

techSetLayerMfgResolution( 
techFileId         techfile. 
techLayerNum       layerNum, 
techPurpose        purpose, 
techPropType       type, 
techPropValue      value 
) 

Description

Sets the manufacturing grid resolution assigned to the specified layer.

Arguments

Return Values

techSetParam

Boolean

techSetParam(
techFileId      techfile,
String          paramName,
techPropType    type,
techPropValue   value
);

Description

Updates the value of the specified control parameter. If the parameter does not exist, the function creates it.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

techFileId techfile;
String name = "lambda"; 
techPropType type;
techPropValue value;
Boolean status;
type = dbcIntType;
value.aInt = 1;
status = techSetParam(techfile, name, type, value);

Updates the value of the lambda control parameter in the techfile technology file.

techSetRefs

Boolean 

techSetRefs( 
techFileId         techId,
int                numrefs,
techFileId         *refs
); 

Description

Sets a list of technology databases to be directly referenced by a specific technology database. The value of the pointer (*refs) is valid only if the function returns TRUE.

Arguments

Return Values

techStartGenAllRef

techGenStateId 

techStartGenAllRef 
techFileId         techId
); 

Description

Initializes the generator function to generate all of the technology databases in a graph that are referenced, both directly and indirectly (by way of the references throughout the graph), by a specific technology database.

Arguments

Return Values

techStartGenParam

techGenStateId

techStartGenParam(
techFileId techfile
);

Description

Initializes the generator function to generate parameters from a specific technology file. The techParams constraints in the Controls section of the technology file contain the parameters.

Arguments

Return Value

Example

stateId = techStartGenParam(techfile);
while (techGenParam (stateId, &paramName, &type, &value){
}.....
techStopGen (stateId);

techStartGenRef

techGenStateId 

techStartGenRef 
techFileId         techId
); 

Description

Initializes the generator function to generate technology databases directly referenced by a specific technology database. The refTechLibs subsection of the controls section of a technology file lists the direct reference technology databases.

Arguments

Return Values

techStartGenRefLibName

techGenStateId 

techStartGenRefLibName 
techFileId         techId
); 

Description

Initializes the generator function to generate the names of the libraries that contain the technology databases directly referenced by a specific technology database. The refTechLibs subsection in the controls section of a technology file lists the direct reference technology databases.

Arguments

Return Values

techStopRuleGen

void 

techStopRuleGen(
techRuleGenStateId stateId
);

Description

Determines whether to stop generating the technology file constraints. The techStopRuleGen function should be used for or with the following functions:

techStartGenElectricalRule 

techStartGenSpacingRule

All other functions beginning with techStartGen are terminated with techStopGen.

Arguments

Return Value

Example

techStopRuleGen(stateId);

techUnsetMfgGridResolution

Boolean 

techUnsetMfgGridResolution( 
techFileId         techId 
); 

Description

Unsets the manufacturing grid resolution assignment (mfgGridResolution in controls) from a specific technology database.

Arguments

Return Values

techUnsetRefs

Boolean 

techUnsetRefs( 
techFileId         techId
); 

Description

Unsets all technology databases referenced by a specific technology database (refTechLibs in controls).

Arguments

Return Values

Layer Functions

The C-functions described in this chapter assign and access layer rules in the technology file. The layer rules describe layers as well as set physical and electrical limits.

Rules for Layers and Layer-Purpose Pairs

All C-level functions accept or return a techLayerNum and techPurpose argument when specifying layers.

Precedence in Retrieving the Value of a Rule

All rules that have layers as parameters can specify either a techLayer argument (only the layer name, such as "metal1") or a layer-purpose pair list (such as ("metal1" "drawing")).

You can specify rules for both a layer (indicated by the techLayer argument) and a specific layer-purpose pair which refers to that techLayer argument. When retrieving the value of a rule, the search begins at the lowest level specified, and layer-purpose pairs take precedence.

If you use C-functions that require a layer number and a purpose as arguments, and if the techPurpose argument is set to techcAllPurpose, you must use the techLayer argument, not a specific techLPId argument. You are effectively specifying only the layer for all layer-purpose pairs containing the layer number (techLayerNum).

If the optional layer specified is not available or applicable, the techLayerNum is set to techcNullLayer.

When specifying layers as rule parameters, you can use layer names or layer-purpose pairs. However, some applications only understand layer names with an implied purpose.

Layer Number and Purpose Number Arguments in Generator Functions

In generator functions that require a techLayerNum and techPurpose argument, the generator updates the values of these variables, if the function returns a value of TRUE meaning generation is successful. The values are invalid if the generator function returns a value of FALSE.

Layer Number and Purpose Number in Set and Get Functions

For Set functions, pass the techlayerNum and techPurpose arguments directly. For Get functions, including either Get or generator functions, the layer and purpose are returned by indirection, such as when you pass in a pointer to objects of type techLayerNum and techPurpose.

Equivalent Layers

In a set of equivalent layers, all layers in the set are treated in an equivalent manner. For example, in a set of three layers, the layer-purpose pair for the first, second, and third layers are equivalent.

The following sequence occurs when generating rules for a set of equivalent layers:

1. A StartGen function retrieves the rule.
2. The first Gen function generates the first rule.
3. A second Gen function generates each layer within that particular rule.
4. The first Gen function retrieves the next rule.
5. The process is repeated over again, until the generator functions have processed both all rules and layers within each rule.

Stream Layer Rules

Stream is the industry standard format for physical layout interchange–for importing and exporting geometric data. You can use this standard to export (stream out) data from Design Framework II (DFII) and then import (stream in) the data to the format of another EDA vendor, or you can do the reverse.

GDSII (Graphic Design Station II) is the official vendor and database stream from which DFII stream layer rules are derived. Every geometry in GDSII is associated with a layer number and a data type number, in the same way that every geometry in DFII is associated with a layer-purpose pair. A GDSII data type is equivalent to a DFII purpose in a layer-purpose pair.

The GDSII database consists of 64 layers (numbered 0 through 63) and 64 data types (also numbered 0-63). These layers and data types correspond very closely to the DFII techLayerNum (layer number) and techPurpose (data type) arguments in streamLayer rule functions. In DFII, however, you can have 255 layers and 255 purposes. There are more DFII layer-purpose pairs than GDSII layer-data type combinations because some DFII layer-purpose pairs, such as markers, grids, and highlights, should not be streamed out.

Because a DFII technology file can have many more layer-purpose pairs than GDSII can have layer-data type combinations, there cannot be a one-to-one correspondence between the two layout systems. To solve this problem, a DFII stream layer rule is used to specify the proper layer-purpose pair mapping to the smaller subset of GDSII layers and data types when a stream file is generated. These rules help define which layer-purpose pairs should be translated, and as what they should be translated. For example, a stream layer rule can map which layer number and stream layer number correspond, or which purpose number and stream number correspond.

Function Performance

The techLayers rules in the technology file can be identified by name or number. Many pairs of functions can be considered equivalent in the result they achieve. They differ only in the speed of processing.

For example, the function “techGetLayerNameByNumber” uses the layer number, while an equivalent function, “techGetLayerNum” uses the layer name. Functions that use the layerNumber argument deliver better performance than those that use the layerName.

Initially, you may have only the name of a layer, but need to do a lot of processing of the layer. For best performance, get the number of the layer first. Then use the get and set functions that accept the layer number.

Equivalent Layer Functions

The following functions access the equivalentLayers construct in the layerRules section of the technology file.

techStartGenEquivLayerRule

techGenStateId

techStartGenEquivLayerRule(
techFileId techfile 
);

Description

Starts equivalent layer generation. First generate the rules within the equivalentLayers construct, then generate the equivalent layers. This function This function works in conjunction with the techGenEquivLayerRule function.

Arguments

Return Value

Example

techGenStateId ruleStateId, stateId;
techClassId    ruleId;
techLayerNum   layerNum;
techPurpose    purpose;

stateId = techStartGenEquivLayerRule(techfile);
##Get the next set (rule) of equivalent layers##
while (techGenEquivLayerRule (stateId, &ruleId)){
   ruleStateId = techStartGenEquivLayer (ruleId);
   ###Get the next equivalent layer in the current set (rule) ###
   while (techGenEquivLayer (ruleStateId, &layerNum, &purpose)){
   ###All layer-purpose pairs within this generator are equivalent##

techGenEquivLayerRule

Boolean

techGenEquivLayerRule(
techGenStateId  stateId,
techClassId     *pRuleId 
);

Description

Generates equivalent layers. First generate the rules within the equivalentLayers construct, then generate the equivalent layers. This function works in conjunction with the techStartGenEquivLayerRule function.

Arguments

Return Value

techStartGenEquivLayer

techGenStateId

techStartGenEquivLayer(
techClassId, ruleId
);

Description

Starts the generator for the equivalentLayers construct in the layerRules section of the technology file. This function works in conjunction with the techGenEquivLayer function.

An ASCII representation of equivalentLayers is as follows, where ruleId identifies a particular set of layers indicated within parentheses.

equivalent Layers ( 
   (set of equivalent layers)
   (another set of equivalent layers)
   (...)
)

StartGenEquivLayer and GenEquivLayer are used to generate each layer in this ruleId, one at a time.

Arguments

Return Value

techGenEquivLayer

Boolean

techGenEquivLayer(
techGenStateId  stateId,
techLayerNum    *pLayerNum,
techPurpose     *pPurpose
);

Description

Generates the next equivalent layer in the equivalentLayers construct in the layerRules section of the technology file. Both the pointers *pLayerNum and *pPurpose are returned via indirection.

This function works in conjunction with the techStartGenEquivLayer function.

Arguments

Return Value

techSetEquivLayer

Boolean

techSetEquivLayer(
techFileId     techfile,
int            numberOfLayers,
techLayerNum   *pLayerNum,
techPurpose    *pPurpose
);

Description

Appends the specified set of equivalent layers to the equivalentLayers construct in the layerRules section of the technology file. The layers represent the same kind of material.

Arguments

Return Value

Example

techFileId  techfile;
int   numberOfLayers = 5;
techLayerNum   layernum[5];
techPurpose   purpose[5];
Boolean   status;

status = techSetEquivLayer(techfile, numberOfLayers, layernum, purpose);

Via Layers Functions

The following functions access the viaDefs section of the technology file.

techStartGenViaLayer

techGenStateId

techStartGenViaLayer(
techFileId techfile
);

Description

Starts generating via layers as defined in the technology file. Via layers are included in the viaDefs section of the technology file.

Arguments

Return Value

techGenViaLayer

Boolean

techGenViaLayer(
techGenStateId  stateId,
techLayerNum    *pLayer1Num,
techPurpose     *pPurpose1,
techLayerNum    *pLayer2Num,
techPurpose     *pPurpose2,
techLayerNum    *pLayer3Num,
techPurpose     *pPurpose3
);

Description

Generates the next set of via layers. Via layers are included in the viaDefs section of the technology file.

Arguments

Return Value

techSetViaLayer

Boolean

techSetViaLayer(
techFileId      techfile,
techLayerNum    layer1Num,
techPurpose     purpose1,
techLayerNum    layer2Num,
techPurpose     purpose2,
techLayerNum    layer3Num,
techPurpose     purpose3
);

Description

Appends the specified set of via layers to the viaDefs section of the technology file. Via layers refer to layers that conduct between two other layers.

Arguments

Return Value

techIsViaLayer

Boolean

techIsViaLayer(
techFileId      techfile,
techLayerNum    viaLayerNum,
techPurpose     viaPurpose
);

Description

Indicates whether the specified layer is defined as a via layer or the middle layer of a via in the viaDefs section of the specified technology file. Via refer to layers that conduct between two other layers.

Arguments

Return Value

Derived Layers

A derived layer is the result of combining two layers with a special operation. In the case of IxNoOverlapLayers rule mapping, the derived layer indicates that one layer cannot overlap another layer. It takes two layers to define a derived layer for a IxNoOverlapLayers rule, so the operation is AND.

A derived layer has a name and a number. When converting IxNoOverlapLayers rules, the function automatically generates a derived layer using the following convention.

• Derived layer name is noOverlapLayer plus a number. The number starts at 1 and increments with each new derived layer from the techDerivedLayers construct in the layerDefinitions section of the technology file. The name is not reused.
• Derived layer number starts with the first unused number after 10000. This allows for user defined physical layers in the techfile. The number increments with each new derived layer from the techDerivedLayers construct in the layerDefinitions section of the technology file. The number is not reused.

Layer API functions also apply to derived layers. Derived layers do have their own generator, however. The techfile layer generator generates physical layers only.

The following object type enum applies to derived layers.

enum techType {
...
techcPhysicalLayerType     = 3.
techcDerivedLayerType      = 4.
...

}

The following enum defines the value of the operation that creates a derived layer.

typedef enum techLayerOpEnum (
techcUnknownLayerOp      = 0,
techcAndLayerOp          = 1,
techcOrLayerOp           = 2,
techcNotLayerOp          = 3,
techcXorLayerOp          = 4,
techcTouchingLayerOp     = 5

} techLayerOp;

The following are corresponding strings.

static CONST String techvLayerOpString [] = {
“unknown”,
“AND”,
“OR”,
“NOT”,
“XOR”,
“touching”

};

techGetNumTechLayers

int 

techGetNumTechLayers(
techFileId     techfile
);

Description

Gets the number of layers in the design.

Arguments

Return Values

techIsLayerId

Boolean 

techIsLayerId(
techLayerId     layerId
);

Description

Validates that the layer is in the techfile.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetTechLayerIdByNumber

techLayerId 

techGetTechLayerIdByNumber(
techFileId     techfile,
techLayerNum   layerNumber
);

Description

Retrieves the layer identifier based on its number.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetTechLayerNumber

techLayerNum 

techGetTechLayerNumber(
techLayerId     layerId
);

Description

Gets the layer number of the specified layerId.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetTechLayerName

String 

techGetTechLayerName(
techLayerId     layerId
);

Description

Gets the layer name of the specified layerId.

Arguments

Return Values

techIsPhysicalLayerId

Boolean 

techIsPhysicalLayerId(
techLayerId     layerId
);

Description

Determines if the layerId is a physical layer.

Arguments

Return Values

techIsDerivedLayerId

Boolean 

techIsDerivedLayerId(
techLayerId     layerId
);

Description

Determines if the layerId is a derived layer.

Arguments

Return Values

techCreateDerivedLayer

techLayerId 

techCreateDerivedLayer( 
techFileId         techfile, 
techLayerNum       derivedLayerNum, 
cppConstString     name, 
techLayerNum       layer1Num, 
techLayerNum       layer2Num, 
techLayerOp        op 
) 

Description

Creates a derived layer. Both layer1Num and layer2Num must be numbers of valid layers.

Arguments

Return Values

techStartGenDerivedLayer

techGenStateId

techStartGenDerivedLayer(
techFileId       techfile
);

Description

Starts generating derived layers in the techfile. Used exclusively for derived layers.

Arguments

Return Values

techGenDerivedLayer

Boolean

techGenDerivedLayer(
techGenStateId    stateId,
techLayerId      *derivedLayerId
);

Description

Generates derived layers in the techfile. Used exclusively for derived layers.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetDerivedTechLayer

techLayerId 

techGetDerivedTechLayer( 
techFileId         techfile, 
techLayerNum       layer1Num, 
techLayerNum       layer2Num, 
techLayerOp        op 
) 

Description

Finds the derived layer using the relationship of the two specified layers.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetDerivedLayerNum

techLayerNum 

techGetDerivedLayerNum( 
techFileId         techfile, 
techLayerNum       layer1Num, 
techLayerNum       layer2Num, 
techLayerOp        op 
) 

Description

Finds the derived layer using the relationship of the two specified layers.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetDerivedTechLayerSpec

Boolean 

techGetDerivedTechLayerSpec( 
techLayerId         derivedLayerId, 
techLayerNum       *layer1Num, 
techLayerNum       *layer2Num, 
techLayerOp        *op 
) 

Description

Gets layer1, layer2, and the operation between the layers of the specified derived layer id.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetDerivedLayerSpecByNumber

Boolean 

techGetDerivedLayerSpecByNumber( 
techFileId         techfile, 
techLayerNum       number, 
techLayerNum       *layer1Num, 
techLayerNum       *layer2Num, 
techLayerOp        *op 
) 

Description

Gets layer1, layer2, and the operation between the layers of the specified derived layer by number.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetLayerNum

techLayerNum   

techGetLayerNum(
techFileId     techfile,
constString    layerName
);

Description

Returns the layer number of the specified layer name defined in the techLayers section of the technology file.

The techLayers section is located in the layerDefinitions section of the technology file. The techLayers define the layers that can be matched with a purpose to create layer-purpose pairs.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetLayerNameByNumber

String 

techGetLayerNameByNumber(
techFileId     techfile,
techLayerNum   layerNumber
);

Description

Returns the layer name of the specified layer number defined in the techLayers section of the technology file.

The techLayers section is located in the layerDefinitions section of the technology file. The techLayers define the layers that can be matched with a purpose to create layer-purpose pairs.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetLayerProp

techPropId   

techGetLayerProp(
techFileId      techfile,
String          layerName,
String          propName,
techPropType    *type,
techPropValue   *value
);

Description

Returns the value of the specified layer property from the techLayerProperties rules in the technology file. The function uses the layer name to determine the property.

The techLayerProperties rules are located in the layerDefinitions section of the technology file. The techLayerProperties rules contain user-defined properties for specific layer-purpose objects. User-defined properties contain company or site specific information to include on the layers in the design.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetLayerPropByNumber

techPropId   

techGetLayerPropByNumber(
techFileId       techfile,
techLayerNum     layerNum,
String           name,
techPropType     *type,
techPropValue    *value
);

Description

Returns the value of the specified layer property from the techLayerProperties rules in the technology file. The function uses the layer number to determine the property.

The techLayerProperties rules are located in the layerDefinitions section of the technology file. The techLayerProperties rules contain user-defined properties for specific layer-purpose objects. User-defined properties contain company or site specific information to include on the layers in the design.

Arguments

Return Values

techLayerIsReserved

Boolean

techLayerIsReserved(
techLayerNum  layer
);

Description

Determines whether or not a specified layer is a Cadence^® system (or Cadence reserved) layer. Reserved layers have layer numbers from 128 through 255.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetLayerAbbrev

String

techGetLayerAbbrev(
techFileId     techfile,
techLayerNum   layerNumber
);

Description

Gets the abbreviation of the specified layer in the techLayers section of the technology file.

The techLayers section defines the layers that can be matched with a purpose to create layer-purpose pairs. The layer to update is specified by layer name or number. The techLayers section is located in the layerDefinitions section of the technology file.

Arguments

Return Values

techSetLayerAbbrev

Boolean

techSetLayerAbbrev(
techFileId     techfile,
techLayerNum   layerNumber,
constString    abbrev
);

Description

Updates the abbreviation of the specified layer in the techLayers section of the technology file.

Some applications truncate layer names when they display layers in lists or forms. If the layer name is not unique when truncated to seven characters, specify an acceptable abbreviation for the applications to use instead.

The techLayers section defines the layers that can be matched with a purpose to create layer-purpose pairs. The layer to update is specified by layer name or number. The techLayers section is located in the layerDefinitions section of the technology file.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

Boolean status;
techFileId techfile;
techLayerNum layerNumber;
String abbrev = "met1";
status = techSetLayerAbbrev (techfile, layerNumber, abbrev);

techSetLayerName

Boolean

techSetLayerName(
techFileId     techfile,
techLayerNum   layerNumber,
constString    layerName
);

Description

Updates the name of the specified layer in the techLayers section of the technology file.

Some applications truncate layer names when they display layers in lists or forms. If the layer name is not unique when truncated to seven characters, specify an acceptable abbreviation for the applications to use instead.

The techLayers section defines the layers that can be matched with a purpose to create layer-purpose pairs. The layer to update is specified by layer name or number. The techLayers section is located in the layerDefinitions section of the technology file.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

Boolean status;
techFileId techfile;
techLayerNum layerNumber = 10;
String layerName = "metal1";
status = techSetLayerName (techfile, layerNumber, layerName);

techSetLayerMfgResolution

Boolean 

techSetLayerMfgResolution( 
techFileId         techfile. 
techLayerNum       layerNum, 
techPurpose        purpose, 
techPropType       type, 
techPropValue      value 
) 

Description

Sets the manufacturing grid resolution assigned to the specified layer.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetLayerMfgResolution

Boolean 

techGetLayerMfgResolution( 
techFileId         techfile. 
techLayerNum       layerNum, 
techPurpose        purpose, 
techPropType       *ptype, 
techPropValue      *pvalue 
) 

Description

Gets the manufacturing grid resolution assigned to the specified layer.

If the layer attribute is not set (is equal to 0), then the function will attempt to look up the default technology wide value and return it. If this value is not set, then it will return NULL.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetLayerMaskNumber

Boolean

techGetLayerMaskNumber( 
techFileId         techfile, 
techLayerNum       layerNum, 
techPurpose        purpose, 
techPropType       *pType, 
techPropValue      *pValue 
) 

Description

Gets the mask number assigned to the specified layer.

Arguments

Return Values

techSetLayerMaskNumber

Boolean

techSetLayerMaskNumber( 
techFileId         techfile, 
techLayerNum       layerNum, 
techPurpose        purpose, 
techPropType       pType, 
techPropValue      pValue 
) 

Description

Sets the mask number assigned to the specified layer.

Arguments

Return Values

techStartGenLayerRoutingGrid

techGenStateId

techStartGenLayerRoutingGrid( 
techFileId      techfile 
) 

Description

Starts a generator for examining the routing grids for a given technology database.

Arguments

Return Values

techGenLayerRoutingGrid

Boolean

techGenLayerRoutingGrid( 
techGenStateId      stateId, 
techLayerNum        *pLayerNum, 
techPurpose         *pPurpose, 
techPropType        *pType 
techPropValue       *pValue, 
techPropType        *pType2 
techPropValue       *pValue2, 
techPropType        *pType3 
techPropValue       *pValue3 
) 

Description

With each subsequent call to this function, when the returned value is TRUE, the set of pointer is set to represent the routing grid information stored in the technology database.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetLayerRoutingDirection

Boolean

techGetLayerRoutingDirection( 
techFileId         techfile, 
techLayerNum       layerNum, 
techPurpose        purpose, 
techPropType       *pType, 
techPropValue      *pValue 
    ) 

Description

Gets the routing direction assigned to the specified layer.

Arguments

Return Values

techSetLayerRoutingDirection

Boolean

techSetLayerRoutingDirection( 
    techFileId         techfile, 
    techLayerNum       layerNum, 
    techPurpose        purpose, 
    techPropType       type, 
    techPropValue      value 
    ) 

Description

Sets the routing direction assigned to the specified layer.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetLayerRoutingPitch

Boolean

techGetLayerRoutingPitch( 
    techFileId         techfile, 
    techLayerNum       layerNum, 
    techPurpose        purpose, 
    techPropType       *pType, 
    techPropValue      *pValue 
    ) 

Description

Gets the routing pitch assigned to the specified layer.

Arguments

Return Values

techSetLayerRoutingPitch

Boolean

techSetLayerRoutingPitch( 
    techFileId         techfile, 
    techLayerNum       layerNum, 
    techPurpose        purpose, 
    techPropType       type, 
    techPropValue      value 
    ) 

Description

Sets the routing pitch assigned to the specified layer.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetLayerRoutingOffset

Boolean

techGetLayerRoutingOffset( 
    techFileId         techfile, 
    techLayerNum       layerNum, 
    techPurpose        purpose, 
    techPropType       *pType, 
    techPropValue      *pValue 
    ) 

Description

Gets the routing offset assigned to the specified layer.

Arguments

Return Values

techSetLayerRoutingOffset

Boolean

techSetLayerRoutingOffset( 
    techFileId         techfile, 
    techLayerNum       layerNum, 
    techPurpose        purpose, 
    techPropType       type, 
    techPropValue      value 
    ) 

Description

Sets the routing offset assigned to the specified layer.

Arguments

Return Values

techStartGenLayerFunction

techGenStateId

techStartGenLayerFunction(
techFileId techfile
); 

Description

Initializes a generator for the specified technology file. A generator state is returned, which is used with the techGenLayerFunction function.

Arguments

Return Values

techGenLayerFunction

Boolean

techGenLayerFunction(
techGenStateId stateId,
techLayerNum *pLayerNum,
techPurpose *pPurpose,
techPropType *pType, 
techPropValue *pValue
) 

Description

Retrieves the next technology file ID from the generator with the given techStartGenLayerFunction.

Arguments

Return Value

techGenLayerFunctionAndMaskNumber

Boolean

techGenLayerFunctionAndMaskNumber(
techGenStateId stateId,
techLayerNum *pLayerNum,
techPurpose *pPurpose,
techPropType *pType, 
techPropValue *pValue,
techPropType *pType2,
techPropValue *pValue2
);

Description

Retrieves the next technology file ID and mask number from the generator.

Arguments

Return Value

Layer-Purpose (LP) Pair Functions

A layer-purpose pair is the purpose assigned to a given layer. Separately, a layer and a purpose exist as concepts, not physical entities. A layer and a purpose combined, however, make a physical entity called a “layer-purpose pair.” A layer number and a purpose number define a layer-purpose pair.

An example of a layer-purpose pair is

(metal1 drawing)

where metal is the layer and drawing is the purpose.

A two-layer layer-purpose pair property is a property that is associated with two layers. In the following example,

(minSpacing .35 (met1 drawing) (met2 drawing))

• minSpacing is the property name
• .35 is the value of the property
• (met1 drawing) is the layer-purpose pair for the first layer and (met2 drawing) is the layer-purpose pair for the second layer.

Shapes such as polygons, paths, and rectangles can only be created on a layer-purpose pair. Items listed in the LSW (layer selection window) are layer-purpose pairs. You can only select or view an object by its layer-purpose pair.

All layer-purpose pairs that reference the same layer, such as ((metal1 drawing) (metal1 pin)) have the same attributes. You create two separate layer-purpose pairs for viewing control. For example, if you only want to see the pin shapes which have been created on the (metal1 pin) layer-purpose pair, with separate layer-purpose pairs created, you can turn all of the other layer-purpose pairs off.

The following technology file functions pertain to layer-purpose pairs.

techContainsLP

Boolean

techContainsLP(
techFileId     techfile,
techLayerNum   layer,
techPurpose    purpose
);

Description

Determines whether the technology file contains a layer-purpose pair represented by a layer number and a purpose.

Arguments

Return Values

techCreateDerivedPurposeDef

techPurposeDefId

techCreateDerivedPurposeDef(
techPurposeDefId    parentPurposeId,
techPurpose         purpose,
cppConstString      name,
cppConstString      abbrev
);

Description

Creates a purpose definition with the given attributes in the same technology database as the specified parent purpose. The returned purpose will have the parent purpose attribute set.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

techPurposeDefId purposeDef3 =

techCreateDerivedPurposeDef(drawingPurposeDefId, 3, "userPurposeDef3", "up3");

techCreateLP

techLPId   

techCreateLP(
techFileId     techfile,
techLayerNum   number,
techPurpose    purpose,
String         name
);

Description

Creates a layer-purpose pair in the specified technology file. The layer-purpose pair is defined with defaults in the techLayerPurposePriorities and techDisplays rules in the layerDefinitions section of the technology file.

The techLayerPurposePriorities rules of the technology file lists layer-purpose pairs in priority order. Layer-purpose pairs listed first are displayed first. Layer-purpose pairs listed later are displayed on top of, and may obscure, layer-purpose pairs already displayed.

The techDisplays rules of the technology file define the display attributes of a layer. Layer display attributes include the display packet used, whether the layer is visible or selectable, and if the layer is visible when dragged.

This function also creates a database object for the layer-purpose pair and returns the database identifier. You use the identifier with the techSetLP functions and techSetLPPacket functions to update the defaults and to specify how the layer-purpose pair appears in your designs. The layer and purpose you specify must be defined in the technology file before you can create a layer-purpose pair.

Default Values

The defaults set by this function are as follows:

Arguments

Return Values

techCreatePurposeDef

techPurposeDefId

techCreatePurposeDef(
techFileId       techfile,
techPurpose      purpose,
cppConstString   name,
cppConstString   abbrev
);

Description

This function creates a database object for the purpose definition and returns the database identifier.

You can use the identifier with other functions such as techSetPurposeDefVoltageRange to update the attributes of the purpose definition.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

techPurposeDefId purposeDef11 = techCreatePurposeDef(techLib, 11, "userPurposeDef11", "p11");

techCreateTwoLayerProp

techGroupId

techCreateTwoLayerProp(
techLPId        lpId1,
techLPId        lpId2,
String          propName,
techPropType    propType,
techPropValue   propValue,
Boolean         ordered
);

Description

Creates a two-layer layer-purpose pair property. The property is associated with both layer 1 and layer 2.

Arguments

Return Values

techCreateTwoLayerPropByNum

techGroupId

techCreateTwoLayerPropByNum(
techFileId       techfile,
techLayerNum     layer1,
techLayerNum     layer2,
String           propName,
techPropType     propType,
techPropValue    propValue,
Boolean          ordered
);

Description

Creates a two-layer property, based on the numbers of the layers given.

Arguments

Return Values

techDeleteLP

Boolean

techDeleteLP(
techLPId lpId
);

Description

Deletes the specified layer-purpose pair from the technology file associated with the layer-purpose pair. The layer-purpose pair is defined in the layerDefinitions section of the technology file. If a database object for the layer-purpose pair does not exist, this function returns FALSE.

Arguments

Return Values

techDeletePurposeDef

Boolean

techDeletePurposeDef(
techPurposeDefId   purposeDefId
);

Description

Deletes the specified purpose definition from the associated technology file.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

techDeletePurposeDef(purposeDef11);

techDeleteTwoLayerProp

Boolean

techDeleteTwoLayerProp(
techLPId     lpId1,
techLPId     lpId2,
String       propName
);

Description

Deletes the specified two-layer property from the techlayerProperties rules of the specified technology file. It specifies special properties that you want to place on the layers in your design.

The techLayerProperties rules of the technology file contained user-defined properties for specific layer-purpose objects. The techLayerProperties rules are located in layerDefinitions section of the technology file.

Arguments

Return Values

techDeleteTwoLayerPropByNum

Boolean

techDeleteTwoLayerPropByNum(
techFileId     techfile,
techLayerNum   layer1,
techLayerNum   layer2,
String         propName
);

Description

Deletes the specified two-layer property.

Arguments

Return Values

techGenLP

Boolean

techGenLP(
techGenStateId  pState,
techLayerNum    *pLayer,
techPurpose     *pPurpose
);

Description

Retrieves the next layer number and purpose that represent a specified layer-purpose pair. Use this function after “Virtuoso Layout Suite XL Functions”.

Arguments

Return Values

techGenLPId

Boolean

techGenLPId(
techGenStateId  pState,
techLPId        *lpId
);

Description

Generates the next layer purpose pair.

Arguments

Return Values

techGenPurposeDef

Boolean

techGenPurposeDef(
techGenStateId      pState,
techPurposeDefId   *purposeDefId
);

Description

Generates the next purpose definition.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

techGenStateId    stateId = techStartGenPurposeDef(techDB);

techPurposeDefId  purposeDefId;

while techGenPurposeDef(stateId, &purposeDefId)) {

}

techGetLayerProp

techPropId   

techGetLayerProp(
techFileId       techfile,
cppConstString   layerNum,
cppConstString   propName,
techPropType     *type,
techPropValue    *value
);

Description

Gets the value of the specified layer property in the techLayerProperties rules in the technology file.

The techLayerProperties rules are located in the layerDefinitions section of the technology file. The techLayerProperties rules contain user-defined properties for specific layer-purpose objects. It specifies special properties that you want to place on the layers in your design.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetLayerPropByNumber

techPropId   

techSetLayerPropByNumber(
techFileId         techfile,
techLayerNum       layerNum,
cppConstString     name,
techPropType       *type,
techPropValue      *value
);

Description

Gets the property of the layer based on the layer number.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetLP

techLPId   

techGetLP(
techFileId     techfile,
techLayerNum   layerNum,
techPurpose    purpose
);

Description

Returns the database identifier of the specified layer-purpose pair. If the layer number, purpose, or technology file does not exist, this function returns techcNullLpId.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetLPChangeLayer

Boolean

techGetLPChangeLayer(
techLPId lpId
);

Description

Determines whether the layer-purpose pair contributes to a changed layer or not. For any editing operations, if the layer-purpose pair of an object contributes to a changed layer, this function adds the old and new value of the layer-purpose pair of an object to the changed layer.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetLPDragEnable

Boolean

techGetLPDragEnable(
techLPId lpId
);

Description

Returns the drag enable attribute that is set on the layer-purpose pair, indicating whether the layer-purpose pair will be dragged or not, during interactive editing commands.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetLPLayerName

String 

techGetLPLayerName(
techLPId lpId
);

Description

Retrieves the layer name of a specified layer-purpose pair.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetLPLayerProp

Boolean

techGetLPLayerProp(
techLPId        lpId,
String          name,
techPropType    *type,
techPropValue   *value
);

Description

Retrieves the specified property from the specified layer-purpose pair.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetLPName

String 

techGetLPName(
techLPId lpId
);

Description

Retrieves the layer name of a specified layer-purpose pair.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetLPNumById

techLayerNum   

techGetLPNumById(
techLPId lpId
);

Description

Retrieves the layer number of a specified layer-purpose pair.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetLPPacketName

String 

techGetLPPacketName (
techLPId lpId
);

Description

Returns the packet name assigned to the specified layer-purpose pair. The packet name attribute is defined in the techDisplays rules of the technology file associated with the layer-purpose pair.

The techDisplays rules of the technology file define the display attributes of a layer. Layer display attributes include the display packet, whether the layer is visible or selectable, and if the layer is visible when dragged. These rules must be contained within the layerDefinitions section of the technology file.

Arguments

Return Values

techGetLPPurposeDef

techPurposeDefId

techGetLPPurposeDef (
techLPId   lpId
);

Description

Retrieves the purpose definition of a specified layer-purpose pair.

Arguments

Return Values

Example

techPurposeDefId drawingPurposeDef = techGetLPPurposeDef(lpWireDrawing);

techGetLPPriority

int

techGetLPPriority (
techLPId lpId
);

Description

Returns the drawing priority of the layer-purpose pair. The topmost layer-purpose pair (the layer-purpose pair with the highest number) is drawn on top. Each window, when drawn, references one particular technology file.

You might have five windows, for example. Each window contains a different cellview, each of which reference a different technology file. In this case, you would have five sets of “layer-purpose pair priorities” that are completely independent of each other. Each window would have priorities ranging from 0 to however many layer-purpose pairs exist in the corresponding technology file.

Arguments

Return Values