Known Problems and Solutions in Virtuoso ADE Explorer
This document describes the known issues with Virtuoso® ADE Explorer and suggests the workarounds for these issues. Each issue is identified by a Cadence Change Request (CCR) number.
Related Topics
CCR 2710126: Netlist creation in ADE Explorer takes a long time
Description: You notice that the netlisting time for extracted views has increased since ISR29. This is due to an alias checking feature for the Virtuoso Electromagnetic Solver. This leads to a slower netlist creation.
Solution: If you do not use Virtuoso Electromagnetic Solver, then set the following shell variable in the terminal before opening Virtuoso to disable alias checking:
setenv NO_CDS_VEM_LVS_DRIVEN_FLOW t
CCR 2619866: When you are using Spectre 21.1, RTT simulations run in batch mode
Description: When you run an RTT simulation using Spectre 21.1, RTT is switched to batch mode. This is because Spectre 21.1 runs on RHEL7 that is not compatible with Virtuoso IC6.1.8 or Virtuoso IC23.1 and therefore, Spectre SKI interactive mode is not run.
Solution: Currently, there is no workaround.
CCR 2231027: Expressions or variables used to substitute time values in outputs result in errors
Description: If you specify an expression or variable name for an argument that requires a time value, the expression gives an error because the floating value returned by them is not a correct time value.
In the following example, expression exp fails to evaluate because an expression named Event_Var is used to specify time for drplPacVolGnExpDen:
Event_Var = car(sweepValues(v(\"/RFout\" ?result \"pac_sampled\")))
exp = drplPacVolGnExpDen("value(v(\"/RFin\" ?result \"pac-pac_cross\") '\"eventtime\" Event_Var)" '(0) nil)
Solution: Specify the sub expression directly instead of using a variable. For the example, the exp expression can be written without using Event_Var.
exp = drplPacVolGnExpDen("value(v(\"/RFin\" ?result \"pac-pac_cross\") '\"eventtime\" car(sweepValues(v(\"/RFout\" ?result \"pac_sampled\"))))" '(0) nil)
CCR 2113149: If the file type is not same as the extension specified in file name on the Export Results form, the extension in the file name is used
Description: When you export results using the Export Results form, if the file extension specified in the File Name field is different from the value in the File Type field, the exported results are saved in the file that is named using the file extension in the File Name field. For example, if the file name is foo.csv, but the file type is .html, the results are saved in foo.csv instead of foo.html.
Solution: Ensure that the extension used in the file name is matches the file type.
CCR 1778143: When the corners setup contains a dependent variable, the Plot command plots all points instead of the selected point
Description: When the setup contains dependent variables and those variables are used in the corners, the Plot command plots the results for all the corner points.
Consider an example setup that contains the following variables:
val0 = 0
vdd = 1
val1 = vdd
Nominal: val0=0, vdd=1, val1=vdd
C0: val0=0, val1=vdd
C1: val0=vdd, val1=0
C2: val0=vdd, val1=vdd
In this scenario, when the corner variable contains a dependent variable, the netlist contains the corner parameter in the form of a dependent variable, which is further evaluated by the simulator. However, when you use the Plot command to plot a single result, ViVA XL is unable to identify the individual result value because the corner contains a mix of variables assignments (for example, val0=0 and val1=vdd), and thus plots the results of all points.
Solution: Use the VAR() function for dependent variable assignments in the Data View assistant and the Corners Setup form. For example, val1=VAR("vdd").
CCR 2022429: When you import the setup from a maestro view into a new test in ADE Explorer, the corners from ADE Assembler are also added to the setup
Description: When you create a new test in ADE Assembler, and open it in ADE Explorer to import the setup from a maestro cellview, the new test contains the corners imported from the maestro view as well the corners from the setup of ADE Assembler. Ideally, after importing the setup from a maestro cellview, the new test should not contain the extra corners taken from ADE Assembler.
Solution: Open the Corners Setup form in ADE Assembler, and disable the extra corners for the new test.
CCR 1932847: The ‘adexl.gui openSchInWin’ environment variable causing functionality loss
Description: The schematic design opens in a new window when the adexl.gui openSchInWin environment variable is set to t. This results in functionality loss, for example waveform info-balloons do not work, however, schematic operating point annotations work fine. You will notice missing toolbars that appear when the design is opened in a new tab. In addition, the ADE and schematic interactions are impacted.
Solution: Sets the environment variable to nil to open the schematic in a new tab.
envSetVal("adexl.gui" "openSchInWin" 'boolean nil)
t, the functionality to add operating region expressions gets disabled.CCR 1698716: The Plot and Save check boxes are disabled when using a config to bind an instance to a DSPF view
Description: If you are working on a design that uses a config to bind an instance to a DSPF view, you cannot toggle the Plot and Save check boxes in the Outputs section of ADE L or the Outputs Setup pane of ADE XL, Explorer, and Assembler, because the check boxes are disabled.
Solution: To enable these check boxes, set the allowInvalidObjectSelection environment variable, as shown below:
-
To set this variable in the .
cdsenvfile, use the call:auCore.selection allowInvalidObjectSelection boolean t -
To set this variable in the .
cdsinitfile or CIW, use the call:envSetVal("auCore.selection" "allowInvalidObjectSelection" 'boolean t)
Alternatively, set the following SKILL variable in the .cdsinit file, as shown below:_allowInvalidObjectSelection = t
CCR 1696853: Enable or disable status of sweeps and corners are ignored if you edit the swept variable or corner in the setup and update the points table
Description: If you disable any swept point or corner on the Run Preview tab, and then add or edit the swept variable or corner in the setup, all the points are automatically enabled when you update the points table. For example, if you have a swept variable with values as 1:0.1:1.5. You open Run Preview and disable some sweep points. Next, you edit the sweep values of that variable in the Data View pane value and set its values as 1:0.1:2. If you update the points table in the Run Preview tab, all points become enabled.
Workaround: Currently, a workaround is not available.
CCR 1625376: Expression Builder is not showing tooltips for all the functions
Description: Some Calculator functions, such as calcVal, delayMeasure, analogToDigita, do not show the latest description in the tooltip. This is because the function catalog file (.skeMeasuresCatalog) has been overridden. This file contains a list of functions and a short description about each function. The Expression Builder and Calculator use this file to show function list and function description.
Workaround: You can do one of the following:
-
Remove the local
.skeMeasuresCatalogfromcsfpath -
Update the local
.skeMeasuresCatalogusing same file from EAP build as base
CCR 1657981: dyn_floatdcpath violations are not visible in the Checks/Asserts view
Description: When using MMISIM 16.1, the dyn_floatdcpath violations do not appear in the Checks/Asserts view. However, these violations are visible in the XML report for the dynamic checks.
Workaround: Add the following in the Additional Arguments field on the Miscellaneous tab of the Analog Options form:
CCR 1543451: Parameter table columns are misaligned in ADE Explorer and incremental simulation does not work
Description: When loading a saved ADE L state into ADE Explorer, in the choosing analysis form, the parameter vector table in HB analysis is not aligned correctly.
If the test is created using the ICADV12.2 FCS release, the HB Analysis forms are not correctly formatted due to a function simplifying the white space.
If the test is created using the ICADV12.2 ISR1 release, the analysis forms are well formatted, but incremental simulation fails due to extra blank lines in the state files.
Solution: Currently, a workaround is not available.
CCR 1483770: Simulation results in ADE Explorer are deleted when you try to save them with an existing name
Description: If you save a set of results in ADE Explorer and then save them again using the same name, the results are deleted.
Solution: Do not use an existing name when saving results from ADE Explorer.
CCR 1486703: Specification section of oceanxl script saved from ADE Explorer also includes other tests of the ADE Assembler setup
Description: Open ADE Assembler setup with multiple tests and specs included for outputs of various tests. Then, select a test to open ADE Explorer. In Explorer, if you now save the oceanxl script using the Session – Save OCEAN XL Script, it includes the specs of other tests too that are defined in the Assembler setup.
;====================== Specs ==================================================
ocnxlPutRangeSpec( "tank_tb2" "freq_res" "505M" "495M" )
ocnxlPutRangeSpec( "tank_tb" "freq_res" "505e6" "495e6" )
Solution: Currently, a workaround is not available, but the script runs fine.
CCR 1484605: Panic States not available in ADE Explorer
Description: The panic states are not available in ADE Explorer.
Solution: Currently, a workaround is not available.
CCR 1473698: ADE L or XL licenses are not checked in if ADE Explorer or Assembler are launched from ADE L/XL
Description: If you are running ADE L and then open ADE Explorer, the ADE L license should be checked in and Explorer or Assembler should be checked out. If you are running ADE XL and then open Assembler, the ADE XL license should be checked in and Assembler license should be checked out, but it keeps both the licenses checked out.
Solution: Currently, a workaround is not available.
CCR 1470682: ADE Explorer reliability simulation plot all does not show the stress waveform
Description: In ADE Explorer reliability simulation, after simulation complete, the automatically generated waveform does not show the stress waveform, and when you right-click in the Nominal column and choose Plot All, only aged waveform are displayed and stress waveform is not generated.
Solution: Currently, a workaround is not available.
CCR 1468416: Saved results in ADE Explorer cannot be viewed if test name is changed
Description: If you change the name of a test in either ADE Explorer or ADE Assembler, you cannot view those saved results in ADE Explorer.
Solution: Either view the results in ADE Assembler or change the name of the test back to the previous name when you saved the result.
CCR 1465314: ADE Assembler and Explorer do not follow ADEL_UseNextLicense and ADEXL_UseNextLicense environment variables
Description: ADE L can also use an Explorer or an Assembler if the ADE L license is not available. Similarly, ADE XL can use Assembler if ADE XL license is not available.
If ADE L/XL/GXL are unavailable and ADE Explorer is available, you can set the following environment variable to not use the Explorer and Assembler licenses:
envSetVal("license" "ADEL_UseNextLicense" 'string "never")
But, still Explorer or Assembler license is checked out.
Similarly for ADE Assembler, when. ADE XL/GXL licenses are unavailable, you can set the following environment variable to not use the ADE Assembler licenses:
envSetVal("license" "ADEXL_UseNextLicense" 'string "never")
But, ADE Assembler license is checked out.
Similarly, when ADEL_UseNextLicense or ADEXL_UseNextLicense is set to "prompt". In this case if ADE L/XL/GXL is unavailable, it does not prompt to use Assembler/Explorer license, instead launches ADE L/XL using Assembler or Explorer license.
Solution: Currently, a workaround is not available.
CCR 1462061: session reset option is not available in Explorer
Description: The reset menu entry is not available in ADE Explorer.
Solution: Currently, a workaround is not available.
CCR 1456559: Cannot load results if the last simulation run was done in ADE Explorer read-only view
Description: Open ADE Explorer in read-only mode. Run a simulation and the close the session. Now, if you open the same Explorer view again and load the results, it does not do anything.
Solution: Currently, a workaround is not available.
CCR 1453924: No way to allow expression re-evaluation in single-point simulation run
Description: If you run a single-point simulation and then add a new expression later or modify the specs, there is no option available to re-evaluate the expression.
Solution: Currently, a workaround is not available.
CCR 1446762: Better info and error messages required for AMS run
Description: In ADE Explorer, if you click the Netlist and Run button, no messages are printed in CIW about the successful run.
Solution: You need to read the log file to get the information.
CCR 1428903: Cannot run Monte Carlo with sweeps in ADE Explorer
Description: If you try to run Monte Carlo with a sweep, the following pop-up is displayed:
Disable all sweeps or enable "Use Reference Point" on the monte carlo options form.
Now, if you select the Use Reference Point option and run again, another pop-up appears:
a) if using reference point, choose Run->Edit Reference Point
b) if using starting setup state, edit the specified starting setup state.
Neither of these options exist in ADE Explorer.
Solution: Disable the sweep and run the simulation.
CCR 1418471: Cannot load in parametric sweep files from ADE L to ADE Explorer
Description: You cannot load a parametric file in ADE Explorer. In ADE L, you can do this in the parametric analysis tool.
Solution: You need to add each variable to the Setup assistant and setup each sweep for each variable.
CCR 1415015: Provide ability to disable sweeps in ADE Explorer
Description: There is no way to disable all sweeps in ADE Explorer like it can be done using the Run Summary in ADE Assembler
Solution: Currently, a workaround is not available.
CCR 1418471: Cannot load in parametric sweep files from ADE L to ADE Explorer
Description: You cannot load a parametric file in ADE Explorer. In ADE L, you can do this in the parametric analysis tool.
Solution: You need to add each variable to the Setup assistant and setup each sweep for each variable.
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