Descending into a Cellview

You can descend into any level of an instance hierarchy by using the Descend command. You can choose to be prompted for the view type when descending into a hierarchy. Once you have chosen to be prompted for the view type, you can pre-select or post-select an instance when using the Descend command.

If the top cellview is opened in Layout Viewer, the descend into a new tab or window always opens the master in the Layout Viewer, regardless of the default application settings.

To descend into a cellview:

1. Choose Edit – Hierarchy – Descend Edit or Descend Read.
   You can choose whether you want to edit using Descend Edit, as long as the parent is opened in edit mode, or read only using Descend Read that allows you to descend into an instance and view the contents without the ability to edit the instance.
2. Optionally, press F3 to bring up the Descend Options form if you want to be prompted for the view type every time you descend into the hierarchy.
   1. Select the Prompt For View Name check box.
      If Prompt For View Name is not enabled and the master cell of the instance has more than one view type available, the command will determine which cellview to descend into. If Prompt For View Name is set and the master cell of the instance has more than one view type available, a form is displayed listing all the possible view names. You can then select the cellview to descend into. By selecting Prompt for View Name, each time you descend into a cellview, you will be prompted for the view type.
   2. Specify whether you want to open the cellview in the current tab, new tab, or new window.
   3. Click OK.
3. Click the instance whose cell you want to view. You can use the spacebar to toggle between the overlapping objects under the pointer.
   To descend into an instance, alternatively, you can select the instance, right-click it to display the instance shortcut menu, and then choose Descend Edit or Descend Read.

You can set in advance the descend mode you prefer by using the leHiDescend SKILL function. It has an optional text string t_mode specifying the mode in which to open the selected instance. When nil, the instance is opened in the same mode as its parent. When read, the instance is opened in read mode. When edit, the instance is opened in edit mode if its parent is open in edit mode; otherwise, a window pops up stating that the instance cannot be opened in edit mode and that you can open it in read mode. When the t_mode argument is not specified, edit mode is automatically used when descending into the hierarchy.

The layout editor does not use the Create New Window When Descending option in the User Preferences form. Selecting or deselecting this option will not affect your work in the layout editor.

Related Topics

User Preferences Form

Returning to a Different Hierarchy Level

Hierarchical Designs

Descend Options Form

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