Ways to Set Environment Variables

You can set graphic and layout environment variables.

Ways to Set Graphic Environment Variables

Graphic environment variables control window display. These variables can be stored in the cellview or the .cdsenv file. You can use any of the following methods to change default settings of graphic environment variables:

Set the variable in the Display Options form.
If you want to retain these settings for future sessions, save the settings using the CIW – Options – Save Defaults command.
Copy the variables that you want to change from the default .cdsenv file to the .cdsenv file in your home directory.
It is there that you edit the default value. The default file is:
```
your_install_dir/tools/dfII/samples/.cdsenv
```
Do not use the .cdsenv system files located in the following directory: your_install_dir/tools/dfII/etc/tools/*/.cdsenv. These files contain system default values for all applications and have extra arguments that do not work in your environment. Also, do not copy lines from the graphic/.cdsenv or layout/.cdsenv default files to the .cdsenv file in your home directory. The file formats are slightly different, so the lines that result from copying do not work.
Set the variable in CIW using the following command:
```
envSetVal("graphic" "name" type value)
```
For example:
```
envSetVal("graphic" "iconsOn" 'boolean t)
```
To determine the current value of a graphic environment variable, type the following in CIW:
```
envGetVal("graphic" "name")
```
For example:
```
envGetVal("graphic" "iconsOn")
```

Ways to Set Layout Editor Environment Variables

Layout environment variables control how various layout editor commands work. You can use any of the following ways to change default settings of layout environment variables:

Set the variable in the Layout Editor Options form. If you want to retain the updated settings for future sessions, save the settings using the CIW – Options – Save Defaults command.
Include the environment variables in your .cdsenv file in your home directory. The default file is:
```
your_install_dir/tools/dfII/samples/.cdsenv
```
Include the envSetVal() function in your .cdsinit file.
Include the envSetVal() function in any other SKILL file you load.
Use the envSetVal() function in CIW. For example, to set the gravityOn variable, type the following command in CIW or include it in a file:
```
envSetVal("layout" "gravityOn" 't)
```
To determine the current value of any layout editor environment variable, type the envGetVal() function in CIW as follows:
```
envGetVal("layout" "variable_name")
```
For example:
```
envGetVal("layout" "gravityOn")
```
If you set an environment variable by using the envSetVal() function in CIW prior to opening a cellview window, the next window opened in the session will reflect the change. Any environment variable reset with this method takes effect after any open cellview window is closed and reopened, and in all subsequent windows that are opened in the current session. You must reset the environment variable in the current session to change it. Changes are effective for the current session only.

There are a number of graphic and layout environment variables that are no longer compatible with leSetEnv and leGetEnv. Cadence recommends that you use only envSetVal and envGetVal to set, reset, or determine the setting of environment variables.

Virtuoso Layout Suite XL: Basic Editing User Guide
Product Version IC23.1, November 2023