Background Cellview

You can display two superimposed cellviews in the same window. The Background command lets you place an existing cellview in the background so that you can place your new elements in alignment or by an offset based on the previously created cellview. You can use any cellview from any library as a background cellview. You can display layout, abstract, and schematic cellviews in the same window or you can use a layout cellview as a template to guide your design.

You can open only one background cellview per displayed cellview. The background cellview is not visible when you are descending, but becomes visible when you return to the original hierarchical level.

All display options set in the Display Options form are followed by both foreground and background cellviews. A background cellview can be hierarchical.

The cellview you superimpose as a background cellview is purely graphical. It has no influence on any application commands or functions.

• You cannot select, query, or move any objects in the background cellview.
• The background cellview has no effect on functions such as pointer gravity movement.
• The View – Zoom to Fit All command does not take into account the background cellview.

The background cellview retains all the settings of the Palette assistant, such as visibility and layer packet information, that is attached to the technology file of the background cellview. For example, if the background cellview contains objects on metal2, the objects on metal2 are not displayed if the visibility of metal2 is turned off in the Palette assistant of the background cellview. If the background cellview has a different technology file than the foreground cellview, the displayed Palette assistant does not control any of the display characteristics of the background cellview.

Adding a Background Cellview

To display a background cellview:

1. In the layout window, choose View – Background.
   The Background Cellview form appears.
2. Specify the library, cell, and view name of the cell you want to use as the background cellview.
   Your current cellview cannot be used as a background in your currently open window.
3. Specify the X and Y coordinates where you want the cellview to be placed in the window.
4. Select the rotational angle you want to apply to the background cellview.
5. Specify in Display whether the background cellview should be hidden, displayed, or displayed with a reduced luminosity.
6. Click OK or Apply.
   The background cellview appears behind your currently open cellview.

Related Topics

Background Cellview Form

Display Options Form

Design Display Controls

Return to top