Tracing Nets

Use the Connectivity – Net Tracer command to trace the physical and logical connectivity of nets in a design.

Depending on the tracing mode you select, the traces generated by the Net Tracer command allow you to explore the following:

• physical connections of a shape, the layer on which the shape exists, and the associated nets (physical net tracing)
• logical connectivity of the shapes and the associated nets (logical net tracing)
• shapes chased as a net is traced

The true color display capability available in the Net Tracer allows you to easily distinguish the shapes belonging to a trace. In addition, you can halo (highlight) the shapes belonging to a trace. The automatic dimming capability that the Net Tracer supports further improves the visibility of traces and the shapes belonging to a trace.

The Net Tracer reads the layer connectivity information from the same technology file constraint group as used by the Layout XL connectivity extractor. Therefore, if your technology file is correctly set up, no additional setup is required for running the Net Tracer. By default, the constraint group used is virtuosoDefaultExtractorSetup. But, you can customize the setup, if required, using the Net Tracer Custom Setup form.

Key features provided by the Net Tracer command:

• Allows single-click trace creation and removal.
  • Click a shape in the canvas to add a trace. To remove an existing trace, click the shape, keeping the Ctrl key pressed.
  • The Trace command is also available in the shortcut menu for traceable objects, such as nets and pins.
• Enables hierarchical shape tracing without any performance degradation.
• Displays traces in the true shape color, making it easy to view the shapes that are being traced. Also supports creating halos in true color.
• Supports dynamic display of the created traces.
• Enables saving the created traces to a cellview, including their locked mask color, and allows loading the saved traces, if required.
• Displays a dynamic preview that highlights the shape being hovered over, and displays the name of the net and the layer on which the trace will be created, if the shape is selected for tracing.
• Dynamically updates the net traces to reflect any changes to the underlying traced shapes, such as during move, stretch, or delete.
• Enables tracing the neighboring shapes within a specified distance.
• Provides a Trace Manager Form form to control the color of the existing traces and the trace visibility.

Related Topics

Net Tracer Custom Setup Form

Net Tracer Toolbar

Adding Net Traces

Removing All Traces

Saving All Visible Traces

Loading Physical Traces

Creating a Step Trace

Finding Neighboring Shapes of a Traced Shape

Adding a Trace Using the Trace Manager

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