The Edit Tech Params button in the Attributes Menu brings up the Tech Parameter Editor. The editor can also be displayed by clicking on a layer in the layer table or layer palette with button 3 while holding down the Shift and Ctrl keys. The current layer will become the clicked-on layer, and it will become the target layer for the editor.
From the editor, many of the technology file keywords, mostly associated with layers, can have their specifications added, deleted, or edited. Keywords that are not adjustable in the editor have an alternate means of control, such as the separate panels for setting layer colors and fill patterns. After modification, the Save Tech button in the Attributes Menu can be used to generate a new technology file that incorporates the changes.
The present editor applies to all keywords. In earlier Xic releases, there were separate keyword editors in the Extract and Convert menus, as well as an editor in the Attributes Menu. The different keyword classes, previously available in separate editors, are now available by selecting one of the four tabs at the top of the editor window. Each of these keywords is normally applied to a layer in the technology file.
The editor is configured for the class of keywords selected, meaning that the pull-down menu contains entries for those keywords, and the listing details those keywords only. The classes, and keywords that can be manipulated, are listed below.
LppName
Description
Symbolic
Invisible
NoSelect
Invalid
NoMerge
CrossThick
WireActive
NoInstView
WireWidth
Conductor
Routing
GroundPlane
GroundPlaneClear
Contact
Via
Dielectric
DarkField
Planarize
Thickness
Rho
Sigma
Rsh
EpsRel
Capacitance
Lambda
Tline
Antenna
StreamIn
StreamOut
NoDrcDatatype
In addition to the per-layer keywords, there is a Global Attributes menu that allows a few miscellaneous non-layer parameters to be manipulated. These were defined as technology file parameters in Xic releases earlier than 4.1.7. In present releases, these are simply variables. The editor provides a ``front end'' for setting the variables.
BoxLineStyle
LayerReorderMode
NoPlanarize
AntennaTotal
SubstrateEps
SubstrateThickness
The editor is similar to the Design Rule Editor found in the DRC Menu. When the editor first appears, the keyword specifications for the current layer in the selected class are listed. The specifications appear as they would in the technology file. Changing the current layer will update the listing to the parameters for the new current layer. Selecting a different keyword class will update the display to show the keywords in the selected class. The user can add new keyword lines or modify existing lines as desired.
To add a keyword specification, one selects the desired keyword in the keywords menu of the editor. The available keywords are listed in the drop-down menu, and the set available depends on the class tab currently selected. After clicking on a keyword in the menu, the user will be asked to enter the associated text in the prompt line, if the keyword requires it. The keyword will be applied internally and appear in the listing if there are no errors. A status message will appear, indicating success, or providing an error message.
When adding a keyword, redundant and inconsistent keywords that are already in the list, such as a previous instance of the keyword, are removed. In other cases, a pop-up message will appear if inconsistent keywords are found.
Clicking on a line in the listing will select the line. The text for the selected line can be edited, or the line deleted, with the Edit and Delete buttons in the editor's Edit menu. The Edit menu also contains an Undo button, allowing the last operation to be undone.