This page contains a number of check boxes which apply during format
conversion. These options are described below.
- Strip For Export
When the Strip For Export button is active, converted output
will contain physical data only, and all masters, and will contain no
Xic extensions. The Strip For Export box should be checked
when creating an export file for use in generating photomasks. Note
that the electrical information can never be recovered from a stripped
file. The check box tracks the state of the StripForExport
variable.
This mode can also be enabled by setting the boolean variable StripForExport with the !set command. The variable tracks the
state of the check box.
- Include library cell masters
If the input file references library cells (which have the LIBRARY
flag set) whose masters are not found in the file, then these masters
are not written to output unless this box is checked. With the box
not checked, the output file will require the referenced library be
preesent and open when the file is read into Xic (the same
requirement as the input file). With the box checked, the masters are
written to the output file, which will therefor not need the library.
This tracks the state of the KeepLibMasters variable.
- Include parameterized cell sub-masters
When this check box is checked, output saved to disk files will
include sub-master cells. Ordinarily, sub-master cells are not
included, as they will be re-created when the file is read. However,
when exporting to a system that does not support the pcells in use,
the sub-masters must be written if the file is to have any value.
With the sub-masters present, the cells/instances will look like
normal cell placements.
This applies when writing all output, except when using the Save and Save As buttons in the File Menu, and the
equivalent text accelerators and including the prompts when exiting
the program. It is also ignored when using the Save script
function.
Xic native pcells are only supported in Xic. OpenAccess-based
pcells might be supported by other systems, that is certainly the
intent of the Ciranova PyCells. Even if another system supports the
OpenAccess PyCells, it may not have the logic to rebuild the pcells
coming from a GDSII or other file source. In that case one will
probably have to ship the OpenAccess library files.
The StripForExport variable and the equivalent check box will
have the same effect when set.
The PCellKeepSubMasters variable tracks the state of this check
box.
- Include standard via cell sub-masters
When checked, standard via cell sub-masters are included in the output
file. This will be required when sending output to another system, as
this implementation is specific to Xic.
An exception may be systems that share an OpenAccess database with
Xic. If the cells are written to the OpenAccess database, the
standard vias should translate properly, and be recognized by other
tools (e.g., Virtuoso) that share the database.
This applies when writing all output, except when using the Save and Save As buttons in the File Menu, and the
equivalent text accelerators and including the prompts when exiting
the program. It is also ignored when using the Save script
function.
The StripForExport variable and the equivalent check box will
have the same effect when set.
The ViaKeepSubMasters variable tracks the state of this check
box.
- Don't flatten standard vias, keep as instance at top level
This mode may apply when flattening a physical cell hierarchy. When
set, instances of standard vias are retained as such, rather than
being written as geometry. This check box tracks the state of the
NoFlattenStdVias variable.
- Don't flatten pcells, keep as instance at top level
This mode may apply when flattening a physical cell hierarchy. When
set, instances of parameterized cells (pcells) are retained as such,
rather than being written as geometry. This check box tracks the
state of the NoFlattenPCells variable.
- Ignore labels in subcells when flattening
When flattening a cell hierarchy, if this check box is checked labels
found in subcells are ignored, meaning not reparented to the top
level. Pre-existing labels at the top level are not affected. This
is intended to prevent net name labels from subcells conflicting with
net name labels defined at higher hierarchy levels. The check box
state tracks the NoFlattenLabels variable.
- Skip reading text labels from physical archives
When set, text labels will not be read from a layout file when reading
physical-mode data. It is not generally advisable to use this, as
text labels, though not physical objects, should be assumed to be
present for a purpose. However, this check box gives the user the
flexibility to strip these out. This check box tracks the status of
the NoReadLabels variable.
In Xic, text labels are included when the bounding box of a cell is
computed. If a text label actually determines the boundary of a cell,
the bounding box of the cell may report differently from other tools.
The effective size of a text label is not well defined, and other
tools will probably make different assumptions about font size, etc.,
or may not include text labels in bounding box computations.
- Keep bad output (for debugging)
When generating an archive file and an error occurs. the archive file
will normally be deleted. However, if this box is checked, the output
file will be given a ``.BAD'' extension and retained. This file
should be considered corrupt, but may be useful for diagnostics. This
tracks the state of the KeepBadArchive variable.
