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The !fx Command: Control FastCap/FastHenry Interface

Syntax: !fx keyword [arg]
This command is a prompt-line equivalent to most of the functionality of the FastCap/FastHenry interface. This interface is also controlled from the RLC Extraction panel, which is produced by the Extract RLC button in the Extract Menu.

The first argument is a keyword, which must be present and must be one of those listed below. The second argument is optional or required for some of the keywords. Most of the keywords indicate an operation that is equivalent to pressing one of the buttons in the RLC Extraction panel.

save
This will save the currently selected objects on conducting layers into the FastCap/FastHenry interface. This is equivalent to pressing the Save Selections button.

clear
This will reset and clear the interface, and is equivalent to pressing the Clear Saved button.

reset
This will destroy existing partitioning in the interface and recreate the initial partitioning, equivalent to pressing the Reset button.

dataset [dataset_name]
This will apply the name provided in the second argument as the data set name. If no name is given, the data set name is cleared, meaning that ``unnamed'' will be used. This is equivalent to the Dataset Name text field in the panel.

setref cellname
This will set the ``reference cell''. The reference cell is a flat cell in memory containing objects identical to those saved in the preprocessor, and is used to supply group numbers which will be used in FastCap output. When no reference cell is defined, the preprocessor generates conductor numbers.

area left,bottom right,top]
This sets the minimum computation area, and should be called before objects are added. The computation area is otherwise the bounding box of all conductors added.

dump [filename]
This will dump the interface context to a file, equivalent to pressing the Dump Saved button. If a second argument is given, it will be used as the file name, otherwise the default name is used.

recall filename
This will recall a saved data set into the interface, from the file given in the second argument. This is equivalent to the Recall Saved button. Existing contents will be cleared first.

merge filename
This will merge the contents of the saved dataset file into the present database. If there are presently no objects in the database, this is the same as recall.

In general, all existing partitioning will be lost. This is always true of FastHenry data. The polygons from the file will be merged with existing polygons on the same layer if they touch or overlap, or added if they are isolated. All partitioning will be recreated, as if the data were freshly read.

For FastCap data, it is possible for some of the existing partitioning to be retained. This requires:

  1. Imported polygons can touch but must not overlap existing polygons on the same layer (this is automatically applied).
  2. Via areas must be defined entirely in one data set or the other, e.g., the top and bottom layers can't be in different datasets. If they are, the via won't be created. It is up to the user to enforce this.

If these conditions apply, then the existing partitioning of the conducting objects will be retained. The dielectric interface partitioning, however, is not retained, and will be recreated. The user must refine this if necessary.

This functionality is available only from the !fx command, and not the graphical pop-up.

partc
This will start FastCap partition editing mode, equivalent to pressing the C Partition Edit button.

parth
This will start FastHenry partition editing mode, equivalent to pressing the RL Partition Edit button.

term
This will start FastHenry terminal editing mode, equivalent to pressing the RL Terminal Edit button.

exit
This will terminate any of the editing modes, as if the Esc key was pressed.

dumpc [-s] [filename]
This will dump a FastCap input file using the name given in the argument, or the default name if no name is given. This is equivalent to the Dump FastCap File button.

If the optional ``-s'' option is given, this will append to or create two files: filename.top and filename.bot. If the files exist, they will be appended to. Concatenating the two files (e.g. cat file.top file.bot > file.lst) will produce a standard unified list file. This option enables output from different FastCap preprocessor runs to be combined.

dumph [filename]
This will dump a FastHenry input file using the name given in the second argument, or the default name if no name is given. This is equivalent to the Dump FastHenry File button.

runc
This will initiate a FastCap run, equivalent to pressing the Extract C button.

runh
This will initiate a FastHenry run, equivalent to pressing the Extract RL button.


next up previous contents index
Next: The !fxcell Command: Create Up: Extraction Previous: The !ushow Command: Show   Contents   Index
Stephen R. Whiteley 2012-04-01