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Next: Hardcopy Driver Parameters Up: Technology File Previous: Technology File Layer Blocks   Contents   Index

Technology File Attributes

The following keywords appear after the layer specifications, and control various global attributes of Xic.

FNKey text
The keyboard function keys, usually labeled F1 - F12, can be mapped to the name of a menu button. Pressing that function key is then equivalent to pressing the named menu button. The text is the internal name for the command, which is generally a short mnemonic of five characters or fewer. These names are displayed in the pop-up ``tooltip'' which appears when the mouse pointer is positioned over a command button, after a short delay. These names are also generally provided in the help system topic describing the command. In the User Menu, for user scripts, the name which appears on the menu button is the appropriate name to use.

The menu containing the named button must be active for the function key to have effect. The mappings are completely defined by the user -- there are no defaults. Pressing an unmapped function key has no effect on Xic. Note that another program or the window manager may redirect function key presses. It may be necessary to disable these other mappings to use the function keys with Xic.

SubstrateEps diel_const
This keyword sets the relative dielectric constant assumed for the substrate, used by the FastCap interface.
Default: 11.9

Drc y/n
This sets whether or not the interactive rule checking is applied to objects being added to the database, controlling the initial status of the Enable Interactive button in the DRC Menu.
Default: y

DrcMaxErrors num
This keyword sets the maximum number of design rule errors reported in batch mode, at which point checking terminates. If num is set to zero, all errors are reported.
Default: 0

DrcInterMaxObjs num
In interactive design rule checking, this keyword provides a limit on the number of objects checked, to minimize the pause after an operation. If num is set to 0, there is no limiting.
Default: 0

DrcInterMaxTime num
This keyword limits the time of the interactive design rule checking performed after each operation. The value is given in milliseconds. If the value is 0, there is no time limit imposed.
Default: 0

DrcInterSkipInst y/n
If a subcell is copied, moved, or placed, by default the subcell is tested for design rule violations if in interactive mode. Setting this value to ``y'' will cause this checking to be skipped.
Default: n

DrcNoPopup y/n
This keyword determines whether errors generated in interactive DRC will be listed in a pop-up window. If set, the messages will not pop up automatically.
Default: n

MergeOnRead y/n
This keyword determines whether boxes are merged as files are being read.
Default: n

InToLower y/n
If set to `y', symbol names in archive files that are entirely upper case will be mapped to lower case symbol names in Xic as the archive file is read. Mixed-case symbol names will not be changed. If set to `n' or not present, no such mapping is performed. This will set the initial state of the InToLower variable, which is part of a more general facility for cell name mapping (see 9.1).

For backwards compatibility, an alias GdsInToLower is recognized for this keyword.
Default: n

OutToUpper y/n
If set to `y', Xic symbol names will be mapped to upper case as an archive file is generated from memory. This sets the initial state of the OutToUpper variable, which is part of a more general facility for cell name mapping (see 9.1).

For backwards compatibility, an alias GdsOutToUpper is recognized for this keyword.
Default: n

Axes [Plain | Mark | None]
This determines the presentation style for the axes in physical mode. The default is Mark, where the origin is marked with a small box. If Plain is given, the axes are simple lines. If None is given, the axes will not be drawn.

GridSpacing spacing
The spacing is a floating point number which represents the default grid spacing (in microns) in both physical and electrical modes.
Default: 1.0

$\textstyle \parbox{4in}{\tt
ElecGridSpacing {\it spacing}\\
PhysGridSpacing {\it spacing}}$
These keywords can be used to independently set the grid spacing in electrical and physical modes. The last read GridSpacing directive will have precedence for a given mode.

Snapping num
This keyword sets the snapping grid in both physical and electrical modes. The num is a positive or negative integer with absolute value of one through ten. If positive, num represents the number of snap points per grid interval. If negative, num represents the number of grid lines per snap line.
Default: 1

$\textstyle \parbox{4in}{\tt
ElecSnapping {\it num}\\
PhysSnapping {\it num}}$
These keywords allow the snapping to be set independently for electrical and physical modes. The last Snapping directive has precedence for a given mode.

ShowGrid y/n
This determines whether or not the grid will be shown by default, and applies to both physical and electrical modes.
Default: y

$\textstyle \parbox{4in}{\tt
ElecShowGrid {\rm y/n}\\
PhysShowGrid {\rm y/n}}$
These keywords allow the grid display to be set independently for the two modes. The last ShowGrid directive will have precedence for a given mode.

GridOnBottom y/n
This keyword determines whether the grid is shown on top of or below the rendered objects.
Default: y

$\textstyle \parbox{4in}{\tt
ElecGridOnBottom {\rm y/n}\\
PhysGridOnBottom {\rm y/n}}$
These keywords allow the grid to be displayed above or below the rendered objects independently for the two modes. The last GridOnBottom directive will have precedence for a given mode.

GridStyle style
This sets the style of grid to use in both electrical and physical modes. The style is an integer whose binary pattern is used to replicate the grid lines. A value of 0 indicates a point grid, and -1 indicates solid grid lines. Other values are taken as a line pattern that is periodically reproduced. From the MSB, the pattern starts with the first set bit, and continues through the LSB.
Default: cc (hex)

$\textstyle \parbox{4in}{\tt
ElecGridStyle {\it style}\\
PhysGridStyle {\it style}}$
These keywords allow the grid style to be set independently for electrical and physical modes. The last GridStyle directive has precedence for a given mode.

GridRegN resol snap linestyle
The keywords GridReg0 - GridReg7 can be used in the technology file to define the contents of the grid registers. Except for register 0, which is volatile, if a register has been set, the keyword will appear in the output when a new technology file is generated with the Save Tech command in the Attributes Menu. The resol is the grid spacing in microns, snap is the snapping number (-10 - 10 excluding 0), and linestyle is the line style code.

Constrain45 y/n
When `y' is given, vertices entered to new polygons and wires will be constrained to form angles at multiples of 45 degrees with existing vertices. The rotations in the spin command are restricted to multiples of 45 degrees.
Default: n

Expand num
This keyword sets the initial expansion level for subcells, for both electrical and physical modes. If zero, no subcells are expanded. If -1, all subcells will be shown expanded. A positive integer indicates that subcells up to that depth will be shown expanded.
Default: 0

$\textstyle \parbox{4in}{\tt
ElecExpand {\it num}\\
PhysExpand {\it num}}$
These forms allow the expansion level for electrical and physical modes to be set separately.

DisplayAllText num
This keyword sets whether label text is displayed or not, for both electrical and physical modes. If num is 0, labels will not be displayed. If 1 (actually, any number not 0 or 2), labels will be displayed in ``legible'' orientation. If 2, labels will be shown in true orientation, i.e., rotated and mirrored as placed and transformed along with the containing instance.
Default: 1

$\textstyle \parbox{4in}{\tt
ElecDisplayAllText {\it num}\\
PhysDisplayAllText {\it num}}$
These forms allow the display of label text for electrical and physical modes to be set separately.

ShowPhysProps y/n
This keyword sets whether physical property strings are displayed in physical mode.
Default: n

LabelAllInstances num
This keyword sets whether unexpanded instances are labeled or not, for both electrical and physical modes. If num is 0, instances will not be labeled. If 1, instances will be labeled, with the label appearing either in horizontal or vertical orientation, whichever provides the best fit into the cell bounding box. If 2, the cell name is rotated and mirrored along with the cell.
Default: 1

$\textstyle \parbox{4in}{\tt
ElecLabelAllInstances {\it num}\\
PhysLabelAllInstances {\it num}}$
These forms allow the display of unexpanded instance text for electrical and physical modes to be set separately.

ShowInstanceMark y/n
If `y' is provided, the origin point of selected instances will be marked with a cross in physical mode.
Default: n

ShowContext y/n
When given `y', the context surrounding a subcell is shown during a sub-edit initiated with the Push command in the Edit Menu. This applies to both electrical and physical modes.
Default: y

$\textstyle \parbox{4in}{\tt
ElecShowContext {\it num}\\
PhysShowContext {\it num}}$
These forms allow the display of editing context for electrical and physical modes to be set separately.

ShowTinyBB y/n
If `y' is given, tiny subcells will be represented by their bounding box. Otherwise, these subcells will not be shown. The size threshold is given by the CellThreshold variable, set with the !set command. This applies to both electrical and physical modes.
Default: y

$\textstyle \parbox{4in}{\tt
ElecShowTinyBB {\it num}\\
PhysShowTinyBB {\it num}}$
These forms allow the tiny subcell rendering for electrical and physical modes to be set separately.

RoundFlashSides sides
This keyword specifies the number of sides to use in the round objects created. The sides must be between 8 and 150.
Default: 20

BoxLineStyle style
This sets the linestyle of the boxes used in electrical mode, and in physical mode for some highlighting purposes such as zooming with button 3. The style is an integer whose binary value is replicated to form the lines used in the box.
Default: e38 (hex)

Font1-6 name_of_font
The Font1 through Font6 variables set the default fonts used in the graphical interface. These correspond to the fonts settable from the Font Selection pop-up from the Set Font button in the Attributes Menu. These are:

Font1 (Fixed Pitch Text Window Font)
This sets the font used in pop-up multi-line text windows, such as the Files Listing and Cells Listing, where the names are formatted into columns.
Defaults:
Unix/Linux gtk1 default: "fixed"
Unix/Linux gtk2 default: "Monospace 12"
Windows default: "Lucida Console 10"

Font2 (Proportional Text Window Font)
This sets the font used in pop-up multi-line text windows where text is not formatted, such as the Info and error message pop-ups.
Defaults:
Unix/Linux gtk1 default: "-adobe-helvetica-medium-r-normal-*-12-*-*-*-*-*-*-1"
Unix/Linux gtk2 default: "Sans 12"
Windows default: "MS Sans Serif 10"

Font3 (Fixed Pitch Drawing Window Font)
This is the font used in the coordinate readout, the status line, layer table, and the prompt line. It is not the font used to render label text in the drawing windows, which is a vector font generated by other means.
Defaults:
Unix/Linux gtk1 default: "fixed"
Unix/Linux gtk2 default: "Monospace 12"
Windows default: "Lucida Console 12"

Font4 (Text Editor Font)
This is the font used in the Text Editor pop-up.
Defaults:
Unix/Linux gtk1 default: "fixed"
Unix/Linux gtk2 default: "Monospace 12"
Windows default: "Lucida Console 10"

Font5 (HTML Viewer Proportional Font)
This is the base font used for proportional text in the HTML viewer (help windows). If set, this will override the font set in the .mozyrc file, if any.
Defaults:
Unix/Linux gtk1 default: "-adobe-times-medium-r-normal-*-14-*-*-*-*-*-*-1"
Unix/Linux gtk2 default: "Sans 12"
Windows default: not used, ignored

Font6 (HTML Viewer Fixed Pitch Font)
This is the base fixed-pitch font used by the HTML viewer. If set, this will override the font set in the .mozyrc file, if any.
Defaults:
Unix/Linux gtk1 default: "-adobe-courier-medium-r-normal-*-14-*-*-*-*-*-*-1"
Unix/Linux gtk2 default: "Monospace 12"
Windows default: not used, ignored

In addition, the following two deprecated font keywords are recognized:

FixedFontName name_of_font
This is the name of a fixed-pitch font that is used in the text areas of the pop-up windows (same as Font1).

FontName name_of_font
This is the name of a font that is used by the text editor pop-up (same as Font4).

The name_of_font is very different between the Windows and Unix/Linux releases:

Unix/Linux
For gtk1 releases, the name is the X Logical Font Descriptor name for a font available on the user's system, or an alias. For gtk2 releases, the name is a Pango font description name. There is a very modest attempt to interpret a specification of the wrong type.

Windows
The name is in one or the following formats:
New standard (Xic release 2.5.52 and later)
face_name pixel_height
Example: Lucida Console 12

Old standard (deprecated)
(pixel_height)face_name
Example: (12)Lucida Console

The face_name is the name of a font family installed on the system, and the pixel_height is the on-screen size.

The user need not worry about this, except that when moving a technology file to Windows from Unix or vice-versa, the fonts may not be as expected. The default fonts should be generally suitable anyway. Fonts are normally set with the Set Font command in the Attributes Menu and the Font button in the Options menu of the text editor.

The following keywords set colors used on-screen. In these definitions, the colorspec string is the name of a color or an RGB triple:

Background colorspec
This sets the background color used in the drawing windows in both physical and electrical modes. The background can also be set with the Set Color pop-up.
Default: 0 0 0

$\textstyle \parbox{4in}{\tt
ElecBackground {\it colorspec}\\
PhysBackground {\it colorspec}}$
These keywords allow setting of the background colors independently for physical and electrical modes.

A single internal data structure maintains all other attribute (non-layer) colors. All attribute colors can be set from a resource file (Unix/Linux only), as well as from the technology file. Within Xic, all attribute colors can be changed with the !setcolor command, and from the Set Color pop-up.

When Xic starts, the colors are set to default values. Then, any colors found in a resource file are updated. Then, some of the colors may be modified in the technology file. Finally, the colors may be changed in a .xicstart file.

Below is the list of attribute colors, the defaults, and techfile keywords and aliases. The ``Alt'' colors are those used by default while in hard-copy mode. The SelectColor1/2 set the blinking highlighting used for selected objects. Setting both to the same color stops the blinking. The MarkerColor is used for electrical-mode terminal marks. The Plot Mark colors are used only for the plot point indicators, and match the colors defined for plots in WRspice.

$\textstyle \parbox{3.0in}{
\begin{tabular}{\vert p{3.8cm}\vert l\vert} \hline
\...
...ne
\tt InstanceSizeColor{\newline}InstanceSize & salmon\\ \hline
\end{tabular}}$ $\textstyle \parbox{2.5in}{
\begin{tabular}{\vert p{3.8cm}\vert l\vert} \hline
\...
...Color18 & dark salmon\\ \hline
\tt Color19 & rosy brown\\ \hline
\end{tabular}}$

The following keywords set alternative parameters that are used in hard copy mode (when the Print button in the File Menu is active).

AltDriver name
This keyword enables the hard copy driver with keyword name to be the default hard copy driver in both physical and electrical modes.

$\textstyle \parbox{4in}{\tt
AltElecDriver {\it name}\\
AltPhysDriver {\it name}}$
These keywords set the default hard copy driver independently for physical and electrical modes. The last AltDriver directive has precedence in a given mode.

$\textstyle \parbox{4in}{\tt
AltResolution {\it resol}\\
AltElecResolution {\it resol}\\
AltPhysResolution {\it resol}}$
These keywords are obsolete and are no longer recognized. Resolution can be set with the driver block keyword HardCopyDefResol.

AltAxes [Plain | Mark | None]
This determines the presentation style for the axes in physical mode while hard copy mode is active. The default is Mark, where the origin is marked with a small box. If Plain is given, the axes are simple lines. If None is given, the axes will not be drawn.

$\textstyle \parbox{4in}{\tt
AltGridSpacing {\it spacing}\\
AltElecGridSpacing {\it spacing}\\
AltPhysGridSpacing {\it spacing}}$
The spacing is a floating point number which represents the default grid spacing (in microns) in hard-copy mode. These are analogous to the GridSpacing keywords.
Default: corresponding GridSpacing value

$\textstyle \parbox{4in}{\tt
AltShowGrid {\rm y/n}\\
AltElecShowGrid {\rm y/n}\\
AltPhysShowGrid {\rm y/n}}$
These keywords are analogous to the ShowGrid keywords, however they determine the grid visibility in hard copies and on-screen when hard copy mode is active.
Default: corresponding ShowGrid value

$\textstyle \parbox{4in}{\tt
AltGridOnBottom {\rm y/n}\\
AltElecGridOnBottom {\rm y/n}\\
AltPhysGridOnBottom {\rm y/n}}$
These keywords are analogous to the GridOnBottom keywords, however they determine whether the grid is shown above or below rendered objects while in hard copy mode.
Default: corresponding GridOnBottom value

$\textstyle \parbox{4in}{\tt
AltGridStyle {\it style}\\
AltElecGridStyle {\it style}\\
AltPhysGridStyle {\it style}}$
These keywords are analogous to the GridStyle keywords, but set the grid used in hard copies and on-screen when hard copy mode is active.
Default: corresponding GridStyle value

$\textstyle \parbox{4in}{\tt
AltBackground {\it r g b}\\
AltPhysBackground {\it r g b}\\
AltElecBackground {\it r g b}}$
These keywords set the background color when hard copy mode is active, in the same manner as Background, PhysBackground, and ElecBackground. Presently, most hard copy drivers ignore this specification, and set the background to ``clear''. The Color pop-up will change these colors when in hard copy mode.


next up previous contents index
Next: Hardcopy Driver Parameters Up: Technology File Previous: Technology File Layer Blocks   Contents   Index
Stephen R. Whiteley 2006-10-23