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The Edit Tech Params Button: Edit Conversion Parameters

The Edit Parameters button in the Convert Menu brings up the Conversion Parameter Editor. With the editor, the conversion-related technology file keywords associated with layers can have their specifications added, deleted, or edited. After modification, the Save Tech button in the Attributes Menu can be used to generate a new technology file that incorporates the changes.

The editor is similar to the keyword editors found in the Attributes Menu and Extract Menu, and the rule editor found in the DRC Menu. When the editor first appears, the keyword specifications for the current layer 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. The user can add new lines or modify existing lines as desired.

To add a specification, select the desired keyword in the Keywords menu of the editor. The user will then be asked to enter the associated text on the prompt line.

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.

The keywords that can be manipulated with the Conversion Parameter Editor are listed below, along with the specification syntax.

StreamIn layer_list [, datatype_list]
This keyword specifies a set of layer/datatype combinations that will map to the present Xic layer when reading GDSII and OASIS files. Any number of such lines can be present. The layer_list is a space-separated list of tokens, each of which is either a GDSII layer number (``32'') or a range of numbers (``35-41''). The datatype_list is similarly constructed, and is optional. The numbers in either list can range from 0 to 65535, though numbers larger than 255 are outside of the GDSII specification (but sometimes used anyway). If a datatype_list appears, it is separated from the layer_list with a comma. The line specifies that each of the datatypes listed on each of the GDSII layers listed will be converted to the present Xic layer. If the datatype list is absent, it defaults to ``0-65535''. For example,
StreamIn 5 7 8 21-30, 0 20-63
specifies that datatypes 0 and 20-63 on GDSII layers 5, 7, 8, and 21-30 will be mapped to the present Xic layer as a GDSII or OASIS file is read. Note that GDSII layers cam be mapped to more than one Xic layer. In this case, the geometry will be created on each of the Xic layers mapped to.

It is possible for more than one Xic layer to map from a given GDSII layer/datatype. If the MultiMapOk variable is set, then multiple objects will be created when a GDSII or OASIS file is read, one on each matching Xic layer. If this variable is not set, only the first mapping will be used, which will be the lowest matching layer found in the layer table.

StreamOut out_layer [out_datatype]
This line specifies a layer/datatype combination to be used when generating GDSII and OASIS files for the present Xic layer. One of these should appear for each Xic layer. The out_layer and out_datatype can be in the range 0-65535, though numbers larger than 255 are outside of the GDSII specification but are sometimes used anyway. Be aware that use of numbers larger than 255 may render the file non-portable. Note that often the end of range values are reserved in other CAD environments, and that some releases of the GDSII format support only 64 layers and datatypes. The default datatype, if not given, is 0.

If there are more than one StreamOut lines given for a layer, and the MultiMapOk variable is set, the objects will be added to the GDSII or OASIS file on each of the GDSII layers/datatypes specified. If the variable is not set, only the first StreamOut specification will be used.

There is no default for this keyword.

NoDrcDatatype datatype
If this keyword is given, then any object that has the given datatype will be ignored during DRC. On output, objects that have their DRC skip flags set will be written with this datatype, and not the default datatype given in the StreamOut line. The given datatype should appear in the input mapping for the layer.


next up previous contents index
Next: The DRC Menu: Design Up: The Convert Menu: Data Previous: The Text Editor Button:   Contents   Index
Stephen R. Whiteley 2012-04-01