Virtuosity: Bindkeys in Virtuoso Layout Suite

Have you experienced acute pain in your arm after a long day of work? Although a simple mouse click gets your work done, too many clicks can leave you exhausted after a long day. Repetitive tasks such as lifting your finger for a mouse click can even cause health issues such as Repetitive Syndrome Injury (RSI). One of the easiest ways to overcome these issues while working on a computer is to use a keyboard shortcut instead of mouse click to perform common tasks. In the Custom IC Design platform, Virtuoso keyboard shortcuts are called Bindkeys.

What are Virtuoso Keyboard Shortcuts or Bindkeys?

Virtuoso keyboard shortcut or bindkey, is a keyboard key or mouse button that is linked to a Cadence SKILL language command or function name. When you press the key, key sequence, or mouse button, the command executes.

There are several benefits of using bindkeys when you are working with the Virtuoso custom IC design tools. For example, bindkeys can help you in improving your productivity. When you use bindkeys, you no longer need to reach out for the mouse to perform simple tasks, saving a lot of time. Some common and often, repetitive tasks in Virtuoso that you can perform using bindkeys include opening certain forms, zooming in and out of an open design, navigating through multiple windows, undoing or redoing tasks, launching toggle assistants and toolbars, and descending into a hierarchical designs.

Because Virtuoso has a wide scope and offers a lot of functionality, different Virtuoso applications have their own specific set of bindkeys, other than a common set that is applicable across all Virtuoso applications. You can view the list of pre-defined bindkeys or assign new bindkeys from the CIW (Options – Bindkeys).

Can I Print Bindkeys for the Virtuoso Layout Product I Use?

Yes, you can download the printable version of bindkeys in Virtuoso Layout Suite from the Cadence Learning and Support portal. In this document, you will find multiple color-coded tables, with each table representing a particular set of bindkeys available in different scenarios. These include bindkeys arranged by keyboard layout, mouse functions, miscellaneous keys (keys found on some special keyboards), and different functions, such as bindkeys available when you are viewing a design, working with Palette assistant, or creating objects. You can also find separate bindkey tables for DRD (Design Rule Driven) editing, wire editor, and SPD (Symbolic Placement of Devices) commands.

Each color in a bindkey table represents a specific key combination. The following picture shows a part of the table in which bindkeys are arranged based on keyboard layout. Consider that you want to toggle Area Select options. You can do this using the key combination Shift + F4,which is added to the green row in the table.  

Now that you know more about the Virtuoso bindkeys and how you can access the latest documentation on bindkeys, I hope you will start using them more frequently in your daily tasks to make your day more productive, also to prevent yourself from mouse overuse injuries and aches!

Happy reading, and stay safe!

Sucharita Mehta

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