Guidelines for the Custom IC Design Forum

In addition to the general Community Guidelines, please follow the guidelines given below.

Before posting a question

• Make sure you have searched the documentation, the Cadence Community (use Search Community on the right hand side of this page), Cadence Online Support and even Google. In many cases somebody else may have already asked a similar question and an answer may be available.
• Remember that this is a community forum - all members, including the Cadence folks, are responding voluntarily as a sideline to their daily work.
• If you have an urgent question, or something that will need discussion of or access to sensitive information, you should log a case with Cadence Customer Support.
• If you have an open case with customer support, please do not also post the same question in the forums.

When posting a question

• Create your own thread. Do not post on the end of another person's thread, especially when it has been dormant for some time. It's better to create a new thread and reference the earlier thread.
• Limit a thread to a single subject, and preferably to a single question or small number of very closely related questions. Doing so makes the threads easier to follow.
• Please post in English, as this will make it much more likely you'll get a response from the community.
• Try to ask specific and bounded questions. You are much more likely to get a response.
• Make sure you include the relevant data in your question. Usually, the more accurate information, the better the community can help you. However, also try to be brief, as a long post is less likely to get read. Remember that whilst you are familiar with your problem, others may not be - so put yourself in the shoes of the person reading the question, and ask yourself if it would be possible to understand the question without any additional background information that only you have access to.
• When asking a question about software, state clearly which tools you are using (e.g. which simulator), and which version (ideally the sub-version) of the tools you are using. This information helps to ensure that you will get a more specific answer.
  
  • Tool versions can generally be obtained by executing either "toolname -W" (e.g. virtuoso -W, spectre -W, assura -W, etc) or "toolname -version" (e.g. qrc -version, ncsim -version, etc) in a terminal window.
  • Providing the full version number (e.g. IC615.500.4) would be much more helpful than simply stating that you are using "Cadence" or "IC61".
• If you are asking for help, describe what you have already tried. People are more likely to try to help those that are trying to help themselves.
• Do not double post in more than one Community forum. Double posting only marks you as an annoyance, and does not help you in getting answers any faster. Post your request in one forum only. All double posts will be removed.
• Do not attach copyrighted material to your posts unless you own the copyright. In other words, do not post data that is not yours to post (e.g. model files, technology data from a third-party foundry). Such data will be removed from the forum.
• A picture is often worth a thousand words, but it's better to show text as a text file or included in the post (if not too long) as it's easier to search and for somebody to reproduce.
• If you attach an example, please use standard archive formats such as tar  and zip. Do not use proprietary formats such as rar.
• Acknowledge peoples responses to your posts and let them know how their suggestions worked out for you.
• Write carefully and clearly. Do not use instant messaging short hand. Define the meaning of obscure terms and acronyms.