Automatic schematic generation using SKILL

Yes, this can be done. You need to first write some Skill code to read the text file using code like the following:

;Assume the txt file is a csv (comma separated values) dumped from an Excel spreadsheet looking like this:
;portName,numBuffers

txtFileName="/tmp/my.csv"
/*
The text file for this example looks like this:
port1,10
port2,5
port3,6
*/
procedure(myReadCsv(txtFileName)
  let((portTable filePtr lineData line)
    portTable = makeTable("portTable" nil)
    filePtr = infile(txtFileName)
    while(gets(line filePtr)
        lineData = parseString(line ",")
        portTable[car(lineData)] = evalstring(cadr(lineData))
    )
    close(filePtr)
    portTable
  ) ;let
) ;proc

procedure(myBuildBufferSchematic(txtFileName)
  let((portTable cv x y dx inPinId outPinId buffId wireId bufInst bufWidth )
    cv = geGetEditCellView()
    portTable = myReadCsv(txtFileName)
    x = y = 0
    dx = 5.0
    inPinId = dbOpenCellViewByType("basic" "ipin" "symbol")
    outPinId = dbOpenCellViewByType("basic" "opin" "symbol")
    buffId = dbOpenCellViewByType("myLib" "myBuf" "symbol")
    foreach(port portTable
        schCreatePin(cv inPinId port "input" nil x:y "R0")
        for(i 1 portTable[port]
            wireId=schCreateWire(cv "draw" "full" list(x:y x+dx:y) 0.05 0.05 0.0)
            bufInst = dbCreateInst(cv buffId nil x+dx:y "R0")
            bufWidth = abs(rightEdge(bufInst~>bBox) - leftEdge(bufInst~>bBox))
            ;Subtract 0.05 so the wire overlaps the instance pin (adjust as needed for your buffer)
            x = x + dx + bufWidth - 0.05
        )
        wireId=schCreateWire(cv "draw" "full" list(x:y x+dx:y) 0.05 0.05 0.0)
        schCreatePin(cv outPinId strcat(port "_out") "output" nil x+dx:y "R0")
        y=y+1
        x=0
    )
    printf("Finished\n")
  ) ;let
) ;proc

;lbl = schCreateWireLabel(cv car(wireId) x:y+0.05 labelName "lowerCenter" "R0"  "stick" 0.05 nil)

Your needs will certainly vary from what I've provided, but here are some things to note:

1. Paste the above in a file like with a .il extension.
2. Modify the code to specify your text file name (use the sample lines so you can see what this does) 
3. Modify the line that sets buffId to provide your buffer library and cell name
4. If your input and output pins are not basic ipin and opin, then update inPinId and outPinId
5. Open an empty schematic in edit mode
6. Load your Skill file in your CIW: load("mySkillFileName.il")
7. Run: myBuildBufferSchematic(txtFileName)
8. Look at the results. You can use "undo" to get your empty schematic back. Edit the skill, and try again.

I didn't name the wires between the buffers, but if you need to you can use the schCreateWireLabel command shown above.

Derek

Yes, this can be done. You need to first write some Skill code to read the text file using code like the following:

;Assume the txt file is a csv (comma separated values) dumped from an Excel spreadsheet looking like this:
;portName,numBuffers

txtFileName="/tmp/my.csv"
/*
The text file for this example looks like this:
port1,10
port2,5
port3,6
*/
procedure(myReadCsv(txtFileName)
  let((portTable filePtr lineData line)
    portTable = makeTable("portTable" nil)
    filePtr = infile(txtFileName)
    while(gets(line filePtr)
        lineData = parseString(line ",")
        portTable[car(lineData)] = evalstring(cadr(lineData))
    )
    close(filePtr)
    portTable
  ) ;let
) ;proc

procedure(myBuildBufferSchematic(txtFileName)
  let((portTable cv x y dx inPinId outPinId buffId wireId bufInst bufWidth )
    cv = geGetEditCellView()
    portTable = myReadCsv(txtFileName)
    x = y = 0
    dx = 5.0
    inPinId = dbOpenCellViewByType("basic" "ipin" "symbol")
    outPinId = dbOpenCellViewByType("basic" "opin" "symbol")
    buffId = dbOpenCellViewByType("myLib" "myBuf" "symbol")
    foreach(port portTable
        schCreatePin(cv inPinId port "input" nil x:y "R0")
        for(i 1 portTable[port]
            wireId=schCreateWire(cv "draw" "full" list(x:y x+dx:y) 0.05 0.05 0.0)
            bufInst = dbCreateInst(cv buffId nil x+dx:y "R0")
            bufWidth = abs(rightEdge(bufInst~>bBox) - leftEdge(bufInst~>bBox))
            ;Subtract 0.05 so the wire overlaps the instance pin (adjust as needed for your buffer)
            x = x + dx + bufWidth - 0.05
        )
        wireId=schCreateWire(cv "draw" "full" list(x:y x+dx:y) 0.05 0.05 0.0)
        schCreatePin(cv outPinId strcat(port "_out") "output" nil x+dx:y "R0")
        y=y+1
        x=0
    )
    printf("Finished\n")
  ) ;let
) ;proc

;lbl = schCreateWireLabel(cv car(wireId) x:y+0.05 labelName "lowerCenter" "R0"  "stick" 0.05 nil)

Your needs will certainly vary from what I've provided, but here are some things to note:

1. Paste the above in a file like with a .il extension.
2. Modify the code to specify your text file name (use the sample lines so you can see what this does) 
3. Modify the line that sets buffId to provide your buffer library and cell name
4. If your input and output pins are not basic ipin and opin, then update inPinId and outPinId
5. Open an empty schematic in edit mode
6. Load your Skill file in your CIW: load("mySkillFileName.il")
7. Run: myBuildBufferSchematic(txtFileName)
8. Look at the results. You can use "undo" to get your empty schematic back. Edit the skill, and try again.

I didn't name the wires between the buffers, but if you need to you can use the schCreateWireLabel command shown above.

Derek