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  3. what is the use of data.dm and constraint in each design...

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what is the use of data.dm and constraint in each design directory?

Qilong
Qilong over 8 years ago

Hi all, 

    Normally when I try to "ls" a design directory I can always see these two files, both of which cannot be opened in a Virtuoso window (or even invisible for data.dm in the library manager). What is the meaning of them and how can I open them? I learned that opening "data.dm" deals with some skill scripts but I am not familiar with it. So could I get some step-to-step guidance to accomplish it? Also the constraint file is always locked by myself and it is annoying that I do not know what is the use of it, or if I can remove it brutally...

   PS: since the whole design environment is under a data synchronisation system, and I was told not to check in "data.dm" when I finish my work. Could I ask why?  Thanks again.

   PPS: my environment: virtuoso 6.1.6 in Linux.

Best regards,

Qilong

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  • Andrew Beckett
    Andrew Beckett over 8 years ago

    The "data.dm" is what is known as a "property bag". It allows meta-data properties to be stored for a library, a cell, or a cellView (the data.dm lives at one of those three levels within a library). Things like CDF live in the library or cell level data.dm, and various other options can be stored at the library level data.dm; design variables could be in the cell-level data.dm if you use the Variables->Save to Cellview option in ADE (it's a bit of a misnomer, since it actually saves to the cell).

    I'm not sure why you wouldn't check in the data.dm when you've completed your work; failure to do so would mean that others don't see the changes and also would be prevented from making changes themselves.

    The constraint view is used by the Constraint Manager in Virtuoso Schematic Editor XL; however, using Virtuoso Layout Suite XL can also cause it to be created - and the database within it ends up zero-size as a placeholder so that it can be locked. Once it stops being used, the lock would be freed, and if still zero-sized, it should auto-delete.

    Regards,

    Andrew.

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