How to export/write-out a layout/schematic/symbol view as SKILL?

Hi Sjoerd,

You're probably thinking of dbWriteSkill. You should use this with caution though, because it's not guaranteed to be complete. From the documentation:

Functions dbWriteSkill and dbWriteSkillWithLib do not replicate all database attributes of all objects, and should not be viewed as a way to completely recreate a given design. In previous releases, these functions served purposes related to migration of basic objects from older releases to newer versions, but are not intended to fully support newer and expanded capabilities and methods used by the latest versions, and latest features in the OA database. For example, a partial list of limitations include, layer coloring information, blockages, and physical-only attributes.

Regards,

Andrew

Hi Sjoerd,

You're probably thinking of dbWriteSkill. You should use this with caution though, because it's not guaranteed to be complete. From the documentation:

Functions dbWriteSkill and dbWriteSkillWithLib do not replicate all database attributes of all objects, and should not be viewed as a way to completely recreate a given design. In previous releases, these functions served purposes related to migration of basic objects from older releases to newer versions, but are not intended to fully support newer and expanded capabilities and methods used by the latest versions, and latest features in the OA database. For example, a partial list of limitations include, layer coloring information, blockages, and physical-only attributes.

Regards,

Andrew

Hi Andrew,

My apologies for this late reply. The dbWriteSkill is exactly what I was looking for. And I do understand the risks with this procedure, and I don't use (or plan to use) this procedure to replicate a design. The reason for using it is simple: I have written a symbol pcell, in which I add labels to print netnames to pins (the cdsTerm(G) thing). However, no matter what I did, I couldn't get it to work: netnames were not printed in the schematic. Therefor I wanted to look at how something like this would have been done in a symbol that has those cdsTerm things, and which work. So by looking at code that generates a symbol that includes printing netnames, I thought I would be able to get it to work. Unfortunately, I can't get it to work. So i have to dig a little deeper to get this to work.

In the screenshot you'll see a schematic of a transistor from the PDK (bottom) and my device (top). As you can see, the PDK version has the netnames printed (the whitish letters), whereas my own version doesn't.

This is how it's done in the dbWriteSkill version of the PDK device:

dbD_0x54b08ba7 = dbCreateLabel(dbD_0x54b0c59a list(237 248)
                               3.062500e-01:-8.750000e-02 "cdsTerm(\"G\")"
                               "lowerLeft" "R0" "stick" 5.000000e-02)
dbD_0x54b08ba7~>isDrafted = t
dbD_0x54b08ba7~>isOverbar = nil
dbD_0x54b08ba7~>isVisible = t
dbD_0x54b08ba7~>labelType = "ILLabel"

This is how I do it:

labelId = dbCreateLabel( cvId list( "annotate" "drawing8" ) xCoord:yCoord "cdsTerm(\"G\")" "upperRight" "R0" "stick" 0.05 )
labelId~>isDrafted = t
labelId~>isOverbar = nil
labelId~>isVisible = t
labelId~>labelType = "ILLabel"

If I can't get it to work, I'll file a ticket at support.

Thanks for your support.

With kind regards,

Sjoerd

Hi Sjoerd,

It might just be that you've not got the CDF label display settings set to annotate the net names by default. This might be easiest to just have a shared screening session - perhaps you could log this as a case on support.cadence.com and put me on cc (I think you have my email address, and I'm happy for you to do that in this case). If you don't have my address, file the case and then post the number here and I'll pick it up.

Regards,

Andrew

Hi Andrew,

You're awesome! I had set the CDF label display to show voltages... Changed this to netName and it works. So many places to check...

Thanks again.

With kind regards,

Sjoerd