PCell Designer - Recent Threads

Layout Pcell with dynamic parameters to use for Streach Handles

VS202503112718 — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 09:37:55 GMT

Hi Team,

I am developing a Layout Pcell for a logic gate with stretch handles using skill. (Virtuoso Studio IC25.1)

"Input" is one of the parameter in the Pcell. I am trying to create individual stretch control for each of the "Input" connections. I created an rodObjects for each of the Input connections using function rodCreateRect. Now I am trying to assign each of the objects to a parmeter for strech handles using function rodAssignHandleToParameter.

The problem is each of the object I need to control individually and can't assign to the same parameter. Since the value to the "input" is dynamic. Is there any ways to create as many paramters in Pcell dynamically and Assign handles to it?

Thanks in Advance,
Vinod S B

ISPD 2026 paper: Novel concepts to improve custom layout automation capabilities

Goeran — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 03:59:59 GMT

We are delighted to present a custom layout automation related paper at the International Symposium on Physical Design (ISPD) in March 2026 in Bonn, Germany. The paper intents to introduce novel custom automation concepts that are implemented with the PCell Designer tool.

Paper title: Novel concepts to improve custom layout automation capabilities

Paper abstract:
Custom layout remains predominant in the design of today's analog, RF, MEMS, power-MOS, silicon photonics, package, and other non-digital integrated circuits. Automation in this domain is often impeded by inherent complexity, uncertainty, limited compatibility and capability, and established design paradigms. This paper offers a novel perspective and a set of interdependent concepts to address several long-standing custom automation challenges. We establish partitioning, abstraction, reification, uncertainty, and dialectic motion as theoretical foundations to overcome current limitations. Building on this, we derive and detail several generic, automation-enhancing elementary and practical application concepts, including context-consideration, contracts, abilities, mixins, communication, reactivity, and representation. We demonstrate these improved automation capabilities through various application examples and discuss their potential for future custom design automation approaches.

We plan to submit the GPDK-based application example library, the paper link, and the presentation slides to this community page in March 2026 timeframe.

How to split a shape along a defined line?

Kevin Earls — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 17:12:14 GMT

I've found myself wanting to split shapes into multiple shapes many times. What is the best way to split a rectangle into multiple pieces along lines/or edges that bisects the shape?

The geo->tile command doesn't work on a rectangle.
The geo->bisect command only gives you half the shape and you can't specify the split line.
Any use of land or lor merges any abutting shapes I've already split.
I even looked into dropping into skill to try to use leSplitShape, but that doesn't really create multiple shapes.

Ideally, I'd have one command that takes a named shape (which can contain multiple rectangles or polygons) and a named shape consisting of edges that may or may not bisect the shapes, and return all the shapes, where those shapes which are bisected by the edges are split into multiple shapes along the edges.

Think of a big square where I want to make an asymmetrical tic-tac-toe box out of it.

Anyone have a solution that doesn't take half a dozen complex geo commands, a couple of stretch commands, and a bunch of intermediary measurement steps?

Importing Pcell previously parameterizing in SKILL into PCD tool

Colin — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 17:18:35 GMT

Currently, I have a parameterized cell that was made completely with SKILL code. I want to import it into the Pcell designer tool to build on the functionality and make it easier to work on in the future. Is there a way to make this transfer cleanly so that I can preserve the previous parameterized functionalities while also gaining the ability to add new parameters through the PCD?

Pcell Designer Geo Query, how to use xCoord of shape A and yCoord of shape B

EMaz — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 16:50:26 GMT

Hello,

In general, I am interested in identifying points or regions by using an x coordinate of a named shape or group and the y coordinate of another shape or group. As a simple example I'd like to draw a 3-pt path from the upper center of named shape A to the left center of named shape B. In order to do this, I am currently measuring the y distance from the top of A to the center of B and then using Geo Query to generate the 3-pt path as show below. Is there a different approach which does not require measuring?

Thank you

MosaicXY PCD command

Akshata M Patil — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 12:14:46 GMT

Hi Andrew,

Can you please let me know, how can we use the Mosaicxy in the code
I am unable to get this, how to use in my code to array. the group of layers or instance.

Thanks,

Akshata M Patil

How to set-up a schematic.PCell that maestro can select which corners to simulate?

CBuerzele — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 06:47:52 GMT

Hi, with PCellDesigner I created a low schematic PCell where I want to use corner parameters for simulation.

Currently the Designer have to change the instantiated PCell manually to use the other corner parameters. And the designers prefer to do it via maestro as they are used by other devices.

Thanks for your help!

Pcell Designer Geo Query land is identifying para shapes

EMaz — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 17:33:30 GMT

Hello,

I am seeing unexpected results with the land Geo Query operator. It is recognizing layers that are defined in the para group as if they are actually present in the pcell.

elements involved = 1 group, 1 layer, 1 para instance

1) Group: gRouteSigNorth contains metals and vias - see pic - it does not contain MET1

2) Layer: MET1 which can be seen in blue in the picture above. MET1 and is part of a group called gTile, (the donut shapes) and the dut in the center (2 small blocks)

3) para instances: I have several groups which are defined in the para group which also contain MET1. In the para group they are defined in quadrant 1 with origin at 0:0

Question: When I select layer MET1, why is the MET from the para shape highlighted? The red outline below shows the MET1 identified from para instances.

The resulting land gives me two shapes... would like to only have the shape on the top.

Thank you!

PCell Designer: lor Geo Query Command

EMaz — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 20:00:31 GMT

Hello,

I am seeing outputs by an "lor" Geo Query command depending on the technology file. the "lo

Common starting point:

I have a 1umx2um rectangle with 2 quarters of an elliptical polygon (half circles) on both the top and bottom. The 3 shapes are all drawn in the same layer.
I add a polygon command to create a new layer. Within the polygon command I use all 3 shapes as the source. The Geo Query expression is 3 nested lines. The inner most line is a "layer" command which identifies the 3 shapes (rect + 2 half circles). The next line is an "lor" command intended to merge the shapes. The outer most line is a "grow" command.
Layer commands behave the same but the outputs of the "lor" command deviate.

Technology file "A"
1. not sure this matters but this technology has a grid of 0.005um
2. the "lor" command merges the 3 shapes
Technology file "B"
1. this technology has a grid of 0.001um
2. the "lor" command does not merge the shapes, instead it create a polygon with a vertical line towards the right side. The subsequent grow of course does not grow uniformly.

Do you know what could be causing this delta?

Regards,

Erika

Locating PCell Designer

dandadom — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 18:40:11 GMT

Hello,

I'm quite new to Cadence and I recently started a research position in my university related to analog design. Because I am expected to self start it's been a little difficult to navigate Cadence, and to do my work I need to use PCell Designer. Unfortunately I cannot locate it, is it a separate GUI? or is it integrated in another tool? I can see PCell in my Tools dropdown, but as far as I know that brings me to the mostly depreciated graphical PCell window, and a place to write SKILL code.

I would really appreciate some help to get started, Thank you!

Dominik

PCell Designer Reference Document

EMaz — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 14:02:06 GMT

Hello,

Where can I find a user's guide or reference document for PCell Designer? Several of my colleagues and I are beginning to use the tool extensively but do not have any formal documentation.

Thank you!

Pcell Designer identifying names within an instance

EMaz — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 14:05:56 GMT

Hello,

I am placing an instance of a pcell within a pcell and I want to identify the metal terminal locations within the instance I just placed. I know how to do this in skill code but not in Pcell Designer. I have found basic RAK for Pcell Designer but no reference or user guides. Any help here would be greatly appreciated.

thanks!

How to flatten any Instance in PCD tool to edit/chop the layers ?

Ruchitha — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 08:03:17 GMT

How do we use the straddling command in expression gui of the rectangle command in Pcell designer tool. What purpose does the reference and test shapes serve in here.

Pooja28 — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 09:01:44 GMT

Difference function in pcell designer geo query

AKMush — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 22:18:18 GMT

Hi,

I wanted to do a simple 'shape A - shape B' operation in PCD's geo query (return shape A with its overlap with shape B removed). I thought the difference function, which has a description:

where an input like

would accomplish this. However, no matter what I do it only seems to return the first shape in it's input list with no modification. Is this more of a list operation and not an explicit shape one?

Additionally, I have found using the landnot(A B) achieves what I wanted, which means this is doing A ∩ not(B), this actually disagrees with its icon which implies (A U B) ∩ not(A ∩ B):

Can I get some clarification on landnot() and difference()? There doesn't seem to be documentation on them (or at least I couldn't find any). Is there comprehensive documentation on PCD?

Thanks!

How to redefine methods

Shweta K — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 14:11:52 GMT

Hi All,

I am trying to understand a pcell where the method react after (pcdxReactiveAfter) is used.

I want to know how to add a similar method in a new pcell. If I try to create a new method, it goes under "Created" Tab and not "Redefined". I am also unable to export the react after method into a file using File -> Export Commands.

I am unable to find any documentation related to this.

Thank you.

Regards,

Shweta.

Create a hidden CDF parameter

Shweta K — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 09:02:55 GMT

Hi All,

I would like to create a CDF parameter in Pcell Designer but I want to keep it hidden from the pcell user.

I have tried to use the Visibility Tab, but this did not seem to be working.

If we are creating CDF using Skill code, we have ?display option under cdfCreateParam() command, where we can give an expression to determine the display of a CDF parameter.

I wanted to know if there is a corresponding feature in Pcell Designer.

Thank you.

Regards,

Shweta.

Exporting .pcd.txt file from deployed pcell

AkshayN — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 11:07:06 GMT

Hi Everyone,

I am unable to load my Pcell in Pcell designer tool and getting below error.

What I found is that .pcd.history folder from /layout directory is missing for this Pcell. This Pcell is also deployed in other version controlled library.

Is there any way by which we can export .pcd.txt file from the source or the deployed pcell?

Thanks & Regards,

Akshay Naik

Facing issue in seeing the changes made in deployed Pcell.

AkshayN — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 05:52:38 GMT

Hi Everyone,

Whenever I edit any pcell using Pcell designer and deploy it to replace the older version, I am not able to see the changes in the layout in which that pcell is used just by refreshing my workarea. Instead, i have to re-invoke my cadence virtuoso every time I deploy it(edited Pcell). This is very tedious and time consuming.

Is there any command or method by which I can refresh the updated PCell code once it is deployed so that changes can be visible to other people on the server without them having to re-invoke the virtuoso?

Thanks,

Akshay Naik

Adding Terminal and Pins In Pcell Using Pcell Designer Tool.

AkshayN — Sat, 01 Feb 2020 18:55:59 GMT

Hi Everyone,

I want to add Terminals to my "multi-finger" Pcell created using Pcell Designer Tool, such that it will be Easier for me to highlight them to perform operation such as Adding source/drain/gate routing to the pcell.

Can anyone tell how can i do that?

Also, if anyone has any kind of documentation on Cadence Pcell Designer Tool please Share, It will be Helpful

Thank You,

Akshay Naik

appCell demo library (add-on to CDNLive EMEA 2019 CUS-Techtorial V)

Goeran — Fri, 24 May 2019 04:26:34 GMT

Hi,

we hereby provide an add-on to our CDNLive-EMEA 2019 Techtorial V talk.

The package contains three executable appCell examples:

Fill gap appCell
Align and route appCell
MOS transistor metallization generation appCell

We also provide demo layouts, the appCell source codes and a small SKILL script that demonstrates the integration into Virtuoso.

The attached PDF file describes the appCell examples as well as the steps to run the examples and to open the source code files.

Please consider to share your thoughts and examples as well in the PCell Designer Community Forum.
We hope you find the provided appCellDemoLib examples helpful and inspiring.

Kind regards,

Goeran

community.cadence.com/.../appCellDemoLib_5F00_20190523.README.pdf

community.cadence.com/.../appCellDemoLib_5F00_20190523.tar.gz

Inheritance in the Pcell Designer

TobiasMrks — Wed, 15 May 2019 15:01:26 GMT

I have some trouble understanding the concepts of inheritance in the PCell Designer.

In my example, I have a base cell and a test cell. Now I want to inherit parameters from the base cell in all my other cells.

So what I do now in the test cell is to set in Device -> Edit device type -> Inherits to base

Now I have in the test cell in different cellviews (schematic, symbol, layout). Each a PCell. I want to inherit from one view but this does not seem to be possible.
It seems that the schematic cellview always needs a schematic cellview to inherit from and so on.

Is it possible to let the cell test and its schematic, symbol and layout cellview inherit from the same cell with a single cellview?

Best regards

Tobias

Guidelines for the PCell Designer Forum

Andrew Beckett — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 19:28:20 GMT

This forum is for questions and contributions related to the Cadence PCell Designer tool. This is a tool for creating device and module parameterised cells, as well as application cells ("app cells"). For general Virtuoso questions, please use the Custom IC Design or Custom IC SKILL forum. You may also find the RF Design and Mixed-Signal Design forums useful too.

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.
- The PCell Designer version can be obtained by typing pcdxVersion() in the CIW.
- 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.