Shell Command Window

Hi,

Why do you need to put axlExtractToFile into a axlRunBatchDBProgram?

You can simply use it inside a skill program to export from the currently open PCB, isn't that good enough or what is the purpose?

Best regards,

Ole

Hi Ole,

I was just using that as an example... The documentation for the axlRunBatchDBProgram() is so limited... I am trying to understand the scope...  I am working on a project that uses the NETIN function in SKILL... When I call NETIN from SKILL, the NETIN process does not complete before the rest of the SKILL code executes... I need for the NETIN to finish processing before continuing on executing the rest of the code... I am looking for a work around for that...

Do you have any ideas...?

 JMWilk

 The doc has a netin example, args are:     

    axlRunBatchDBProgram("netin" 
                                         "netin -$ -g -y 1 netlist %s"
                                         ?startMsg "Logic Import"
                                         ?logfile "netin"
                                         ?reloadDB t)

 args:

1) the first arg can be any descriptive string

2) the 2nd arg is the command line with options that you want to run netin. Typically you can go to the

   DOS command window and type "netin -help" to get a description of the arguments. "netlist" is the name

   of the 3rd party netlist file netin should read (netin will automatically add .txt extension). The "%s" is

   where axlRunBatchDBProgram to will insert the name of the current design. By default, axlRunBatchDBProgram

   will save the current design to a temp file on disk before running the specified program. If you want to

   have netin process a different design then use the "?noUnload t" option and but in the real design name

   instead of "%s". 

3) Optional start msg to user

4) Option logfile. If you want axlRunBatchDBProgram to suppress its logfile display use the "?silent t" option

5) Since netin will save the db to disk the reloadDB option tells axlRunBatchDBProgram reload the database if

   netin is successful 

If you want to see how the Allegro GUI sets command line options to its various batch programs then you should

set the env variable "wait_debug" before doing an operation like Import Logic. Allegro reports to

its status area the options it used to invoke the batch program. 

Hi fxffxf

Are you also able to run ordinary dos commands like pkzip, distiller and xcopy using axlRunBatchDBProgram?

Best regards,

Ole

 Yes as long as the program supports command line arguments

axlRunBatchDBProgram("pkzip" "pkzip <args>" ?noUnload t ?silent t)

The noUnload arg is required since you don't want to save the database. The silent will suppress status messages.

 On Windows, not all programs are in the PATH variable. If the program won't run from the DOS window then you must use the full path to the program when launching it from axlRun. If the directory path contains spaces you need to quote it as follows:

    "\"C:/Program Files/progdir/prog.exe\" <prog argments>"

       The two backslash quote sequences ( \") inserts two quote characters into the string. I also use UNIX style directory forward slashes (/) instead of DOS  backslashes (\) so I don't need to escape the backslash. If you wanted all DOS then you would need

    "\"C:\\Program Files\\progdir\\prog.exe\" <prog argments>"

Remember in Skill (or C/C++ for that matter) the backslash character (\) escapes the next character. 

 <prog arguments> - this is the arguments the program expects.

For expert users you can call upon the allegro shell spawning commands. For example,

   axlShell("run notepad")

       - launches notepad and waits for it to finish

   axlShell("run -b notepad")

       - launches notepad and immediately returns control to allegro

The run command also supports a -s option which tells it you want to run  a .bat file. This option is ignored on UNIX.