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How to set up to use SKILL?

tmd63

I have some skill file examples but I cannot access them. These are the examples in toolbox.

But we have a different environment setup so I dont think the toolbox is step up to run.

If I try and type 'tbx changewidth' for example. I get an error message 'E - Command not found'. These are the examples found in share\pcb\toolbox\ but the path to start does not appear to be set.

Where is the path for using SKILL commands found?

  • You need a license for the Allegro (or OrCAD) Productivity Toolbox in addition to any Allegro (or OrCAD) PCB Designer license, this is selected from the license picker when the products are started. IF licensed, you will get menu entries for the Productivity Toolbox functions amongst the "regular" menus, they won't work without a license.
  • ok. I open my Allegro, and in the commandline, I can type 'skill' and the prompt changes to Skill>. But I cannot load or run the silkutils. WHen I try I get a variable not set silkutils error.

  • Try loading the individual skill programs:

    skill load "program.il"


    You may need to put in the full path to the program.

    Inside the program there maybe a axlCmdRegister("keyboard command" 'actual function name)

    If not you will need to type the procedure in the allegro command line:

    skill functionname()

    hello world program called hworld.il

    axlCmdRegister("hiworld" 'axlhWorld)
    procedure(axlhWorld()
    printf("HELLO WORLD!\n")
    )
     

    To execute on the allegro command line:

    hiworld or,

    Command > skill load "hworld.il"
    t
    Command > skill axlhWorld()
    HELLO WORLD!
    t

    Jerry

  • You can refer to document  Allegro® User Guide: SKILL Reference which you can find at  <Cadence 16.6 installation dir>/doc//algroskill/algroskill.pdf
    •You run AXL-SKILL by typing skill on the Allegro PCB Editor command line.
    •The AXLSKILL interpreter appears with the skill> prompt in place of the Allegro PCB Editor command line.
    Then you can load the skill file. Please use the linux path i.e / to specify file name.
    •Type exit to close the AXL-SKILL interpreter and return to the Allegro PCB Editor command line.
    •You can also run AXL-SKILL functions from the Allegro PCB Editor command line with the following syntax:
    –skill (<function> <arguments>)
    •Ex: skill "load a.il"
    •You can get a larger SKILL-only window by setting the Allegro PCB Editor environment variable, TELSKILL.
    •Note: All Allegro PCB Editor console output is directed to the SKILL window when the TELSKILL variable is set.
    axlCmdRegister registers the 

    a command named t_allegroCmd with the Allegro PCB Editor shell system. If
    the command already exists, either because it is a base Allegro PCB Editor command or
    because it has been registered by this function at an earlier time, it will be hidden.
    Once you register a command, Allegro PCB Editor passes its arguments to SKILL-AXL
    without parsing them.
    You can call the axlCmdRegister command any time. Once a command is registered, you
    can type it at the Allegro PCB Editor command line and also incorporate it into menus and
    pop-ups.

  • Thanks Jerry,

    I tried your hello world skill and it works.

    I then tried a sample skill called colorForm but I get an error.

    E- *Error* axlFormBuildPopup: argument #1 should be any user-defined (other) type (type template = "otl") - nil
    ERROR.

    This is a simple colorTest.il and colorTest.form that was installed when I installed Cadence.

    Any ideas?

    code

    ; demostration for useing color switches in a form popup

    unless(boundp('ct) ct = nil)

    defun( colorTest ()
        let( (form colorList colorString color)

        form = axlFormCreate('ct "colorTest" nil 'colorTestDispatch t)
        ct = form
        
        for(i 1 axlColorGet('count)
            color = axlColorGet(i);
            colorString = sprintf(nil "i=%L, r=%L, g=%L, b=%L" i car(color) cadr(color) caddr(color))
            colorList = cons(list(colorString i i) colorList)
        );
        colorList = reverse(colorList);
        axlFormBuildPopup(form "COLOR_LIST" colorList);
        axlFormDisplay(form);
    ))

    defun( colorTestDispatch (fw)
        printf("field/value %L = %L (int %L\n)"
        fw->curField fw->curValue, fw->curValueInt )
        if((nequal fw->doneState 0) axlFormClose(fw))
        nil
    )

    /code

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