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Copy Paste via SKILL from one board to another

Andak

Hello Cadencers,

I'm trying to figure out a way to implement a copy-paste like function from two different boards without using the export/import subdrawing FROM the menus. Just not an option when you do that 20 times per minute and you need to copy via by via.

It only needs to be able to transfer basic features like vias, clines and shapes.

I'm thinking of a way that uses a temp file as a data transport path between the 2 boards. I have some ideas but I was wondering what you guys think about it.

Thus I have a few questions:

1. did anyone succeed in implementing such a feature so far? Can you share the experience?

2. Is there a way to export a clip file without calling import/export via scripts inside the SKILL (I'm looking for an axlFunction which I could not identify so far)? Otherwise I'll end up calling the export under a given name file subdrawing with (0 0) origin in 1st boad and import that particular file in the other board. Doesn't seem to be the best way.

Thanks,

Catalin

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  • B Bruekers

    There are two other ways to do this:

    1) open the 'source' design and extract all information and store it in memory. With this data you can re-create those items in the destination board. Obviously this only works within the same Allegro session.

    Since you cannot use/store the dbId's you need to come up with your own data structures.

    For example for vias you need to transfer padstack(name), location, net, properties.  For sure there are other items to consider.

    For (c)lines you can use axlPath structures to store the data into memory. You can then simply call a path create function in the desitination board.

    I've used this mechanism in a tool that can place a board (boundaries, holes, outline etc) in another board.

    Some starting code to work from:
    defun( copy_boundary ()
        let( (brd_current placebound)
            brd_from = "test.brd"
            brd_current     = axlGetDrawingName()
            when(axlOpenDesignForBatch(brd_from "wf")
                ;only want to keep polygons, shape dbid will become invalid after switching design
                ;axlPolyFromDB returns always a list. Using mapcar('car  to make flat list
                placebound = mapcar('car mapcar('axlPolyFromDB axlDBGetShapes("PACKAGE GEOMETRY/PLACE_BOUND_TOP")))
                axlOpenDesignForBatch(brd_current "wf")
            )

            foreach(poly placebound   axlDBCreateShape(poly t "PACKAGE GEOMETRY/PLACE_BOUND_TOP" nil nil))
            )
    )

    2) use axlDBCreateModuleDef().  With this you can create a complete 'module' which you can save and 'place' in the destination design with axlDBCreateModuleInstance().

    The allegro clip file is in fact a skill file, so you can use a load("test.clp")  to import the clip drawing...

    Bram

Reply
  • B Bruekers

    There are two other ways to do this:

    1) open the 'source' design and extract all information and store it in memory. With this data you can re-create those items in the destination board. Obviously this only works within the same Allegro session.

    Since you cannot use/store the dbId's you need to come up with your own data structures.

    For example for vias you need to transfer padstack(name), location, net, properties.  For sure there are other items to consider.

    For (c)lines you can use axlPath structures to store the data into memory. You can then simply call a path create function in the desitination board.

    I've used this mechanism in a tool that can place a board (boundaries, holes, outline etc) in another board.

    Some starting code to work from:
    defun( copy_boundary ()
        let( (brd_current placebound)
            brd_from = "test.brd"
            brd_current     = axlGetDrawingName()
            when(axlOpenDesignForBatch(brd_from "wf")
                ;only want to keep polygons, shape dbid will become invalid after switching design
                ;axlPolyFromDB returns always a list. Using mapcar('car  to make flat list
                placebound = mapcar('car mapcar('axlPolyFromDB axlDBGetShapes("PACKAGE GEOMETRY/PLACE_BOUND_TOP")))
                axlOpenDesignForBatch(brd_current "wf")
            )

            foreach(poly placebound   axlDBCreateShape(poly t "PACKAGE GEOMETRY/PLACE_BOUND_TOP" nil nil))
            )
    )

    2) use axlDBCreateModuleDef().  With this you can create a complete 'module' which you can save and 'place' in the destination design with axlDBCreateModuleInstance().

    The allegro clip file is in fact a skill file, so you can use a load("test.clp")  to import the clip drawing...

    Bram

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