Error running Create_Thermal_Flash.il sample from 24.1

Question

I am loading and running Create_Thermal_Flash.il sample from Orcad X Pro 24.1 install and I get this error *Error* fprintf: argument #1 should be an I/O port (type template = "ptg") - nil when I try to run it. I am assuming that it cannot create the temporary file "/tmp/ThermalForm". Any suggestions what I should change it to?

Here is a snippet of the code from the file that runs immediately when invoked.

defun( _THRP_MkForm ()

prog( ()

let( (tempformfile formPort)

tempformfile = makeTempFileName("/tmp/Thermalform")

tempformfile = strcat(tempformfile ".form")

formPort = outfile( tempformfile )

fprintf( formPort "FILE_TYPE=FORM_DEFN VERSION=2\n FORM\nFIXED\nPORT 64 26\n")

fprintf( formPort "HEADER \"Thermal Pad Symbol Defaults\"\n\n")

fprintf( formPort "POPUP <CURSANGLE>\"0\"\"0\",\"30\"\"30\",\"45\"\"45\",\"60\"\"60\",\"90\"\"90\".\n")

fprintf( formPort "POPUP <CURSSPOKES>\"1\"\"1\",\"2\"\"2\",\"3\"\"3\",\"4\"\"4\".\n\n")

fprintf( formPort "TILE\n\nGROUP \"Thermal Pad Definition\"\nGLOC 1 1\nGSIZE 30 24\nENDGROUP\n\n")

fprintf( formPort "TEXT \"Inner Diameter:\"\n TLOC 2 8\n FGROUP \"Thermal Pad Definition\"\n ENDTEXT\n \n")

fprintf( formPort "FIELD indiam\n FLOC 18 8\n REALFILLIN 9 9\n DECIMAL 4\n FGROUP \"Thermal Pad Definition\"\n ENDFIELD\n \n")

fprintf( formPort "TEXT \"Outer Diameter:\"\n TLOC 2 13\n FGROUP \"Thermal Pad Definition\"\n ENDTEXT\n \n")

fprintf( formPort "FIELD outdia\n FLOC 18 13\n REALFILLIN 9 9\n DECIMAL 4\n FGROUP \"Thermal Pad Definition\"\n ENDFIELD\n \n")

fprintf( formPort "GROUP \"Spoke Definition\"\n GLOC 33 1\n GSIZE 30 24\n ENDGROUP\n \n")

fprintf( formPort "TEXT \"Spoke Width:\"\n TLOC 34 8\n FGROUP \"Spoke Definition\"\n ENDTEXT\n \n")

fprintf( formPort "FIELD spkwdth\n FLOC 50 8\n REALFILLIN 9 9\n DECIMAL 4\n FGROUP \"Spoke Definition\"\n ENDFIELD\n \n")

fprintf( formPort "TEXT \"Num. of spokes\"\n TLOC 34 13\n FGROUP \"Spoke Definition\"\n ENDTEXT\n\n")

fprintf( formPort "FIELD spknum\n FLOC 50 13\n INTSLIDEBAR 2 2\n MIN 1\n MAX 4\n FGROUP \"Spoke Definition\"\n ENDFIELD\n\n")

fprintf( formPort "TEXT \"Spoke Angle:\"\n TLOC 34 18\n FGROUP \"Spoke Definition\"\n ENDTEXT\n\n")

fprintf( formPort "FIELD spkangl\n FLOC 50 18\n ENUMSET 3\n POP \"CURSANGLE\"\n FGROUP \"Spoke Definition\"\n ENDFIELD\n\n")

fprintf( formPort "GROUP \"Center Dot Option\"\n GLOC 1 28\n GSIZE 62 12\n ENDGROUP\n\n")

fprintf( formPort "FIELD trgtdt\n FLOC 2 34\n CHECKLIST \"Add Center Dot\"\n FGROUP \"Center Dot Option\"\n ENDFIELD\n\n")

fprintf( formPort "TEXT \"Dot Diameter\"\n TLOC 34 34\n FGROUP \"Center Dot Option\"\n ENDTEXT\n\n FIELD trgtdia\n FLOC 50 34\n")

fprintf( formPort "REALFILLIN 9 9\n DECIMAL 4\n FGROUP \"Center Dot Option\"\n ENDFIELD\n\n")

fprintf( formPort "FIELD okay\n FLOC 3 44\n MENUBUTTON \" OK \" 10 2\n ENDFIELD\n\n")

fprintf( formPort "FIELD cancel\n FLOC 27 44\n MENUBUTTON \"Cancel\" 10 2\n ENDFIELD\n\n")

fprintf( formPort "FIELD vhelp\n FLOC 49 44\n MENUBUTTON \" Help \" 10 2\n ENDFIELD\n\n")

fprintf( formPort "ENDTILE\n ENDFORM\n")

close( formPort )

return( tempformfile )

))); defun

JuanCR · Accepted Answer

Hi JS202408156358 
 
 I've debugged your code and I believe the issue can be either that the folder /tmp does not exist or that you don't have writing permissions. Let me walk you through what I found out: 
 
 When I executed the code as a whole, I realized that the very first fprintf was not executing (it was the one outputting the error you see). Then I started executing the function line by line. In this case, I found an anomaly in the outfile line (where the output file is supposed to be created). For that line, I was getting a "nil" as a response. This means that the output file was not getting created and, as a result, the fprintf never had valid data for its first parameter (which is the error that you're getting). 
 
 So, as a test, I tried changing the makeTempFileName line so it creates the file in the same location where the database is and then I realized this worked. My conclusion is, as I said before, either you don't have writing permissions on /tmp or you haven't created the /tmp folder prior to executing the outfile command. 
 
 Please use this code instead: 
 https://community.cadence.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-discussions-components-files/137/Mkform.il

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Error running Create_Thermal_Flash.il sample from 24.1

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