Allegro X Scripting - TCL - Recent Threads

RE: How to successfully place a custom TitleBlock in the TCL instructions for creating an OPJ

FK202606088435 — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 08:37:58 GMT

Hi TechnoBobby,

No problem. Please refer to the following TCL command I'm currently experiencing issues with.

I've tried several times but still can't paste my TCL command content here. Please allow me to share it with you via a Google Drive shared link. The tcl and txt files contain the same content.

URL:drive.google.com/.../1xFMwL3FbEvZ0yQqglEbWdf-f9hRpPeyQ

Thank you for your assistance in replying.

How to successfully place a custom TitleBlock in the TCL instructions for creating an OPJ

FK202606088435 — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 03:00:04 GMT

Hi, Sir:

In the OrCAD Capture CIS 23.1,

In the DSN page of the manually created project, I can successfully place my custom TitleBlock using the same TCL commands.

However, it does not work in the OPJ I currently create using the following TCL commands,

and there are no error messages. After the entire circuit diagram is drawn, the lower right corner is still blank.

Thank you for your careful and patient guidance.

RE: How to successfully place a custom TitleBlock in the TCL instructions for creating an OPJ

TechnoBobby — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 08:32:18 GMT

Hi FK202606088435 ,

Could you please confirm how you are trying to share the TCL, are you attempting to upload the *.tcl file directly to the forum, or are you trying to copy‑paste the commands into the reply thread? you can try pasting the script in smaller parts or share only the relevant portion causing the issue.

RE: How to successfully place a custom TitleBlock in the TCL instructions for creating an OPJ

FK202606088435 — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 07:44:53 GMT

Hi TechnoBobby,

I've tried several times, but I still can't paste my TCL command here. I also can't share it with you via Google Drive sharing link. Is there any other way to share my TCL command?

Thank you for your assistance in replying.

RE: How to successfully place a custom TitleBlock in the TCL instructions for creating an OPJ

TechnoBobby — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 06:45:03 GMT

Hi FK202606088435 ,

Since the same TCL commands works in a manually created DSN, the issue is likely related to when and where the title block is being applied in the script.
Could you confirm whether your script places the title block after the DSN is fully open and the page is created and set as active?
Sharing your TCL snippet will help narrow this down.

For further details, you can refer to below article on ASK portal:
Article (20498203) Title: How to place custom title blocks based on page sizes in OrCAD X Capture
URL: support.cadence.com/.../ArticleAttachmentPortal

RE: Generate ORCAD netlist (with orWirelist.dll) using TCL Script

TechnoBobby — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 06:34:22 GMT

Hi CA20240926987 ,

If you're looking to export similar format data using TCL script, you can try below code.

Hope this helps!

proc pinConnectivityReport {} {

if {[file exists "pinConnectivity.txt"] == 1} {

file delete "pinConnectivity.txt"

}
set lPathCS [DboTclHelper_sMakeCString]
[GetActivePMDesign] GetName $lPathCS
set lPath [file dirname [DboTclHelper_sGetConstCharPtr $lPathCS]]
set lSession $::DboSession_s_pDboSession
DboSession -this $lSession
set lNullObj NULL
set lStatus [DboState]
set lDesign [$lSession GetActiveDesign]
if {$lDesign == $lNullObj} {
puts "ERROR: No active design."
return
}
set lSchi_Name [DboTclHelper_sMakeCString]
set lPinNameCS [DboTclHelper_sMakeCString]
set lPinNumberCS [DboTclHelper_sMakeCString]
set lNetNameCS [DboTclHelper_sMakeCString]
set lRefdesNameCS [DboTclHelper_sMakeCString]
set lReport [open "pinConnectivity.txt" a+]
if {$lDesign != $lNullObj} {

set lSchematicIter [$lDesign NewViewsIter $lStatus $::IterDefs_SCHEMATICS]
#get the first schematic view
set lView [$lSchematicIter NextView $lStatus]
set lPage_Name [DboTclHelper_sMakeCString]
while { $lView != $lNullObj} {
#dynamic cast from DboView to DboSchematic
set lSchematic [DboViewToDboSchematic $lView]
$lSchematic GetName $lSchi_Name
set lPagesIter [$lSchematic NewPagesIter $lStatus]
#get the first page
set lPage [$lPagesIter NextPage $lStatus]
# puts [DboTclHelper_sGetConstCharPtr $lSchi_Name]
while {$lPage!=$lNullObj} {
#placeholder: do your processing on $lPage
$lPage GetName $lPage_Name
# puts [DboTclHelper_sGetConstCharPtr $lPage_Name]
set lPageName [DboTclHelper_sGetConstCharPtr $lPage_Name]
set lPartInstIter [$lPage NewPartInstsIter $lStatus]
set lInst [$lPartInstIter NextPartInst $lStatus]
while {$lInst != $lNullObj} {
puts $lReport "++++++++++===========+++++++++++++"
$lInst GetReferenceDesignator $lRefdesNameCS
set lRefdes [DboTclHelper_sGetConstCharPtr $lRefdesNameCS]
set lPinIter [$lInst NewPinsIter $lStatus]
set lPin [$lPinIter NextPin $lStatus]

while {$lPin !=$lNullObj } {
# puts $lPin
$lPin GetPinName $lPinNameCS
set lPinName [DboTclHelper_sGetConstCharPtr $lPinNameCS]
# puts "$lPinName pinName"
$lPin GetPinNumber $lPinNumberCS
set lPinNumber [DboTclHelper_sGetConstCharPtr $lPinNumberCS]
# puts "$lPinNumber pinNumber"
set lWire [$lPin GetNet $lStatus]
# puts $lWire
if {$lWire != $lNullObj} {
$lWire GetNetName $lNetNameCS
set lNetName [DboTclHelper_sGetConstCharPtr $lNetNameCS]
# puts "$lRefdes.$lPinNumber.$lNetName.$lPageName"
puts $lReport "$lRefdes.$lPinNumber.$lPinName.$lNetName.$lPageName"
# puts [DboTclHelper_sGetConstCharPtr $lNetNameCS]
}
#get the next pin of the part
set lPin [$lPinIter NextPin $lStatus]

}
delete_DboPartInstPinsIter $lPinIter
puts $lReport "++++++++++===========+++++++++++++"
set lInst [$lPartInstIter NextPartInst $lStatus]

}
delete_DboPagePartInstsIter $lPartInstIter
#get the next page
set lPage [$lPagesIter NextPage $lStatus]
}
#get the next schematic view
delete_DboSchematicPagesIter $lPagesIter
set lView [$lSchematicIter NextView $lStatus]
}
delete_DboLibViewsIter $lSchematicIter

}
close $lReport
exec {*}[auto_execok start] "" "$lPath\\pinConnectivity.txt"
}

pinConnectivityReport

Generate ORCAD netlist (with orWirelist.dll) using TCL Script

Shanmugi — Tue, 10 May 2022 12:19:20 GMT

Hi,

I need to generate netlist with orWirelist.dll (as if from the 'other' tab in OrCAD) from orcad using TCL script.

I manually generated the script from tools->create netlist->other option -> orWirelist.dll (under formatters option).

But trying to generate the same using TCL scripts.

Is there a way to do, if so kindly help me on the same.

Thanks for your help in advance!

RE: Generate ORCAD netlist (with orWirelist.dll) using TCL Script

CA20240926987 — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 01:57:17 GMT

Did you ever figure this out? I am trying to solve this problem as well.

RE: Add a tcl command I created and registered to the toolbar and also assign an icon to it programmatically for capture 17.2 version

CadAP — Wed, 13 May 2026 16:44:38 GMT

RS202512234819 I would suggest add a separate menu or menu under Accessories tab and assign you custom proc to it.

AddAccessoryMenu(lVendorName, lMenuName, proc) : returns bool
Parameters:
lVendorName: char const *
lMenuName: char const *
proc: char const *

For adding custom menu

Article (20240311) Title: How to add a custom menu in OrCAD Capture?
URL: support.cadence.com/.../ArticleAttachmentPortal

Try and let me know in case of any concern.

Add a tcl command I created and registered to the toolbar and also assign an icon to it programmatically for capture 17.2 version

RS202512234819 — Sun, 10 May 2026 13:27:23 GMT

Hi,Sir:

I had create a tcl command, and I want to register to the toolbar and assign an icon to it for capture 17.2,

I had try the "new" button from menu "Tool"--->"Customize"---->"Toolbars",but it can't bind the tcl command,

please kindly help to give a method to achieve it?

thanks!

TCL to set active page in the treeview using SelectPMItem

fSeyer — Mon, 04 May 2026 08:51:01 GMT

Hi,

Could anyone suggest an alternative to SelectPMItem?
I’m using it to set the active page in a tree view, but it ignores page names that contain "0".

RE: TCL to set active page in the treeview using SelectPMItem

fSeyer — Mon, 04 May 2026 15:33:14 GMT

Hi TechnoBobby,

Thanks for respond!
i have a UI that listed all the pages, my intend is to to print pdf or generate Bom for either per page or all page.
usually we set page name stars from 01_circuit name ~ 10_circuit name.
i notice that only page name without "0" can used by SelectPMItem.

here's my code

set sel [.pageReport.lb curselection]
if {$sel eq ""} return
set idx [lindex $sel 0]
set text [string trim [.pageReport.lb get $idx]]
if {$text eq "ALL PAGES"} {
set lDesign [GetActivePMDesign]
set lDesignName [DboTclHelper_sMakeCString]
set lsts [$lDesign GetName $lDesignName]
$lsts -delete
set fullPath [DboTclHelper_sGetConstCharPtr $lDesignName]
set splitPath [file split $fullPath]
set dsnName [file rootname [lindex $splitPath end]]
SelectPMItem "./$dsnName.DSN"
}
catch {SelectPMItem "$text"}

RE: TCL to set active page in the treeview using SelectPMItem

TechnoBobby — Mon, 04 May 2026 11:36:28 GMT

Hi fSeyer ,

Could you clarify what you do after selecting the page in the Project Manager tree?
Do you need the page selected only to make it active in the UI, or are you selecting it to obtain a DboPage and perform further operations on it?

RE: Use TCL to get all "page name" when no title block

CadAP — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:08:44 GMT

RS202512234819

proc lGetAllPages {} {

set lSession $::DboSession_s_pDboSession
DboSession -this $lSession
set lNullObj NULL
set lStatus [DboState]
set lDesign [$lSession GetActiveDesign]
set lSchi_Name [DboTclHelper_sMakeCString]

if {$lDesign != $lNullObj} {

set lSchematicIter [$lDesign NewViewsIter $lStatus $::IterDefs_SCHEMATICS]
#get the first schematic view
set lView [$lSchematicIter NextView $lStatus]

set lPage_Name [DboTclHelper_sMakeCString]

while { $lView != $lNullObj} {
#dynamic cast from DboView to DboSchematic
set lSchematic [DboViewToDboSchematic $lView]
$lSchematic GetName $lSchi_Name
set lPagesIter [$lSchematic NewPagesIter $lStatus]
#get the first page
set lPage [$lPagesIter NextPage $lStatus]

# puts [DboTclHelper_sGetConstCharPtr $lSchi_Name]

while {$lPage!=$lNullObj} {
#placeholder: do your processing on $lPage
$lPage GetName $lPage_Name
puts [DboTclHelper_sGetConstCharPtr $lPage_Name]
lappend pagelist [DboTclHelper_sGetConstCharPtr $lPage_Name]
#get the next page
set lPage [$lPagesIter NextPage $lStatus]
}
#placeholder: do your processing on $lSchematic

#puts $lSchematic

#get the next schematic view
set lView [$lSchematicIter NextView $lStatus]
}
delete_DboLibViewsIter $lSchematicIter
delete_DboSchematicPagesIter $lPagesIter

} else { puts "No Active Design"; orPrm::DestroyWidget $i}

return $pagelist

}

lGetAllPages

Above code will return all page names in a list format in capture command console.

Use TCL to get all "page name" when no title block

RS202512234819 — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 01:13:28 GMT

Hi, Sir:

at now, my design had no titleblock on the all pages,

and I want to use TCL to put titleblock an the all pages,

but I can't get the "page name" value at the time.

How can I do to get the all "page name"?

use want method to do it?

thanks!

Audit OLB's in directory

Mhawley1 — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 12:47:56 GMT

Hello Can anybody give me a boiler plate on batch opening OLB's .

I want to be able to open an OLB , read the names of all the symbols within and then close .

RE: Audit OLB's in directory

fSeyer — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:31:46 GMT

any way to extract the pin count, pin numbers, pin name and xy positions of the selected part from the olb file?

RE: TCL Script System Capture get ALL Custom Var from Project and all from all Variants

CadAP — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 07:12:28 GMT

PIPE MZ20250602835

Please use below code to get the custom variable name and value in list:

proc getCustomVar {} {

# puts "entering check mode"
set toolVar [lindex [cps::getAppVersion] 0]

set lDesigName [sch::dbGetRootDesignName]
cpb::extractFile "worklib/$lDesigName/variant/variant.dat" {variant.dat}
set filename "variant.dat"
set pattern "CV_"
set fp [open $filename r]
set functiontest {}
while {[gets $fp line] >= 0} {
if {[string match -nocase "*$pattern*" $line]} {
# puts $line
lappend functiontest $line
}
}
close $fp
puts $functiontest
if {[file exists $filename ] == 1} {

file delete $filename

}

}

getCustomVar

You have two variants, V1 and V2, and the expected result is as below:

**Expected Result:**

{ CV_V1 = 'TEST_V1=1236|TEST_V2=T_v1' ;} { CV_V2 = 'TEST_V1=T1|TEST_V2=T2' ;}

Please do let me know your feedback.

TCL Script System Capture get ALL Custom Var from Project and all from all Variants

PIPE — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 12:41:33 GMT

Hello,

Sorry, i have search a lot but found nothing.

I must make some folders and my idea is to export via tcl all this information and with a exernal tool i read out this info and generate for every variant and master a sperate folder to but the bom etc inside.

Thanks for your help.

Peter

RE: TCL Script System Capture get ALL Custom Var from Project and all from all Variants

PIPE — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 09:55:43 GMT

I unfortunately couldn't find a way to read or write the changed customvariables from the variant editor.

The only way was to export the variant.dat and read everything from it.

I solved this, however, with an external tool I wrote, because I needed this information externally anyway.

if you find a tcl solution, please post it.

-Peter

RE: TCL Script System Capture get ALL Custom Var from Project and all from all Variants

MZ20250602835 — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 08:16:48 GMT

Dear CadAP,

may i ask how could i make a TCL/script in order to get the Custom variables variant specific Values for specific row(For example row3 DOC_PART_PCBA) and then give/transfer this value to a customer variables?

Many thanks

Moyan

Difference between SKILL and RAVEL

JuanCR — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 20:49:52 GMT

SKILL provides a safe, high-level programming environment that automatically handles many traditional system programming operations, such as memory management. SKILL programs can be immediately executed in the Cadence environment. The SKILL programming language lets you customize and extend your design environment. SKILL is ideal for rapid prototyping.

RAVEL is a language to implement design rules for PCB and Packaging tools. It builds on a relational view of the design data.

The below table highlights the difference between SKILL and RAVEL:

Following image shows the code of SKILL and RAVEL.

The article, Syntax highlighting for SKILL and RAVEL in Notepad++ text editor, explains in more detail.

DFM Ravel Rules GUI for PCB is shown below. BoardSurfers: Training Insights: How to Run a RAVEL Rule from the GUI explains in detail how to run rules from the GUI.

RE: Audit OLB's in directory

Mhawley1 — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:48:23 GMT

I can cope with that , I dont actually want the file , just the names . So as long as I close the capture session , hopefully the Lock files are removed .

RE: Audit OLB's in directory

Mhawley1 — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:47:40 GMT

This is better than what I needed , I actually don't care to open the real file , I just want those names ! . Thank you Bob .

RE: Audit OLB's in directory

PatEscher — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:28:29 GMT

open is 'relative'.

This code does not necessarily open the olb in the user Interface, but it does open the OLB inside OrCAD, so a lock file is created.
you need to make sure not keep any references open and close it, otherwise it will be locked till the end of the OrCAD session