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Defined variables

Carvey

New user with Ver 16.2

Can someone advise me on above?

The software program was loaded on my "C" drive, however all our designs will reside on another shared drive "P".

When I view the defined_variables.txt file I see all the set variables (majority of them) set to "C" drive.

Does some of the set variables need to be switched to the P drive?

If so which ones?

  • mcatramb91

    What folder did you find the file "defined_variables.txt"?  Also what platform are you using? (Windows/UNIX/Linux)

    I have never heard of such a file and maybe it is something new for Allergo v16.2 but I don't think so.

    Let me know where you found this file so I can try and help.

    Mike Catrambone

  • Carvey
    Hello again.

    If you go to User Preferences and open it up you see all the folders for Display, Drawing, Drc, etc.

    Down at the bottom of the form are the buttons ok, cancel, apply, etc.

    If you select the List All button you get the file Defined Variables.txt.

    When you set or change your psmpath or padpath you are setting defined variables, I think.

    The list all file is just another way to see what has been set in place.

    When reviewing mine I see things that don’t appear to be correct but I’m really not sure since I’m not really an IT guy.

    For example;

    Artpath=C:/OrCad/OrCad_16.0/share//local/pcb

    Shouldn’t this be referenced to our shared/network drive and also to 16.2?

    Homepath=\Documents and settings\Gail

    Gail is another user like myself, shouldn’t this at least say Carvey?

    Ncdpath=C:/OrCAD/OrCAD_16.0/share/local/pcb/nclegend, this is listed again

    This first design I’m doing is on P:\a_projects\2240 folder

    Shouldn’t this be the path to my newly created nc_drill legend I just created?

    Username=Gail

    I think this should be me

    I think some of this is the result of the download for training from EMA Design Automation.

    My program has been crashing at least once a day, could some of the above be doing that?

    carvey
  • bulldog

    Carvey,

    From what I see there is no defined_variables.txt file.  It is simply a listing of the variables you have defined locally.  I believe each installation would have to be set up to be directed to the P: drive or whatever drive you wish to be common.  Make sure everyone is mapped to the same P: drive.

  • mcatramb91

    OK. I will try and explain what is going on.

    It is normal to see most of the environmental variables pointing to the software installation directory and for the most part they should not be changed but there are a couple that you should be made aware of:

    PSMPATH = Search Location for the symbols used by Allegro Layout (.brd)
    PADPATH = Search Location for the padstacks used by Allegro Symbol (.dra) and Layout (.brd)

    There are other variables that you could modify but these two are the most important ones. By default, all these variables point the current working directory (.), one directory back for the current working directory (..) and the default location in the software installation.

    Looks like there is some site configuration which is causing the Username and Homepath variables to point to Gail. 

    Do you have a Cadence admin managing the software at your site that you could ask?   It sounds like someone tried to set something up.

    Hope this helps,
    Mike Catrambone

  • Carvey
    Thank you for the reply.

    We do not have a true system admin managing our Cadence software.

    The IT guy does not know anything about board design at all and nothing about Cadence software, he just installs it for us.

    I have used Cadence at another job about 8-9 years ago.

    At that time I was trained to replace a fellow that was retiring.

    I just followed what was already in place and didn’t have anything to setup from scratch like we are doing here.

    The other user here is a lady named, Gail, she had been here 11-12 years and using OrCad.

    I have only been here a little over 2 years and also have been using OrCAD.

    Since the company upgraded to Cadence I now have some knowledge from before, however a lot has changed.

    The software has been crashing about once a day and once in awhile the database gets corrupted.

    I have taken it upon myself to try to figure out what is going on and if something needs to be changed in the settings.

    The IT guy has contacted someone at Cadence and has not replied back yet, that was 3 days ago.

    So I trying to design this first board and get all the bugs worked out so I can help Gail who will be designing her first board soon.

    I posted another problem that I’m having; maybe you could help on that as well.

    Thanks so much Mike

    carvey
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