SKILL Q: Creating ILLabels in the schematics

Hi,

I have been playing around with ILLabels in schematics and symbols a
bit.
If I use the schCreateNoteLabel() function it is possible to specify
its function as ILLabel. I put something like

schHiCreateNoteLabel( "asiGetCurrentSession()" "lowerLeft" "swedish"
0.0625 "ILLabel" )
in CIW and get to place a label in my current schematic, which is
opened in Analog Artist environment. Now the label is placed and I see
"asiGetCurrentSession()" on screen. If I select the label and press q
to se the object properties, I notice that the value is "nil". I did
expect an object, but anyhow a start. I add another label, this time
change the asiGetCurrentSession() to 7 + 3 and in the object
properties I get 10 for value. Now that seems to be good. I cannot
find out how to get the return value of the label shown instead of the
label itself.

Motivated by this I create a cell called coollabel with only a symbol.
In this symbol I place a label that I define as a ILLabel and write
(plus 3 7), save it and place the coollabel symbol in my schematic.
Now the return value 10 is shown. Motivated by this I try to get
something like a (printf "result is %L" (plus 3 7)) but this time I
get only t. Ok, return value. I then try a simple (list "Result is: "
(plus 3 7)) but this time I get a nil. In frustration I try a (strcat
"result is: " (plus 3 7)) but as expected (plus 3 7) is not a string
so I get a warning.

I try to experiment with the L label but that one is pure text and is
not being evaluated. I really look for a way to write small
interpreted labels that I can place on strategic places in my
schematic so that I can use an ocean backend call to get particular
values from the database.

The nice thing with the L label is that I can attach it to a symbol so
that the labels are moved together with the symbols.

Anybody having experimented with ILLabels that have some experience to
share?

 

Hi Svenn

I think my reply went straight to you instead of the group. So here
it is again.

You could try (sprintf "Result is %L" (plus 3 7)) or
(get_pname (concat "Result is " (plus 3 7))).

I am very much interested in the outcome of your experiment. It's neat
idea I think.

Regards
Satya

svenn> Hi, I have been playing around with ILLabels in schematics
svenn> and symbols a bit. If I use the schCreateNoteLabel()
svenn> function it is possible to specify its function as
svenn> ILLabel. I put something like

svenn> schHiCreateNoteLabel( "asiGetCurrentSession()" "lowerLeft"
svenn> "swedish" 0.0625 "ILLabel" ) in CIW and get to place a
svenn> label in my current schematic, which is opened in Analog
svenn> Artist environment. Now the label is placed and I see
svenn> "asiGetCurrentSession()" on screen. If I select the label
svenn> and press q to se the object properties, I notice that the
svenn> value is "nil". I did expect an object, but anyhow a
svenn> start. I add another label, this time change the
svenn> asiGetCurrentSession() to 7 + 3 and in the object
svenn> properties I get 10 for value. Now that seems to be good. I
svenn> cannot find out how to get the return value of the label
svenn> shown instead of the label itself.

svenn> Motivated by this I create a cell called coollabel with
svenn> only a symbol. In this symbol I place a label that I
svenn> define as a ILLabel and write (plus 3 7), save it and place
svenn> the coollabel symbol in my schematic. Now the return value
svenn> 10 is shown. Motivated by this I try to get something like
svenn> a (printf "result is %L" (plus 3 7)) but this time I get
svenn> only t. Ok, return value. I then try a simple (list "Result
svenn> is: " (plus 3 7)) but this time I get a nil. In frustration
svenn> I try a (strcat "result is: " (plus 3 7)) but as expected
svenn> (plus 3 7) is not a string so I get a warning.

svenn> I try to experiment with the L label but that one is pure
svenn> text and is not being evaluated. I really look for a way to
svenn> write small interpreted labels that I can place on
svenn> strategic places in my schematic so that I can use an ocean
svenn> backend call to get particular values from the database.

svenn> The nice thing with the L label is that I can attach it to
svenn> a symbol so that the labels are moved together with the
svenn> symbols.

svenn> Anybody having experimented with ILLabels that have some
svenn> experience to share?

svenn> -- Svenn

--

 

I created a label and a symbol with a label with both suggestions and
the get_pname is the one that works best. The other one say that there
is an error in argument #1 must be a symbol or nil.

I find it quite strange that a label placed with schHiCreateNoteLabel
is not editable with the object editor afterwards. The fields are
greyed out.

Maybe I'll have to check how the interpreted labels in the waveform
window works. Thanks for your suggestions so far. Would be nice if
Cadence picked up the ball and wrote an application note on loosely
connected annotated labels.

 

Hi Svenn

I wrote the last one from home. Had a syntax error. Should be
(sprintf nil "Result is %L" (plus 3 7)).

I tried the schHiCreateNoteLabel thing. Seems to work for me. Are you
sure the cellview was opened in edit mode?

Thanks a lot for the good work.
Satya

svenn> wrote in message

svenn> I created a label and a symbol with a label with both
svenn> suggestions and the get_pname is the one that works best. The
svenn> other one say that there is an error in argument #1 must be a
svenn> symbol or nil.

svenn> I find it quite strange that a label placed with
svenn> schHiCreateNoteLabel is not editable with the object editor
svenn> afterwards. The fields are greyed out.

svenn> Maybe I'll have to check how the interpreted labels in the
svenn> waveform window works. Thanks for your suggestions so
svenn> far. Would be nice if Cadence picked up the ball and wrote an
svenn> application note on loosely connected annotated labels. --
svenn> svenn

 

Using the get_pname example is NOT a good idea. The concat is creating a symbol,
which depending on the results of the expression will be new each time.

Symbols are not garbage collected in SKILL, and so you gradually leak a small
amount of memory, plus slow down the symbol lookup by creating an unnecessary
number of symbols. Strings are however garbage collected.

Symbols are very useful, but use symbol operations where necessary.

In this case you're doing a simple string operation, so use string functions to
produce them. sprintf() is the right way to do this in this case.

As for the original question, ILLabels are only interpreted when they are
on the master for a placed instance (for example, a symbol can have an
ILLabel, and then the instance will evaluate that label when displayed).
You can reference the "global" (it's sort of global) variable ilInst if you
want to find the instance ID for the instance in question.
They are not however evaluated if the label is a level-0 label - i.e.
in the schematic itself.

Regards,

Andrew.