SKILL Q: Cycling through all open schematics and do something

Hi,

after reading a bit in the skcompref.pdf I find that there are many
functions that work on the current window or d_cvId. So far I havent't
found how to get all open d_cvId's as a list and then do something
with the schematics in all of them. Purpose is to have two or more
schematics side-by-side and then execute a command in CIW that
extracts a textual list of transistors and geometries of all open
windows and put them in a comma-separated list for Excel import. (or
whatever)

 

Hi Svenn,

Well, the functions you'll need are probably hiGetWindowList() and
dbGetOpenCellViews()

If you're looking for just those in windows, you'd use something like:

foreach(win hiGetWindowList()
when(win~>cellView
... do something...
)
)

Or if you want to be good and use the API:

foreach(win hiGetWindowList()
cv=geGetEditCellView(win)
getWarn() ; to swallow warnings about windows without cellViews
when(cv
... do something...
)
)

Andrew.

 

after a while the first idea came like this:

(setq cv (dbOpenCellViewByType "LIBRARY" "CELL" "schematic" nil "r"))
(setq instList (schGetMatchingObjects cv "cellName" "==" "*" nil))
(foreach cell instList
(setq symbol (car cell))
(println (dbSearchPropByName symbol "w")))

This way I get at least a nil for those symbols not having any w
property, but I can't get the value of that w. I just get a
db:12343213 reference back, and I can't say if it is a ddId a cvId a
bagId or whatever SKILL is calling these things. It seems to me that
there are many functions to set and change properties, but very few to
list them.

I tried to use some of the Bag functions or the ddGetObj, but they
complained that that the symbol above was not of kind ddId. This is
slowly getting on my nerves.

 

Hi Svenn,

What you get back is easily identifiable - use

(setq propId (dbSearchPropByName symbol "w"))

Then propId~>objType will tell you what kind of object it is.
Since this is a prop object, you can do propId~>name propId~>value etc.

Alternatively you could do:

(setq cv (dbOpenCellViewByType "LIBRARY" "CELL" "schematic" nil "r"))
(foreach inst (dbGetq cv instances)
(when (setq value (dbGetq inst w))
(printf "Width of %s is %L" (dbGetq inst name) value)
)
)

or something like that (off the top of my head). (dbGetq a b) is the same
as a~>b for a dbObject, but in LISP-speak.

Look in the Design Framework II SKILL functions manual, and it covers the
database in a lot of detail, especially how the db object model works
with the attributes of each db object.

Regards,

Andrew.

 

svenn> wrote in message

svenn> after a while the first idea came like this:

svenn> (setq cv (dbOpenCellViewByType "LIBRARY" "CELL" "schematic"
svenn> nil "r")) (setq instList (schGetMatchingObjects cv "cellName"
svenn> "==" "*" nil)) (foreach cell instList
svenn> (setq symbol (car cell)) (println (dbSearchPropByName
svenn> symbol "w")))

svenn> This way I get at least a nil for those symbols not having
svenn> any w property, but I can't get the value of that w. I just
svenn> get a db:12343213 reference back, and I can't say if it is a
svenn> ddId a cvId a bagId or whatever SKILL is calling these
svenn> things. It seems to me that there are many functions to set
svenn> and change properties, but very few to list them.

svenn> I tried to use some of the Bag functions or the ddGetObj, but
svenn> they complained that that the symbol above was not of kind
svenn> ddId. This is slowly getting on my nerves.

svenn> -- Svenn

Hi Svenn

I think w is usually in the cdf and not a part of the properties of the
cellView. Some thing like this might do the job for you:

(setq cv (dbOpenCellViewByType "LIBRARY" "CELL" "schematic" nil "r"))
(mapc
(lambda (instance)
(println (getq (getq (cdfGetInstCDF instance) "m") value)))
(dbGetq cv instances))

 

Actually there's not really any point getting the cdf for the instance, at least
when you're in CDS_Netlisting_Mode set to Analog, because doing a
(dbGetq instance "m") or instance~>m will return either the instance property
or if it is not there, the default value from the CDF. Strictly speaking there
isn't such thing as an instance CDF - it's just a "virtual" structure which is a
combination of the instance properties overlaid on the cell CDF.

Regards,

Andrew.

 

Andrew> On 26 Sep 2003 10:25:34 -0600,

Andrew> Actually there's not really any point getting the cdf for
Andrew> the instance, at least when you're in CDS_Netlisting_Mode
Andrew> set to Analog, because doing a (dbGetq instance "m") or
Andrew> instance~>m will return either the instance property or if
Andrew> it is not there, the default value from the CDF. Strictly
Andrew> speaking there isn't such thing as an instance CDF - it's
Andrew> just a "virtual" structure which is a combination of the
Andrew> instance properties overlaid on the cell CDF.

Andrew> Regards,

Andrew> Andrew.
Andrew,

Thanks for the clarification. I will fix my existing SKILL code to
use dbGetq instead of cdfGetInstCDF.

Satya

Andrew> -- Andrew Beckett Senior Technical Leader Custom IC
Andrew> Solutions Cadence Design Systems Ltd

 

Hi,
after programming for a while I finally have something like a
very-pre-alpha of a skill snippet for printing comma separated files
containing instances and their properties. Each file is named
%library%-%cellname%-%cellviewtype%.txt

Currently the script must be loaded with (load "script.il") but maybe
some day I get far enough to attach it behind a button or a menu item.

Thanks a lot for the help contributed, without I would never reach
this far. Skill is a language for the highly SKILL'ed and one day
maybe I could earn real hard cash on it, but now it mostly (s)kill my
project time.

Comments and improvements are highly welcome.

Here's the script.il:

;; A function to return a sorted list of properties
(defun sabGetPropNamesSorted (obj)
(setq lProps '())
(foreach prop (dbGetq obj prop)
(setq lProps (cons (dbGetq prop name) lProps)))
(sort lProps 'alphalessp))

;; To cycle all open windows
(foreach win (hiGetWindowList)
(setq cv (geGetEditCellView win))
(getWarn)
(when cv
(sprintf fileName "%s-%s-%s.txt" (dbGetq cv libName)
(dbGetq cv cellName)
(dbGetq cv cellViewType))
(println fileName)
(setq myPort (outfile fileName))
(foreach inst (dbGetq cv instances) ;; loop on all instances
(when (dbGetq inst prop) ;; Print only if it has a
property
(fprintf myPort "\n%s," (dbGetq inst name))
(foreach prop (sabGetPropNamesSorted inst)
(fprintf myPort "%s=%s," prop (dbGet inst prop)))))
(close myPort)))

 

Hi Svenn

Just a few things that I would do differently. I assume prop is a
variable you set before loading the SKILL code.

1. the formal variable for the "foreach" in "sabGetPropNamesSorted' is
the same name as the variable prop. This probably works because
foreach I think is a macro that actually uses mapcar and lambda. But I
think somebody more enlightened might be able to shed more light on
it.

2. I would have written "sabGetPropNamesSorted" as follows:
(defun sabGetPropNameSorted (obj prop)
(sort (mapcar (lambda (x) (dbGetq x name)) (dbGetq obj prop))
'alphalessp))
I usually prefer not to use dynamic scoping ablities of SKILL.

Regards
Satya

svenn> Hi, after programming for a while I finally have something
svenn> like a very-pre-alpha of a skill snippet for printing comma
svenn> separated files containing instances and their
svenn> properties. Each file is named
svenn> %library%-%cellname%-%cellviewtype%.txt

svenn> Currently the script must be loaded with (load "script.il")
svenn> but maybe some day I get far enough to attach it behind a
svenn> button or a menu item.

svenn> Thanks a lot for the help contributed, without I would
svenn> never reach this far. Skill is a language for the highly
svenn> SKILL'ed and one day maybe I could earn real hard cash on
svenn> it, but now it mostly (s)kill my project time.

svenn> Comments and improvements are highly welcome.

svenn> Here's the script.il:

svenn> ;; A function to return a sorted list of properties (defun
svenn> sabGetPropNamesSorted (obj) (setq lProps '()) (foreach prop
svenn> (dbGetq obj prop) (setq lProps (cons (dbGetq prop name)
svenn> lProps))) (sort lProps 'alphalessp))

svenn> ;; To cycle all open windows (foreach win (hiGetWindowList)
svenn> (setq cv (geGetEditCellView win)) (getWarn) (when cv
svenn> (sprintf fileName "%s-%s-%s.txt" (dbGetq cv libName)
svenn> (dbGetq cv cellName) (dbGetq cv cellViewType)) (println
svenn> fileName) (setq myPort (outfile fileName)) (foreach inst
svenn> (dbGetq cv instances) ;; loop on all instances (when
svenn> (dbGetq inst prop) ;; Print only if it has a property
svenn> (fprintf myPort "\n%s," (dbGetq inst name)) (foreach prop
svenn> (sabGetPropNamesSorted inst) (fprintf myPort "%s=%s," prop
svenn> (dbGet inst prop))))) (close myPort)))

svenn> -- Svenn

 

Hi Svenn

Sorry for the errors in my previous post. "prop", as I found out once I
got back to work is a property. So you can ignore the part about
variables ( the first point).

2. becomes

(defun sabGetPropNamesSorted (obj)
(sort (mapcar (lambda (x) (dbGetq x name)) (dbGetq obj prop))
'alphalessp))

Thanks
Satya

snmishra> Hi Svenn Just a few things that I would do differently. I
snmishra> assume prop is a variable you set before loading the SKILL
snmishra> code.

snmishra> 1. the formal variable for the "foreach" in
snmishra> "sabGetPropNamesSorted' is
snmishra> the same name as the variable prop. This probably works
snmishra> because foreach I think is a macro that actually uses
snmishra> mapcar and lambda. But I think somebody more enlightened
snmishra> might be able to shed more light on it.

snmishra> 2. I would have written "sabGetPropNamesSorted" as
snmishra> follows:
snmishra> (defun sabGetPropNameSorted (obj prop)
snmishra> (sort (mapcar (lambda (x) (dbGetq x name)) (dbGetq obj
snmishra> prop))
snmishra> 'alphalessp))
snmishra> I usually prefer not to use dynamic scoping ablities of
snmishra> SKILL.

snmishra> Regards Satya

svenn> Hi, after programming for a while I finally have something
svenn> like a very-pre-alpha of a skill snippet for printing comma
svenn> separated files containing instances and their
svenn> properties. Each file is named
svenn> %library%-%cellname%-%cellviewtype%.txt

svenn> Currently the script must be loaded with (load "script.il")
svenn> but maybe some day I get far enough to attach it behind a
svenn> button or a menu item.

svenn> Thanks a lot for the help contributed, without I would never
svenn> reach this far. Skill is a language for the highly SKILL'ed
svenn> and one day maybe I could earn real hard cash on it, but now
svenn> it mostly (s)kill my project time.

svenn> Comments and improvements are highly welcome.

svenn> Here's the script.il:

svenn> ;; A function to return a sorted list of properties (defun
svenn> sabGetPropNamesSorted (obj) (setq lProps '()) (foreach prop
svenn> (dbGetq obj prop) (setq lProps (cons (dbGetq prop name)
svenn> lProps))) (sort lProps 'alphalessp))

svenn> ;; To cycle all open windows (foreach win (hiGetWindowList)
svenn> (setq cv (geGetEditCellView win)) (getWarn) (when cv (sprintf
svenn> fileName "%s-%s-%s.txt" (dbGetq cv libName) (dbGetq cv
svenn> cellName) (dbGetq cv cellViewType)) (println fileName) (setq
svenn> myPort (outfile fileName)) (foreach inst (dbGetq cv
svenn> instances) ;; loop on all instances (when (dbGetq inst prop)
svenn> ;; Print only if it has a property (fprintf myPort "\n%s,"
svenn> (dbGetq inst name)) (foreach prop (sabGetPropNamesSorted
svenn> inst) (fprintf myPort "%s=%s," prop (dbGet inst prop)))))
svenn> (close myPort)))

svenn> -- Svenn

 

Svenn,

(dbGetq) (or the ~> operator) can be used with the first argument (or
left hand side in the case of the operator) being a list. In this case it
does an implicit mapcar.

In other words, doing:

(dbGetq (dbGetq inst prop) name)
or

inst~>prop~>name

will give the list of property names. This is equivalent to doing:

(foreach mapcar prop (dbGetq inst prop) (dbGetq prop name))

which is also identical to:

(mapcar (lambda (prop) (dbGetq prop name)) (dbGetq inst prop))

(the foreach mapcar is effectively a macro which forms the second
bit of code for you).

What this boils down to is that the sorted property names can
be got simply by doing:

(sort (dbGetq (dbGetq inst prop) name) 'alphalessp)

Apart from that, the only other issue was that you used a global
variable in your sorting function - if you're going to use variables
in functions, it is best to use (let (var1 var2 var3) code ... )
to declare them as local. However, by changing to use the
code suggested above, you no longer need any local variables anyway!

If you can't come on a SKILL class, then I'd definitely recommend reading
the SKILL User Guide thoroughly - it's written in the style of a book on
a programming language, and introduces the concepts in the language.

That said, the main problem is that you then end up with 5000+ public
SKILL functions to contend with - there is a very large API available
for use, and getting familiar with that takes some time!

Regards,

Andrew.

 

Hi,
thanks to skill wizards a couple of beginner errors have been
identified and better solutions suggested. The global value thing was
a quick and dirty solution that worked for the moment. Using local
variables is something I ususally do when I know how the language
handle these things.

I chose to keep the defun as I think the code is more readable. I see
that my choice of using lisp syntax is not at all readable compared to
the skill extended syntax. Well, I think I'll stay with the lisp
syntax as there are other lisp controlled EDA tools out there.

As usual, comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome. Use at
own risk.

Here is the new revision:

;; A function to return a sorted list of properties
(defun sabGetPropNamesSorted (obj)
(sort (dbGetq (dbGetq inst prop) name) 'alphalessp))

;; To cycle all open windows
(foreach win (hiGetWindowList)
(setq cv (geGetEditCellView win))
(getWarn)
(when cv
(sprintf fileName "%s-%s-%s.txt" (dbGetq cv libName)
(dbGetq cv cellName)
(dbGetq cv cellViewType))
(println fileName)
(setq myPort (outfile fileName))
(foreach inst (dbGetq cv instances) ;; loop on all instances
(when (dbGetq inst prop) ;; Print only if it has a
property
(fprintf myPort "\n%s," (dbGetq inst name))
(foreach prop (sabGetPropNamesSorted inst)
(fprintf myPort "%s=%s," prop (dbGet inst prop)))))
(close myPort)))