Virtuoso XL Layout Editor User Guide

Using the Virtuoso Custom Placer

Below the Search button is a list of component types in the current design. Use the mouse to highlight the types you wish to include in the Component Types field of the Placement

Style form, and then click OK.

Search scrolls the list to the component type name you type into the field. The name must match exactly. You can then highlight the name. This field is useful if you have a long list of types.

Running the Virtuoso Custom Placer

You launch the Virtuoso custom placer with the Auto Placer form. The placer runs in batch mode, reporting its status in the Virtuoso XL Placement Status window.

Note: While the placer is running on a cellview, the cellview is switched to read-only mode and you cannot perform edits on it, but you can edit any other cellview. When the placer has

finished running, the cellview is switched back to edit mode.

Virtuoso XL Layout Editor User Guide

Using the Virtuoso Custom Placer

After the placer finishes, the placed cellview appears (if you are updating the source view with the placed view, or if you are creating a new view and chose the Open Window option).

After placement, you can iteratively

■Lock the position of components whose placement is good

■Refine the constraints on other components to better guide the placer

■Rerun the placer as needed to improve the placement results

Prerequisites to Placement

To prepare for placement,

1.Set any necessary UNIX and DFII environment variables before launching the Cadence software.

See “Setting Up the Virtuoso XL Layout Editor for Placement” on page 259 for more information about setting variables.

2.If you only want to place some of the components, select the components to be placed in the cellview window and turn on Place Selected Objects Only.

Running the Virtuoso Custom Placer: Initial Placement

To start the automatic placer and perform an initial placement of the selected components,

1. Choose Place – Placer.

Virtuoso XL Layout Editor User Guide

Using the Virtuoso Custom Placer

The Auto Placer form appears.

2. Turn on Global Placement.

Virtuoso XL Layout Editor User Guide

Using the Virtuoso Custom Placer

3.Set the other placement options on the left side of the form, as needed.

4.To save the placed cellview with a different view name,

a.Click Save As

b.Fill in the Library, Cell, and View field. By default the view name islayout.plc.

You can also change the library or cell name, or browse to choose the cellview name.

Do not use the view name of placerScratch. The placerScratch view name is reserved by the placer. This may cause the cellview to close abruptly.

5.Click OK or Apply.

Note: The layout.plc cellview is placed on top of the layout cellview.

Important

If the iccLayers are not defined in the technology file or the rules file, you will receive the following error messages in the Placement Status window:

*ERROR* No boundary layers defined in placer rules, placement cannot continue.

Refer to the Virtuoso custom placement and routing preparation guide for more information in defining the iccLayers.