Learning to use the DF II Environment

Lab2.1 The Design Framework II Environment

Objective: Start the Design Framework II environment.Learn about the CIW (Command Interface Window) and the Library Browser.

Setting up the DFII environment

To setup your account for using the Cadence design tools, you need to read the Cadence Setup documentation.

Starting Cadence Software

In the run directory, enter

cds -t cmosis5 & (return)

A Command Interpretor Window (CIW) appears on your screen:

A picture of the CIW you can't see

Iconify all other windows that may appear on your screen.

Setting User Preferences

In the CIW, select Utilities -> User Preferences. The User Preferences Form appears
In the Form update these values

Undo Limit = 5

You can perform upto 5 levels of Undo when you edit schematics later.

Accessing On Line Help

Click on the Help Button in the User Preferences Form.In general the help diplays reference manual pages relevant to the current window.
Observe the results and click Quit near the bottom of the help window.
Click OK in the User Preferences Form.

Observing Library Search Paths

In the CIW, select Design Manager -> Set Search Path.
The Set Library Search Path form displays the path names where the libraries are stored. Search Paths can be changed here, but are lost once you quit the current design session. You can permanently set the search paths in the .cdsinit file. You will study this later.
Click Cancel in the Set Library Search Path.

Starting the Library Browser

In the CIW, select design Manager -> Library Browser.
The Library Browser displays libraries in the search path.

Expanding Design Data in the Library Browser

In the Library browser point to the tutorials and click with the left mouse button. The cells in the tutorials library are displayed.
In the Library Browser, point to the nor_bicmos cell and click the left mouse button.
The cellviews of nor_bicmos are displayed.
In the Library Browser, point to the schematic cellview and click the left mouse button.
Resize the Library Browser, point to the schematic cellview of the nor_bicmos cell and click the left mouse button. The versions of the schematic are displayed.

Viewing Object Sensitive Windows in the Library Browser

Point the cursor to the tutorials library and hold down the middle mouse button.
The selections that appear, are part of an Objective Sensitive Menu (OSM). The OSM acronym will be used throughout this tutorials.
Read the items on the menu.
Access the OSMs for the nor_bicmos cell, its schematic cellview, and a schematic version of your choice.
Note that the OSMs vary for each level in the library browser.

Lab2.2 Working in the DFII Environment

Objective : Learn standard DF II window manipulation concepts.

Reading a Cellview

In the Library Browser window, place the cursor over the nor_bicmos schematic cellview and hold down the middle mouse button. Drag the cursor to Read on the OSM and release the button. A design window will appear.

Zooming in a window

Select Window->Zoom In and observe the letter "z" on the menu next to this command.
The z key also executes a Zoom In. Equivalent keyboard commands are called bindkeys.
View the tool prompt at the bottom of the schematic window for instructions on how to proceed.
Zoom in on an area in the schematic window.
Select Window -> Zoom to fit.
Question. What is the equivalent bindkey for Window -> Zoom to fit?
Answer. .................................

Panning in a Window

Pan the design by selecting Window-> Pan.
Follow prompts in the design entry window for instructions on how to proceed.

Closing a Window

Select Window->Close.

Lab2.4 Creating a New Library

Objective : Create a new library and specify the technology.

Creating a New Library

In the CIW, select Open Library.
The Open Library From appears.

a. In the Open Library form, update only these values

Library Name ----- mylib

b. Click Ok in the Create Library From.
c. Click Ok in the Library Not Found dialog box. The Create Library form appears.

In the Create Library form, leave the settings to the default values. The default values have been preset for your convenience.
Click Ok in the Create Library form. The Library is created and appears in the Library Browser. Creation messages appear in the CIW.

Copying a Cell to another Library

In the Library Browser window, click left on the tutorials library.
Access the OSM for the nor_bicmos->Schematic cell and select copy.
The Copy Cell form appears.
On the Copy Cell form, set To Library Name to

mylib

Leaving the To Cell Name field blank, copies the cell to the new library with the same name.
Click Ok in the Copy Cell form.
Observe the results in the CIW.
In the Library Browser Window, expand the mylib library to verify that the cell has been copied.

Lab2.3 Data Management With the Library Browser

Objective : Edit and read designs and copy cells between libraries.

Editing a version

Opening a version for editing also checks out the data if no working copy exists outside the library.

In the Browser window, open the mylib library and place the cursor over the version 0.1 of the nor_bicmos schematic cellview, hold the middle mouse button down, and drag the cursor to Edit.
A design window will appear.Blinking markers may appear over schematic components. You will learn more about these later. They disappear when the schematic is saved.

Editing a Checked-Out version

In the design entry window select Add->Component.
Move the cursor into the Add Component Form and update only the following

Library Name ----- bicmos
Cell Name ----- res
View Name ----- symbol

Move the cursor into the design window. A resistor is attached to the cursor.
Click the left mouse button on any part of the window. A resistor is placed where you click.
Click Cancel in the Add Component form.
In the schematic window, select Design ->Save.
Close the schematic window.

END OF LAB

Roozbeh Mehrabadi