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Xic Reference Manual
With OpenAccess Support

Whiteley Research Incorporated
Sunnyvale, CA 94086

Release 4.3.14
February 9, 2025

© Whiteley Research Incorporated, 2025.

Xic is part of the XicTools software package for integrated circuit design. Xic was primarily authored by S. R. Whiteley, Whiteley Research inc., Sunnyvale CA USA.

Xic, and the entire XicTools suite, including this manual, is provided as open-source under the Apache-2.0 license, as much as applicable per individual tools, some of which are GNU-licensed.

Xic and subsidiary programs and utilities are offered as-is, and the suitability of these programs for any purpose or application must be established by the user as Whiteley Research, Inc. does not imply or guarantee such suitability.

Contents
Introduction to Xic
- Xic Graphical Editor Overview
- Xic Feature Sets
  - The EDITOR Feature Set
  - The VIEWER Feature Set
- A Quick Tour of Xic Capabilities
- A Quick Tour of the Xic Menus
- Database Overview
  - Cell Hierarchy Digest
  - Database Resolution
Xic Configuration and Startup
- Graphics Support
- Apple macOS Notes
- Microsoft Windows Notes
- Command Line Options
- Xic Environment Variables
- Xic Search Paths
- Redirect Files
- Initialization Files
- Log Files and Error Reporting
  - Log Files
  - Abnormal Termination Logging
- Plug-Ins
- OpenAccess Support
  - Representing Xic Cells in OpenAccess
- Python Support
- Tcl/Tk Support
Graphical Interface, Commands and Operations
- Prompt Line
- Keypress Buffer
- Quoting
- Menu Selection and Accelerators
- Keyboard Input
- Pointing Device
- The WR Button: Email Client
- Top Button Menu
- Main Drawing Window
- Xic Layers
- Layer Table
- Status Display
- Text Entry Windows
Using Xic
- Physical Layout Editing
- Electrical Schematic Editing
- Cell Organization and Libraries
- Batch Mode
- Server Mode
  - The Response Message Format
  - Operation
Parameterized Cells and Vias
- Parameterized Cells
- Parameter Constraints
- Parameters Panel: Set PCell Parameters
- PCell Stretch Handles
- PCell Abutment
- Synopsys (Ciranova) PyCell Studio
  - Connecting to PyCell Studio
- Cadence^TM Compatibility
- Standard Vias
  - The Standard Via Property String
The Help Menu: Obtain Program Documentation
- The Help Button: Obtain Help
- The Multi-Window Button: Set Multi-Window Help Mode
- The About Button: Program and Legal Info
- The Release Notes Button: View Release Notes
- The Log Files Button: Access Log Files
- The Logging Button: Set Logging and Debugging Options
The Side Menu: Geometry Creation
- The arc Button: Create Arcs
- The box Button: Create Rectangles
- The break Button: Cut Objects
- The deck Button: Save SPICE File
- The devs Button: Device Menu
  - Terminal Devices
  - SPICE Devices
- The donut Button: Create Donut Object
- The erase Button: Erase or Yank Geometry
- The iplot Button: Interactive Analysis Plotting
- The label Button: Create/Edit Labels
  - Device Property Labels
  - Wire Net Name Labels
  - Ctrl-a and Ctrl-p
  - Spicetext Labels
  - ``Long Text'' Capability
  - Script Labels
  - Label Size Issues
- The logo Button: Create Physical Text
  - The Logo Font Setup Panel
- The nodmp Button: Node (Net) Name Assignments
- The Place Button: Cell Placement Control Panel
- The plot Button: Generate SPICE Plot
- The polyg Button: Create/Edit Polygons
  - Polygon Vertex Editing
  - Wire to Polygon Conversion
- The put Button: Extract From Yank Buffer
- The round Button: Create Disk Object
- The run Button: Run SPICE Analysis
- The shapes Button: Add Predefined Features
- The sides Button: Set Rounded Granularity
- The spcmd Button: Execute WRspice Command
  - The WRspice Interface Control Panel
- The spin Button: Rotate Objects
- The style Button: Set/Change Wire Style
- The subct Button: Set Subcircuit Connections
  - Virtual Terminals
  - Multi-Contact Connectors
  - Terminal Ordering
  - Terminal Naming and Editing
- The Terminal Edit Pop-Up: Editing Terminals
  - Electrical Scalar Terminal Editing
  - Physical Terminal Editing
  - Multi-Contact Connector Editing
- The symbl Button: Symbolic Representation
- The terms Button: Show Subcircuit Connections
- The wire Button: Create/Edit Wires
  - Wire Vertex Editor
  - Associated Net Name Label
- The xform Button: Current Transform Panel
- The xor Button: Exclusive-OR Objects
The File Menu: Xic Input/Output
- The File Select Button: Pop Up File Selection Panel
- The Open Button: Open Cell or File
- The Save Button: Save Modified Cells
- The Save As Button: Save Cell, Renaming
- The Save As Device Button: Editing Devices
- The Print Button: Print Control Panel
  - Print Control Panel
  - The Format Menu: Hardcopy File Formats
- The Files List Button: Path Files Listing Panel
- Cell Hierarchy and geometry Digests
- The Hierarchy Digests Button: List Cell Hierarchy Digests
- The Geometry Digests Button: List Cell Geometry Digests
- The Open Cell Geometry Digest Panel
- The Libraries List Button: List Open Libraries
- The OpenAccess Libs Button: List OpenAccess Libraries
- The OpenAccess Tech Panel
- The OpenAccess Defaults Panel
- The Quit Button: Exit Xic
The Cell Menu: Xic Cell Navigation and Information
- The Push Button: Push Editing Context
- The Pop Button: Pop Context
- The Symbol Tables Button: Switch Symbol Table
- The Cells List Button: Cell Listing Panel
- The Show Tree Button: Show Cell Hierarchy
The Edit Menu: Edit Layout
- Cell, Instance, and Object Properties
- The Enable Editing Button: Enable Cell Editing
- The Setup Button: Show Editing Setup Panel
- The PCell Control Button: PCell Control Panel
- The Create Cell Button: Create New Cell
- The Create Via Button: Create Standard Via Variant
- The Flatten Button: Flatten Hierarchy
- The Join/Split Button: Join or Split Objects
- The Layer Expression Button: Evaluate Layer Expression
- The Properties Button: Property Editor Panel
- The Cell Properties Button: Edit Cell properties
The Modify Menu: Modify Geometry
- The Undo Button: Undo Operation
- The Redo Button: Redo Last Undo
- The Delete Button: Delete Objects
- The Erase Under Button: Erase Under Objects
- The Move Button: Move Objects
- The Copy Button: Copy Objects
- The Stretch Button: Stretch Objects
- The Change Layer Button: Change Layer
- The Set Layer Chg Mode Button: Set Change Mode for Move/Copy
The View Menu: Alter Presentation
- The View Button: Select Cell View
- The Physical Button: Show Physical Mode
- The Electrical Button: Show Electrical Mode
- The Expand Button: Expand Subcells
  - Peek Mode
- The Zoom Button: Zoom In/Out
- The Viewport Button: Create Sub-Window
- The Peek Button: Show Layer Composition
- Three-Dimensional Layer Sequence Generator
  - Layer Sequencing
- The Cross Section Button: Show Cross Section
- The Rulers Button: Create Rulers
- The Info Button: Display Information About Objects
- The Allocation Button: Show Memory Allocation
The Attributes Menu: Set Display Attributes
- The Save Tech Button: Update Technology File
- The Key Map Button: Create Key Mapping File
  - Key Mapping File
- The Define Macro Button: Assign a Macro to a Key
  - Macro File Format
- The Set Attributes Button: Set Window Attributes
- The Connection Dots Button: Show Connections
- The Set Font Button: Set Window Fonts
- The Set Color Button: Set Colors Panel
- The Set Fill Button: Fill Pattern Edit Panel
- The Edit Layers Button: Edit Layer Table
- The Edit Tech Params Button: Edit Tech Keywords
- The Main Window Button: Attributes sub-menu
The Convert Menu: Data Input/Output, Format Conversion
- Feature Availability Table
- Cell Name Mapping
- Cell Name Alias File
- Layer Names
- Layer Filtering and Aliasing
- GDSII Layer Mapping
- The Export Cell Data Button: Export Control Panel
- The Advanced OASIS Export Parameters Panel: Set
  OASIS Parameters
- The Import Cell Data Button: Import Control Panel
  - The Setup Page
  - The Read File Page
- Windowing Control Module
- The Format Conversion Button: Format Conversion Panel
- The Assemble Button: Layout File Merge Tool Panel
- The Compare Layouts Button: Find Differences
- The Cut and Export Button: Export Cell Region
- The Text Editor Button: Edit Cell Text
The DRC Menu: Design Rule Checking
- Layer Expressions
- Derived Layers
- Built-In Design Rules
- Spacing Tables
  - Spacing Table Evaluation
- User-Defined Design Rules
- Assigning Design Rules
- The Setup Button: Set DRC Limits
- The Set Flags Button: Set Skip Flags
- The Enable Interactive Button: Set Interactive Checking
- The No Pop Up Errors Button: Suppress Error Report
- The Batch Check Button: Initiate Rule Check
- The Check In Region Button: Check Objects
- The Clear Errors Button: Clear Error List
- The Query Errors Button: Print Error Text
- The Dump Error File Button: Save Errors to File
- The Update Highlighting Button: Create Highlighting from File
- The Show Errors Button: Show Next Error
- The Create Layer Button: Create Error Region Layer
- The Edit Rules Button: Rule Editor Panel
  - The Design Rule Parameters Panel
The Extract Menu: Extraction and Verification
- Extraction System: Methodology and Overview
- Extraction System: Logging and Error Reporting
- Extraction System: Operations and Algorithms
- Extraction System: Cell Hierarchy and Flattening
- Extraction System: Group/Net Naming
- Extraction System: Ground Plane Handling
- Extraction System: Measurement Caching
- Extraction System: Setup and Configuration
- The Misc Config Button: Misc. Extraction Settings
- The Net Selections Button: Path Selection Control Panel
  - Resistance Measurement
- The Device Selections Button: Show/Select Devices
- The Source SPICE Button: Update From SPICE File
- The Source Physical Button: Update Electrical From Physical
- The Dump Phys Netlist Button: Dump Physical Netlist
- The Dump Elec Netlist Button: Dump Electrical Netlist
- The Dump LVS Button: Test Layout vs. Schematic
- The Extract C Button: Capacitance Extraction
  - The Capacitance Extraction Interface
  - The Cap Extraction Panel
- The Extract LR Button: Inductance/Resistance Extraction
  - The Inductance/Resistance Extraction Interface
  - The LR Extraction Panel
The User Menu: User Commands and Xic Scripts
- Example Scripts in User Menu
- Script Menus: User-Defined Sub-Menus
- Script Libraries: Code Sharing
- Encrypted Scripts
- The Debug Button: Enter Script Debugger
- The Rehash Button: Rebuild User menu
The Xic Scripting Language
- The Macro Preprocessor
  - Predefined Macros
  - Generic Macro Keywords
- Introduction to Xic Scripts
- The Scripting Language
- Error Reporting
- Data Types
- Math Operators
  - Operator Overloading
- Control Structures
- ``Preprocessor'' Directives
- Math Functions
- User-Defined Functions
- The exec Keyword -- Immediate Execution
- Static and Global Variables
- Predefined Constants
- HTML Forms and Scripts
  - Introduction to HTML Forms
  - Interfacing Forms to Xic Scripts
- Example Script
Keyboard `!' Commands
- Compression
  - The !gzip Command: Compress Files
  - The !gunzip Command: Uncompress Files
  - The !md5 Command: Print File Digest
- Create Output
  - The !sa Command: Save Modified Cells
  - The !sqdump Command: Save Selections as Native Cell
  - The !assemble Command: Merge Archives
  - The !splwrite Command: Split an Archive
- Current Directory
  - The !cd Command: Change Directory
  - The !pwd Command: Print Directory
- Diagnostics
  - The !time Command: Show Elapsed Time
  - The !timedbg Command: Show Internal Run Times
  - The !xdepth Command: Show Transform Depth
  - The !bincnt Command: Database Object Allocation
  - The !netxp Command: Check Net Expression
  - The !pcdump Command: Dump Parameterized Cell Data
- Design Rule Checking
  - The !showz Command: Show DRC Test Areas
  - The !errs Command: Regenerate DRC Error Highlighting
  - The !errlayer Command: Create Error Polygons
- Electrical
  - The !calc Command: Calculate Parameter Expression
  - The !check Command: Database Consistency Check
  - The !regen Command: Regenerate Labels
  - The !devkeys Command: Print Device keys
- Extraction
  - The !antenna Command: Check MOS Antenna Effect
  - The !netext Command: Batch Physical Net Extraction
  - The !addcells Command: Add Missing Cells
  - The !find Command: Find Devices
  - The !ptrms Command: Default Terminal Locations
  - The !ushow Command: Show Unassociated Elements
  - The !fc Command: Control Capacitance Extraction Interface
  - The !fh Command: Control Inductance/Resistance Extraction Interface
- Graphics
  - The !setcolor Command: Set Attribute Colors
  - The !display Command: Export Rendering
- Grid
  - The !sg Command: Save Grid in Register
  - The !rg Command: Set Grid From Register
- Help
  - The !help Command: Help Interface
  - The !helpfont Command: Set Help Font
  - The !helpfixed Command: Set Help Fixed Font
  - The !helpreset Command: Clear Help Cache
- Keyboard
  - The !kmap Command: Read Key Mapping File
- Layers
  - The !ltab Command: Modify Layer Table
  - The !ltsort Command: Alphanumerically Sort Layer Table
  - The !exlayers Command: List layers by Applied Keywords
- Layout Editing
  - The !array Command: Manipulate Instance Arrays
  - The !layer Command: Generate Layers
    - Examples
    - Extended Layer Names
    - Advanced Examples
  - The !mo Command: Move Objects
  - The !co Command: Copy Objects
  - The !spin Command: Rotate Objects
  - The !rename Command: Rename Cells
  - The !svq Command: Save Selections in Register
  - The !rcq Command: Recall Selections from Register
  - The !box2poly Command: Object Type Conversion
  - The !path2poly Command: Outline to Polygon Conversion
  - The !poly2path Command: Polygon to Outline Conversion
  - The !bloat Command: Expand Objects
  - The !join Command: Join Touching Objects
  - The !jw Command: Join Wires
  - The !split Command: Atomize Objects
  - The !manh Command: Convert to Manhattan Polygons
  - The !polyfix Command: Fix Polygon
  - The !polyrev Command: Reverse Polygon Winding
  - The !noacute Command: Eliminate Acute Angles
  - The !togrid Command: Move To Grid
  - The !tospot Command: Modify for Spot Size
  - The !origin Command: Move Cell Origin
  - The !import Command: Import Cell Data
- Layout Information
  - The !fileinfo Command: Show File Statistics
  - The !summary Command: Print Hierarchy Info
  - The !compare Command: Compare Hierarchies
  - The !diffcells Command: Create Cells from Comparisons
  - The !empties Command: Check for Empty Cells
  - The !area Command: Measure Layer Area
  - The !perim Command: Measure Object Perimeter
  - The !bb Command: Print Bounding Box
  - The !checkgrid Command: Mark Off-Grid Vertices
  - The !checkover Command: Report Subcell Overlap
  - The !check45 Command: Select Non-45 Polys and/or Wires
  - The !dups Command: Select Coincident Objects
  - The !wirecheck Command: Check Wires
  - The !polycheck Command: Check Polygons
  - The !polymanh Command: Select Manhattan Polygons
  - The !poly45 Command: Select Non-45 Polygons
  - The !polynum Command: Number Vertices
  - The !setflag Command: Set Internal Cell Flags
- Libraries and Databases
  - The !mklib Command: Create Library File
  - The !lsdb Command: List Special Databases
- Marks
  - The !mark Command: Create User Marks
- Memory Management
  - The !clearall Command: Clear All Memory
  - The !vmem Command: Windows Virtual Memory Info
  - The !mmstats Command: Show Memory Manager Statistics
  - The !mmclear Command: Clear Recycle Free Lists
- OpenAccess Interface
  - The !oaversion Command: Print OpenAccess Release Number
  - The !oadebug Command: Enable Logging
  - The !oanewlib Command: Create New OpenAccess Library
  - The !oabrand Command: Permit Save from Xic in OA Lib
  - The !oatech Command: Query OA Technology Database
  - The !oasave Command: Save Cell to OA Library
  - The !oaload Command: Read Cell from OA Library
  - The !oadelete Command: Delete OpenAccess Object
- Parameterized Cells
  - The !rmpcprops Command: Remove PCell Properties
  - The !preload Command: Pre-Load PCell Sub-Masters
- Rulers
  - The !dr Command: Delete Rulers
- Scripts
  - The !script Command: Add Script
  - The !rehash Command: Rebuild User Menu
  - The !exec Command: Execute a Script
  - The !lisp Command: Execute Lisp Script
  - The !py Command: Execute Python Script
  - The !tcl Command: Execute Tcl Script
  - The !tk Command: Execute Tcl/Tk Script
  - The !listfuncs Command: List Saved Functions
  - The !rmfunc Command: Remove Saved Function
  - The !mkscript Command: Create Current Cell Script
  - The !ldshared Command: Load Plug-In Script Library
- Selections
  - The !select Command: Select Objects
  - The !desel Command: Deselect Objects
  - The !zs Command: Zoom to Selected Objects
- Shell
  - The !shell Command: Pop Up Terminal Window
  - The !ssh Command: Connect to Remote System
- Technology File
  - The !attrvars Command: List techfile attribute variables
  - The !dumpcds Command: Create Virtuoso^TM Startup Files
- Update Release
  - The !update Command: Download/Install Update
- Variables
  - The !set Command: Set Variables
  - The !unset Command: Unset Variables
  - The !setdump Command: Dump Variables
- WRspice Interface
  - The !spcmd Command: Run WRspice Command
Technology File
- Technology File Comments
- Technology File Macros
  - The Set Keyword: Variable Expansion
  - The eval Keyword: Expression Evaluation
- Technology File Global Variables
- Technology File Path Definitions
- Technology File Scripts
- Technology File Layer Blocks
- Technology File Standard Via Definitions
- Technology File Attributes
- Hardcopy Driver Parameters
- Resource File
Design Data File Formats
- GDSII Format and Extensions
  - Physical Mode Cell Properties
- The CIF File Format
- CIF Format Extensions
- Native Cell File Format
- Computer Graphics Exchange (CGX) Format
- OASIS Format
- Library Files
  - Example Library File
- Device Library File
- Model Library Files
  - MOS Model Spatial Binning
Other File Formats
- Label Font File Format
- Label Flags
- Help Database Files
  - Anchor Text
Property Specifications
- Physical Mode Property Specifications
- User-Specified Electrical Property Specifications
- Xic-Managed Electrical Property Specifications
- Special Escapes
Xic Variables
- Special Constructs
- Startup
- Paths and Directories
- General Visual
- Keyboard `!' Commands
- OpenAccess Interface
- Parameterized Cells
- Standard Vias
- Scripts
- Selections
- Side Menu Commands
- SPICE Interface
- File Menu -- Printing
- Cell Menu Commands
- Editing General
- Edit/Modify Menu Commands
- View Menu Commands
- Attribute Menu Commands
- Convert Menu -- General
- Convert Menu -- Input and ASCII Output
- Convert Menu -- Output
- Custom Property Filtering
- Design Rule Checking
- Extraction Tech
- Extraction General
- Extraction Menu Commands
- Capacitance Extraction Interface
- Inductance/Resistance Extraction Interface
- Help System
Interface Functions
- Main Functions 1
- Main Functions 2
- Main Functions 3
- Layout File Input/Output Functions
- Geometry Editing Functions 1
- Geometry Editing Functions 2
- Computational Geometry and Layer Expressions
- Design Rule Checking Functions
  - DRC
- Extraction Functions
- Schematic Editor Functions
The FileTool Utility
- Introduction
- Command Line Options
- FileTool: Setting Variables
- FileTool: Assemble Script File Evaluation
- FileTool: Obtaining File Information
- FileTool: ASCII Text Representation of Layout Files
- FileTool: Layout File Comparison
- FileTool: Layout File Splitting
- FileTool: CHD File Generation
- FileTool: Layout File Merging and Translation
The XicTools Accessories
- HTML Viewer and Help Portal: mozy
  - Mozy Configuration
- File Transfer Utility: httpget
- The FastCap Post-Processor: fcpp
- Help to HTML Conversion Utility: hlp2html
- Web Server Bridge to Help Database: hlpsrv
- List File Pack/Unpack Utilities: lstpack, lstunpack
Index
About this document ...

Stephen R. Whiteley 2025-02-09