Chapter VIII: CREATING NEW ENVIRONMENTS

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Converting between Technologies and Libraries

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The best way to create a new technology is to change an existing one. Use the Convert and Edit Technology command of the Technology menu and select a similar technology (note that the Schematic and Artwork technologies are too complex to edit and cannot be converted). This command will build a library with the same name as the technology. Note that parametrizable technologies such as MOSIS CMOS will be converted with their current settings only, and will not be further parametrizable.

Once editing has begun, remember that the graphics you are seeing is special and must be manipulated carefully (the cursor changes to a "T" as a reminder). To end this mode, the Convert and Edit Technology command has changed to the Convert Library to Technology command. Use this to translate the current library to a new technology.

If you wish to exit this technology editing mode without converting the library, use the Stop Editing Technology command (which changes to the Resume Editing Technology command to reenter the mode).

When the Convert Library to Technology command is issued, the current library is converted back into a technology. If there is an error in the library, conversion is aborted and you are given a chance to fix the library. Generally, the offending part of the library is highlighted. If no errors have occurred in the translation, there will be a new technology in Electric and it will be the current one. Since no two technologies can have the same name, the library name will be adjusted slightly to form a unique technology name. Before creating any circuitry with the new technology, it is advisable to create a new library (use the New Library command of the File menu) so that the test circuitry is not stored with the library that describes it.

After a few rounds of technology editing, there may be many libraries and technologies. You can delete the current library with the Close Library command of the File menu (to make another library current, use the Old Library command of the File menu). To delete a technology, use the Delete Technology command of the Technology menu. These commands are not undoable.

Once a library has been successfully built that describes a technology, it can be saved to disk with the Save Library command of the File menu. Then, in another session of Electric, it can be read from disk and converted to a technology, all in one step, with the Read Technology Library command of the Technology menu. One additional information command, Document Technology, creates a disk file that describes the technology textually.


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