Magic Layout Plot Using PPLOT

bug or comment to pgolani@usc.edu
See also for a complete description of pplot.
Q: How can I print out my magic layout?

We use a utility called pplot to print the layouts. If you have setup your path correctly, you should be able to invoke pplot. Pplot uses a file format called CIF. You can generate a .cif file from magic layout by doing the following while in magic:

  1. Make sure that the cif output style is set to "lambda=0.20(sub)". Do this by typing ":cif ostyle" If not, do ":cif ostyle lambda=0.20(sub)" in magic.
  2. Generate a .cif file from your layout by typing ":cif" while the cursor is in the layout window.
  3. From the UNIX command line use pplot.
The complete usage for pplot is as follows:

Usage: pplot [options] cif-file

-p FILE read stipple patterns from FILE
-T TECH use technology TECH
-o FILE write PostScript output in FILE
-F FONT use FONT for strings (def. Helvetica)
-fp FILE use FILE as the PostScript prologue
-f NUM use a NUM size font (def. 5.0)
-PPRINTER send output to PRINTER
-s FLOAT[x] scale plot by FLOAT factor
-d DEPTH display up to DEPTH levels
-L DEPTH display labels up to DEPTH levels
-b BANNER use BANNER as the plot title
-h don't print the header page
-I don't ask for confirmation, always print
-l LAYERS don't display LAYERS (separated by ',')
-C Generate color Postscript
-R don't rotate to fit in page
-DFORMAT print date using FORMAT ([m][w][d][y][h])
-V DEV generate output for DEV (def. PS)
-# NUM print NUM copies
Of particular interest should be the -f and the -d options. The -f option allows you to set the font size (smallest=1). So if you don't want your pesky labels cluttering up the layout, set the font to be small. Another cleaner way to not print labels is to use the -l allText option.

The -d option allows you to set the number of levels of hierarchy that you push down.

Q: How can I generate a postscript file from my layout?

Use pplot with the -o flag.

Example : pplot -o inverter.ps inverter.cif
inverter.ps fill will appear in your working directory.

Q: How can I plot my layout with no labels?

Use the pplot with the -l allText option.

Example : pplot -l allText -o inverter.ps inverter.cif

Q: How can I plot only pushing down X levels of hierarchy?

Use pplot with the -d flag.

Example : pplot -l allText -d 1 -o ring.ps ring.cif
It will plot only top level without expanding any subcell.

Q: How can I plot with no bounding box around each cell?

Use pplot with the -l bbox option.

Example : pplot -l allText,bbox -o ring.ps ring.cif
It will plot without lebels and bounding box.

Q: How can I plot my layout in colors?

Use the pplot with the -C option.

Example : pplot -C -l allText -o inverter.ps inverter.cif

Q: How can I plot my layout in SOS process?

Use SOS pattern file with -p option.

Example : pplot -C -T sos -o inverter.ps inverter.cif

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