XGDSVU is a low cost, easy to use program for viewing GDSII stream files on UNIX workstations. It was developed for mask designers and service bureaus that need to examine a GDSII database visually. The desiger can quickly view the file to determine:

• Database units and resolution
• Critical dimensions
• Structure names and hierarchy
• Extents of structures
• Layers containing data

XGDSVU loads and displays stream files quickly. The mask designer does not need to know anything about the GDSII file, or have to create a technology file in advance to read in an unknown stream file. Within seconds the designer can have a list of all layers containing data as well as a list of structures used in the drawing.

Plotter modules are a part of XGDSVU; standard modules include:

• Postscript Level II for monochrome and color laser and thermal printers

• PCL for HP LaserJets and compatibles

• Color RTL for HP 650C, 750C, 250C and small injkets

• Easy to Navigate Menus
  
• Displays library header, units and resolution
  
• Shows Structure Hierarchy
  
• User defined display colors and fills
  
• Saves and remembers display settings
  
• Measure dimensions
  
• Snaps to vertex or grid
  
• Stores up to 10 different views in RAM for instant display
  
• Displays GDSII text with height control
  
• View any selected structure
  
• View any combination of selected layers
  
• Highlights illegal (self intersecting boundaries...)
  

• Supports up to 256 layers instead of 64.

• Supports up to 4096 vertices per path/polygon instead of 200.

XGDSVU supports files on the order of 1 to 25 MB. If you regularly need to view much larger files in the range up to several GB we recommend you evaluate our 2nd generation viewer: Qckvu.