Qckvu3 Web Page Header

 

Qckvu3 Plug Ins

Qckvu3 supports a C++ plug-in architecture allowing users and third parties to develop custom applications on top of the layout viewer platform. The plug-in interface is available on: Linux (32/64), Windows (32) and Solaris (32/64).


Qckvu3 Plug-in Diagram



 

API OVERVIEW

The Plug-in developer has a wide range of API's that access both the layout database and control the viewer.


  Open and Close Files - The API allows a plug-in to open or close a layout file for viewing.   Select Structure and Layers to Display - The API easily enables a plug-in to control the structure/cell to view and to turn on/off layers.
 
  Identify Objects by Vertex - The API enable the plug-in to select a point and then pull up info on any object near that point.   Extract Data - The API allows the user to extract data by point or by window.
 
  Pan and Zoom - The API enables the plug-in to pan and zoom the display.   Draw - The API enables the plug-in to draw basic entities on the screen.



 

Plug-Ins

Artwork has already used the plug-in architecture to develop several plug-ins. They are listed below with links to pages that show them in more detail.


  Extract GDSII - This plug in enables a user to define a window and extracts everything crossing that window to a new GDSII file.   Smart Die - This plug-in scans the pad openings of a die and finds the pad centers, pad sizes. It also numbers the pads (CW or CCW) and can associate test labeling the pads with the signal/net name. The output is an ASCII file in AIF format.
 
  CSV Reader - This plug-in reads a CSV delimited ascii file and uses it to draw markers or contours on the display. It was designed to display items such as DRC errors or hot spots over a display of the layout.   Geometry Walker - This plug-in opens a GDSII layout and also a GDSII file representing XOR slivers. It then allows the user to jump from sliver to sliver and zoom it quickly and automatically ...



 

Plug-In Wish List

This is a description of requested plug-ins that have yet to be developed or completed. If you would like to add to this list, please contact: Steve DiBartolomeo


  Thermal Map for IcePak - This plug-in opens a GDSII file and takes an ASCII table of cell names and associated dissipation for that cell. It then finds all of the cell's placements and writes out an ASCII file compatible with Ansys IcePak that enables IcePak to compute the thermal gradients. This information can then be transferred to Ansys and stress generated by thermal gradients can be computed. This is quite useful for analyzing stress on stacked die and TSV. Status: Planned for 3Q 2009.   3D Export - This plug-in enables a user to define a small XY window and to define a layer stackup for a GDSII file. It then extracts all data inside the window, applies the height and thickness information and creates a 3D output in .sat (ACIS) format. Status: TBD.
 
  AIF Importer - This plug-in reads an AIF file (generated by Cadence APD or Sigrity UPD) and converts the data into GDSII. It labels nets and nodes using text in a manner that allows an IC designer to import the GDSII into his chip design tool and simulate the effect of the package and wirebonds in his suite of IC tools. Status: TBD   Markup - This plug-in enables a user to zoom into a region of a GDSII file and then markup the region with text, lines, circles, and arrows. The results can be saved as: a screen snapshot (jpg, bmp or gif), an XML file (which contains both the mark up and the info to recreate the view). We may also create additional graphical formats as the customer base requires. Status: TBD
 
  Calibre Error (RVE) Display - This plug-in works in conjunction with Mentor's Calibre RVE program and displays the error along with highlighting based on data provided to it by RVE. It is used after a Calibre run to review the errors generated during DRC.    



 

Programmer's Corner

Documentation and Sample code can be found below
  PlugIn API Manual

This PDF file lists the data structures, classes and methods available to the plug-in author on Linux/Solaris/Windows platforms. v1.1.5 May 28, 2009, 118 pp, 1.5 MB

   qckplugin.h.zip

The header file for plugins on Linux/Solaris/Windows platforms. April 10, 2009. 11.2KB, 2.7KB zipped.


 

Linux

CSV Reader - This plug-in was developed as an example to show how to write a plug-in and how to do some simple interaction with Qckvu3. The PDF includes code and comments and one can contact us to get the code separately.		  

Windows

Polygon Window Extract - this simple Windows plug in demonstrates how to draw a window on screen and use it to extract all the polygons crossing the window to a simple file.

Hello World - this simple Windows plug in demonstrates the minimum API's needed to interface with Qckvu3 and just does a hello world.

Sample Template - this simple Windows plug in template demonstrates how to create a basic dialog box that interacts with Qckvu3.

CSV Reader - this simple Windows plug in reads a CSV (comma separted file) and jumps from location to location based on the info in the CSV file. A marker is drawn at the center of the window and layers can be turned on/off.