On Tue, 18 Dec 2001, Giie wrote: > > Hello, > > #1. Still regarding my last couple of emails on errors when using RING, Yes I still get the same errors. Heres the latest : adder circuit > > $ ring addchip addchip > > @@@@@@@ @ @@@@ @ > @@ @@ @@@ @@ @@ > @@ @@ @ @@ @ > @@ @@ @@@ @@@ @@ > @@ @@ @@@@ @@@ @ @@ > @@@@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@@@@ > @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @ @@ > @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @ @@ > @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ > @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ > @@@@@ @@@ @@@@@@ @@@@ @@@@ @@@@ > > PAD ring router > > Alliance CAD System 4.5.0, ring 2.11 > Copyright (c) 1991-2001, ASIM/LIP6/UPMC > E-mail support: alliance-support@asim.lip6.fr > > o reading netlists, layout views of core and pads. > o reading file of parameters, including the placements of pads. > o making equipotential list. > o making the first placement of pads. > o filling data internal structures. > o reading the connectors positions of the core. > "Distance between connector <y 2> and connector <b 3> of the core isn't big enough." > > What does the statement in quote indicate? I mean where is the error exactly - is it in the (.rin / .vst / .c) file for the chip or in the core generated (.vst) file. I'm asking so that I'll know where to focus attention. > That means that your connector: y 2 and b 3 are too close and that ring cannot perform is pad placement. It should not be in your vst file. This is logical view of your design so that has nothing to do connectors placement. In consequence it has nothing to do with your .c file because if you use GENLIB_LOINS macro and not GENLIB_PLACE_.. macros, you're constructing once again the logical view. MAybe you can change the position of your pads in the .rin file. > #2. In one of the replies(to my emails) I read , I was told to move the connectors. Pls how do I move the connectors. What I did was to change the positions of the concerned indicators in the (.rin) file but I still get the same error above. Is that what is meant by moving connectors? I mean changing their positions in the RIN file? > No, ring is a pad placement tool, so it will never change the position of your connectors. Ring connects the pads to the connectors. By chanching the .rin file you will move the position of the pads, so that will maybe help ring to connect the pads to the connectors. (maybe ...) If you want to change the position of the connectors, it's during the scr stage that you can do something. All this is explained in the scr manual, you have to write a .scr file .... But first of all, look at your .ap file after the scr placement, if ring does'nt work, maybe it's because of your design, so look under graal at the position of your connectors. (Maybe you'll have some surprises ...). > #3.It was also said that the RING tool has a lot of bugs. Is it ok then to use SCR instead of RING..... I was thinking - since scr for for standard cells etc., and ring is for pads, it wouldnt produce the same result, but maybe i'm wrong. Could SCR be used instead of RING to produce the same (.ap) file? > It's true, ring is buggy and we will change it in the future .... (if you have some ideas on the subject ... any good contribution is welcomed ... (alliance is under GPL license)). But ring and scr are two different tools so they cannot do the same thing. If you want to place and route your core .... use scr. If you want to place and route your pads to your core .... use ring. Hope that helps. Christophe Alexandre. --