7.5 CONCONV

Name

conconv - Connections Conversion Utility

Synopsis

conconv projectname libraryfile

Description

The conconv utility program is used for transferring ASCII net list data to the Bartels AutoEngineer. Supported net list formats are BARTELS, CALAY, MARCONI, and RACAL. Net lists from other systems can often be written in one of these formats providing a convenient link between other schematic systems and the powerful BAE layout facilities.

conconv accepts the net list file name projectname as first argument. This file must have an extension of .con but this extension must not be included with the command line.

conconv accepts the layout library file name libraryfile as second argument. This file must have an extension of .ddb but this extension must not be included with the command line. The libraryfile is expected to be in BAE DDB (Design DataBase) format and must contain the layout part definitions referenced from the net list.

conconv reads the ASCII net list <projectname>.con and checks all net list layout symbols with the corresponding entries in the layout library <libraryfile>.ddb. conconv generates the design file <projectname>.ddb and a free list named <projectname>.fre. The free list contains an unconnected pins report. After successful processing, an internal physical net list will exist in the design file named <projectname>.ddb. A layout element can then be created in that design file, parts placed and traces routed.

Input File Format

Start Data, End Data, Comments

The net list file format must start with the LAYOUT command and must end with the keyword END.. Commentary text can be placed between /* and */. The formal syntax of the LAYOUT command is:

LAYOUT <elementname> ;

where <elementname> is the name of the net list and/or layout element to be created in the destination file.

Part List

The part list section is expected after the LAYOUT command and must start with the keyword PARTS. Each part is defined by a command in the form

<part> : <plname> ;

where <part> is the part name (e.g., C1, R1, IC15, etc.), and <plname> is the physical library name of the package (e.g., DIL14, SO20, etc.).

Net List

The net list section is expected after the parts list. Different net list formats are supported. A keyword preceding the net list information is used to designate the net list format type (CONNECT for Bartels AutoEngineer format, CALAY for CALAY format, RACAL for RACAL format, MARCONI for MARCONI format). Each net in the Bartels AutoEngineer format is defined by a command in the form

<part>.<pin>=<part>.<pin>=...=<part>.<pin>

and/or

/<net>/ <part>.<pin>=<part>.<pin>=...=<part>.<pin>

where <part> is the part name as defined in the part list, <pin> is the pin name of that part, and <net> is the net name. The BAE net list format supports optional net attribute definitions to be specified after the "/<net>/" command in the following form:

PRIORITY(<prior>) MINDIST(<dist>) ROUTWIDTH(<width>)

The net attributes are used for controlling the Autorouting process. <prior> is the net-specific routing priority, <dist> is the net-specific minimum distance, and <width> is the net-specific routing width. With each pin a pin-specific routing width can be defined optionally; this value must be enclosed in parentheses behind the <pin> specification. <prior> must be in positive integer units (the greater the value the higher the routing priority), all other net attribute values are assumed to be in positive mm units.

Each net in the CALAY format is defined by a command in the form

<part>(<pin>),<part>(<pin>),...,<part>(<pin>)

and/or

/<net> <part>(<pin>),<part>(<pin>),...,<part>(<pin>)

The CALAY format supports optional pin-specific routing widths (in mm units). The pin routing width specification must follow the <pin> definition and must be separated from <pin> by a comma character (,).

Each net in the RACAL format is defined by a command in the form

.ADD_TER        <part> <pin> <net>
.TER            <part> <pin>
                <part> <pin>
                :
                <part> <pin>

The RACAL net list must end with the keyword .END.

Each net in the Marconi format is defined by a command in the form

<part> <pin> <part> <pin> ... <part> <pin> ; <net> /

Examples

Net list (design.con) in Bartels AutoEngineer format:

LAYOUT board;
PARTS
        c1 : cap50;
        c2 : cap75;
        r1 : res;
        t1 : tebc;
CONNECT
        /net1/ c2.2=t1.3;
        /net2/ c1.2(0.4)=t1.2=r1.2;
        /gnd/ PRIORITY(2) MINDIST(0.4) t1.1=c1.1(0.4);
        /vcc/ PRIORITY(1) ROUTWIDTH(0.5) c2.1=r1.1;
END.

Net list (design.con) in CALAY format:

LAYOUT board;
PARTS
        c1 : cap50;
        c2 : cap75;
        r1 : res;
        t1 : tebc;
CALAY
        /net1 c2(2),t1(3);
        /net2 c1(2,0.4),t1(2),r1(2);
        /gnd t1(1),c1(1,0.4);
        /vcc c2(1,0.5),r1(1,0.5);
END.

Net list (design.con) in RACAL format:

LAYOUT board;
PARTS
        c1 : cap50;
        c2 : cap75;
        r1 : res;
        t1 : tebc;
RACAL
        .ADD_TER        c2 2 net1
        .TER            t1 3
        .ADD_TER        c1 2 net2
        .TER            t1 2
                        r1 2
        .ADD_TER        t1 1 gnd
        .TER            c1 1
        .ADD_TER        c2 1 vcc
        .TER            r1 1
.END
END.

Net list (design.con) in MARCONI format:

LAYOUT board;
PARTS
        c1 : cap50;
        c2 : cap75;
        r1 : res;
        t1 : tebc;
MARCONI
        c2 2 t1 3 ; net1 /
        c1 2 t1 2 r1 2 ; net2 /
        t1 1 c1 1 ; gnd /
        c2 1 r1 1 ; vcc /
END.

The net lists above can be transferred to BAE by applying the conconv program as in the command

>  conconv design laylib 

which causes conconv to read the ASCII net list design.con, check the part list entries against the layout library definitions in laylib.ddb, and store the net list named board to the job file design.ddb. After successful processing, the Layout Editor can be started, a layout named board (same name as net list for correct connectivity access) can be createdw and the net list parts can be loaded and placed using the Place Next Part function from the Parts menu. For pin assignment correctness the same layout library as specified with the conconv call must be used for loading the parts (apply the Select Library function from the Settings menu to select the correct library file).

See also

netconv

Diagnosis

The error messages issued by conconv are intended to be self-explanatory.

Warnings

Input file identifiers for part names, pin names or net names containing special characters (-, +, /, (, =, ...) must be enclosed in single-quotes or double-quotes.