Using Electric 8-2: Converting between Technologies and Libraries

Chapter 8: CREATING NEW ENVIRONMENTS

| ## 8-2: Converting between Technologies and Libraries |

### Converting Technologies to Libraries

The best way to create a new technology is to change an existing one. Use the Convert and Edit Technology... command of the Technology menu and select a similar technology. Note that the Schematic and Artwork technologies are too complex to edit and cannot be converted.

Conversion of a technology to a library creates a library with the same name as the technology. Note that technologies with options (such as MOSIS CMOS) will be converted with their current settings only, and the options will no longer be available.

### Technology-Editing Mode

Once a technology has been converted into a library, you are in a special technology-editing mode (the cursor changes to a "T" as a reminder). There are two ways to get out of technology-editing mode:

- Use the Stop Editing Technology command. This simply ends the mode, allowing standard Electric commands to be issued.
- Use the Convert Library to Technology... command (which is in the same place as the Convert and Edit Technology... command used to be). This displays a dialog for converting the current library into a new technology, and it ends technology-editing mode.

Once you have exited technology-editing mode, you can get back in by using the Resume Editing Technology command.

### Converting Libraries to Technologies

When the Convert Library to Technology... command is issued, the current library is converted back into a technology.

You are given the opportunity of naming the technology, and can also request that C code be produced (this code can be compiled with Electric to install the technology permanently). If a technology already exists with the name you want, you can request that it be renamed (note that technologies can also be renamed with the Rename Technology... command). |

If there is an error in the library, conversion is aborted and you are given a chance to fix the library. Generally, the offending part of the library is highlighted.

If no errors have occurred in the translation, there will be a new technology in Electric and it will be the current one. No two technologies can have the same name, so the library name will be adjusted if necessary to form a unique technology name.

Before creating any circuitry with the new technology, it is advisable to create a new library (use the New Library... command of the File menu) so that the test circuitry is not stored with the library that describes it.

### Cleaning Up

After a few rounds of technology editing, there may be many libraries and technologies. You can delete the current library with the Close Library command of the File menu (to make another library current, use the Change Current Library... command of the File menu).

To delete a technology, use the Delete Technology... command of the Technology menu. These commands are not undoable.

### Using Technology Libraries

Once a library has been successfully built that describes a technology, it can be saved to disk with the Save Library command of the File menu. Then, in another session of Electric, it can be read from disk and converted to a technology, all in one step, with the Load Technology Library command of the Technology menu. This command does not enter Technology Editing mode, so if you wish to continue editing the technology library, you must use the Resume Editing Technology command.

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