OA version vs CDB

[kimo]

Hi

I have a simple question. Our installed Cadence is telling me that
this is the OA version, while I am trying to open a CDB file.

My question is, how do I open the CDB version of cadence. Or, do I have
to install a different version?

 

[John Gianni]

Andrew Beckett wrote:

You need to either translate the database from CDB to OA
(CIW: Tools->Conversion Toolbox),
or use a different installation with the CDBA version of the tools.

Actually, let's "modify" that statement just a bit
(BTW, I myself been chastised for similar utterances more than once).

CDBA is currently defined as the database access to _both_ CDB & to OA
(which covers both C and SKILL).

Back to the original poster, I agree it might be confusing at first
because (to Cadence's credit), the Virtuoso custom IC suite of tools
(aka DFII) has the same (or similar) look and feel and CDBA API whether
its accessing an OpenAccess or a CDB design database.

In fact, I ran into similar confusion, starting early in 2003 as we
converted dozens of our 90nm and 180nm mixed-signal designs and design
kits from CDB to OpenAccess 2.0 (and more recently, to OpenAccess 2.2).
We had design files all over the placed that l@@ked the same to at the
Linux command line. They l@@ked the same in the library manager too.
The SKILL CDBA API to them was also (nearly) the same.

While the GUI & CDBA API are essentially the same, the actual binary
Virtuoso tool installed read one design database or the other ... but
not both design databases. So, potential confusion may arise which
should be resolved BEFORE you ever load the Virtuoso tool suite to read
any particular data.

To help me (and you), I filed enhancement PCR 602248 in 2003 titled:
DFII needs a UNIX-command-line switch to distinguish OA vs CDB data

This PCR (and others, I'm sure) resulted in the new command line switch
listed in that PCR as being added to CDSDoc almost two years ago.

DOCUMENTATION:
As a result of this PCR, the following section to the DFII on OA
Adoption Guide (OA2.0 version) and the related What's New document for
the 5.1.41.USR1 release were added on August 3, 2004:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finding the Database Type for a DFII Executable

Starting with the IC 5.1.41 release, you can determine the database
type
that a DFII executable will read or write by typing the -dbType option
in a terminal window, as follows:

<name_of_executable> -dbType

This option returns either OPENACCESS or CDBA.
A splash screen might appear briefly.

For example, to find the database type for the icfb executable,
type the following command in a terminal window:

icfb -dbType
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

In addition, almost a year ago (24-AUG-2004), a subsequent Sourcelink
Solution was written, i.e., 11147552 titled "How can I find out if I
have CDBA/OA binaries in my path?" This external solutions discuss the
use of the simple "getDBType" executable located in the
/<Virtuoso>/tools/dfII/bin directory of both the OpenAccess and CDB
versions of Virtuoso tools.

Since both commands listed above work in the Linux command line,
another command was added at my (and others') request to tell the same
information at the Virtuoso CIW command line.

For example, PCR 590592, filed by me on 05-28-2003 discusses the need
at that time for a CDBA command to distinguish between the two
databases and the two software variants. Simply typing the public
function "dbGetDatabaseType()" in a Virtuoso command interpreter window
(CIW) will tell you the type of software you are using. In addition,
the public functions dbGetVersion() & dbGetVersion() will get you
deeper revisional details, if needed. Note: These used to be private
functions but they were requested to be made public, supported, and
documented, a year ago, and they were done so, just for you.

Lastly, for any particular cell view, Andrew Beckett, the Customer's
champion, kindly wrote a SKILL program to get the database type, i.e.:

procedure(ABgetCellViewDBType(libName cellName viewName)
let((obj files)
obj=ddGetObj(libName cellName viewName)
files=obj~>files~>name
cond(
(rexMatchList("\\.cdb$" files) "CDBA")
(rexMatchList("\\.oa$" files) "OpenAccess")
(t "unknown")
); cond
) ; let
) ; ABgetCellViewDBType


As always, I hope this helps more than just the original poster,
John Gianni

"Nothing whatsoever posted by me is prior reviewed by my employer!"

 

[John Gianni]

I should note, before everyone else does, that the name "CDBA" is used
'incorrectly' in some of the titles and outputs of the commands above.

I reproduced the names accurately, so all I can do is repeat the
current ideology at Cadence, which is the following:

1. CDB is a design database format.
2. OpenAccess is a design database format.
3. The Virtuoso SKILL & C API to both design databases is called CDBA.

John Gianni
"As always, so everyone benefits from every action."