Support Forum
Unable to load OA Extension
SHACHA
Monday 28th October 2024
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Screenshot 2024-10-28 at 3.31.30 PM.png
I am trying to setup ASAP7 PDK in Layout Editor with Open Access. I have installed PyCell Studio for OpenAccess V22.50 and Layout Editor (on Windows 11) launches with the correct PyCell Installation in the batch terminal. But it is unable to load the OA Plugin throwing the error: Cannot Load Library: pluginoa22.50.dll This .dll file exists in the bin directory of Layout Editor installation. I have attached the screenshot of my setup with the error window. How can I solve this? Thanks & Best Regards!
Monday 28th October 2024
Attachments:
(only for registered users)
Screenshot 2024-10-28 at 3.31.30 PM.png
I am trying to setup ASAP7 PDK in Layout Editor with Open Access. I have installed PyCell Studio for OpenAccess V22.50 and Layout Editor (on Windows 11) launches with the correct PyCell Installation in the batch terminal. But it is unable to load the OA Plugin throwing the error: Cannot Load Library: pluginoa22.50.dll This .dll file exists in the bin directory of Layout Editor installation. I have attached the screenshot of my setup with the error window. How can I solve this? Thanks & Best Regards!
Jürgen
LayoutEditorFull
Monday 28th October 2024 You have installed synopsys PyCell-T-2022.06-SP2. According my records that package is using OpenAccess version 22.60. However this package for windows does not contains the file 'oaGetVersion' so the OpenAccess version cannot contained automatically and the LayoutEditor falls back to 22.50 as default. Please try to start the LayoutEditor with the --oa22.60 option from the command line: ``` cd "c:\Programm Files (x86)\LayoutEditor\bin" layout.exe --oa22.60 ``` Please call the layout.exe and not the layout.bat LayoutEditor.bat . The bat file will try to get the used OpenAccess version used by PyCell and then call the layout.exe wiith the correct --oa version ( --oa22.50 or --oa22.60 )
LayoutEditorFull
Monday 28th October 2024 You have installed synopsys PyCell-T-2022.06-SP2. According my records that package is using OpenAccess version 22.60. However this package for windows does not contains the file 'oaGetVersion' so the OpenAccess version cannot contained automatically and the LayoutEditor falls back to 22.50 as default. Please try to start the LayoutEditor with the --oa22.60 option from the command line: ``` cd "c:\Programm Files (x86)\LayoutEditor\bin" layout.exe --oa22.60 ``` Please call the layout.exe and not the layout.bat LayoutEditor.bat . The bat file will try to get the used OpenAccess version used by PyCell and then call the layout.exe wiith the correct --oa version ( --oa22.50 or --oa22.60 )
SHACHA
Tuesday 29th October 2024 Thank you so much for the clarification. OpenAccess has successfully loaded but now I have ran into some PyCell Plugin issue which needs another script to open PCells: When I try to load an OpenAcces View of nfet for example, I get the following error: ``` Open of OpenAccess "asap7_TechLib|nmos_lvt|ivpcell" Errors: 1 no layout data or parametic cell can not be created (nmos_lvt_ivpcell~ee167119aa90771fc6dc254d367b0e5e) 1 require OpenAccess-parametric-cell-plugin 'oaPcellScript' may not be available, please install it. (oaPcellScript) Strong warnings: 1 Parametric cell, open with default parameter () ``` This is the first time I am setting up a PDK, so your guidance will be very helpful and highly appreciated. Thanks once again & Best Regards!
Tuesday 29th October 2024 Thank you so much for the clarification. OpenAccess has successfully loaded but now I have ran into some PyCell Plugin issue which needs another script to open PCells: When I try to load an OpenAcces View of nfet for example, I get the following error: ``` Open of OpenAccess "asap7_TechLib|nmos_lvt|ivpcell" Errors: 1 no layout data or parametic cell can not be created (nmos_lvt_ivpcell~ee167119aa90771fc6dc254d367b0e5e) 1 require OpenAccess-parametric-cell-plugin 'oaPcellScript' may not be available, please install it. (oaPcellScript) Strong warnings: 1 Parametric cell, open with default parameter () ``` This is the first time I am setting up a PDK, so your guidance will be very helpful and highly appreciated. Thanks once again & Best Regards!
Jürgen
LayoutEditorFull
Tuesday 29th October 2024 It is probably useful to explain some of the background first. OpenAccess is a program library for accessing the corresponding file format. All members of OpenAccess coalition like us have access to the library. The library itself can be extended using a plugin system. However, the extensions are then no longer freely available to all members. Programmable cells (PCells) are all implemented using plugins in OpenAccess. There are essentially three different plugins for this: * oaPCellScript is an example implementation that is supplied with the OpenAccess library. I have not yet come across a productive PDK that uses this type of PCell. This type of PCell can be used directly by the LayoutEditor without any adjustments. * PyCells/Python-Parametric-Cells are parametric cells that can be created in Python. The OpenAccess plugin required for this was developed by Ciranova at the time and can be downloaded freely by users. Ciranova was bought by Synopsys and the plugin can still be downloaded after registering with Synopsys. To be able to use this type of PCells with the LayoutEditor, the corresponding plugin must be downloaded from Synopsys. The entire OpenAccess library supplied by Synopsys is then used. The correct OpenAccess version is important here. * ivpcell/Skill are parametric cells that are using a plugin from Cadence. This plugin is only available to Cadence customers. There is no free download. In theory, this plugin should also work with the LayoutEditor. However, I have not yet had a customer who owned the expensive Cadence license and used this plugin with the LayoutEditor. This plugin is therefore untested. PDKs without parametric cells run independently of this plugin problem with all EDa tools that support OpenAccess. Based on the error message, it looks like your PDK uses the Cadence ivpcell/Skill variant. Many PDKs are available in two versions, one with the Cadence plugin and one for Synopsys/PyCell. In this case, only the correct PDK variant needs to be installed.
LayoutEditorFull
Tuesday 29th October 2024 It is probably useful to explain some of the background first. OpenAccess is a program library for accessing the corresponding file format. All members of OpenAccess coalition like us have access to the library. The library itself can be extended using a plugin system. However, the extensions are then no longer freely available to all members. Programmable cells (PCells) are all implemented using plugins in OpenAccess. There are essentially three different plugins for this: * oaPCellScript is an example implementation that is supplied with the OpenAccess library. I have not yet come across a productive PDK that uses this type of PCell. This type of PCell can be used directly by the LayoutEditor without any adjustments. * PyCells/Python-Parametric-Cells are parametric cells that can be created in Python. The OpenAccess plugin required for this was developed by Ciranova at the time and can be downloaded freely by users. Ciranova was bought by Synopsys and the plugin can still be downloaded after registering with Synopsys. To be able to use this type of PCells with the LayoutEditor, the corresponding plugin must be downloaded from Synopsys. The entire OpenAccess library supplied by Synopsys is then used. The correct OpenAccess version is important here. * ivpcell/Skill are parametric cells that are using a plugin from Cadence. This plugin is only available to Cadence customers. There is no free download. In theory, this plugin should also work with the LayoutEditor. However, I have not yet had a customer who owned the expensive Cadence license and used this plugin with the LayoutEditor. This plugin is therefore untested. PDKs without parametric cells run independently of this plugin problem with all EDa tools that support OpenAccess. Based on the error message, it looks like your PDK uses the Cadence ivpcell/Skill variant. Many PDKs are available in two versions, one with the Cadence plugin and one for Synopsys/PyCell. In this case, only the correct PDK variant needs to be installed.
SHACHA
Tuesday 29th October 2024 Thank you so much for this detailed explanation! The ASAP7 PDK is currenlty only available for Cadence I think and as you mentioned, I wont be able to use LayoutEditor without the Cadence plugin, which I dont have access to. Here's the link for the PDK: [https://github.com/The-OpenROAD-Project/asap7_pdk_r1p7/tree/main](https://github.com/The-OpenROAD-Project/asap7_pdk_r1p7/tree/main) But I did find this repo ([ https://github.com/snishizawa/asap7_snps]( https://github.com/snishizawa/asap7_snps) ) where the author has added "Supplemental" synopsys files for ASAP7 PDK. Could you please take a look at it and suggest if these file formats could be used in Layout Editor? Thanks once again for all the detailed explanation. Best Regards.
Tuesday 29th October 2024 Thank you so much for this detailed explanation! The ASAP7 PDK is currenlty only available for Cadence I think and as you mentioned, I wont be able to use LayoutEditor without the Cadence plugin, which I dont have access to. Here's the link for the PDK: [https://github.com/The-OpenROAD-Project/asap7_pdk_r1p7/tree/main](https://github.com/The-OpenROAD-Project/asap7_pdk_r1p7/tree/main) But I did find this repo ([ https://github.com/snishizawa/asap7_snps]( https://github.com/snishizawa/asap7_snps) ) where the author has added "Supplemental" synopsys files for ASAP7 PDK. Could you please take a look at it and suggest if these file formats could be used in Layout Editor? Thanks once again for all the detailed explanation. Best Regards.
SHACHA
Tuesday 29th October 2024 ****Edited the links***
Tuesday 29th October 2024 ****Edited the links***
Jürgen
LayoutEditorFull
Tuesday 29th October 2024 The Github link you have posted contain some setup files for layers, technology, .... However, it does not contain any information to parametric cells. So it will not help for the problem you have.
LayoutEditorFull
Tuesday 29th October 2024 The Github link you have posted contain some setup files for layers, technology, .... However, it does not contain any information to parametric cells. So it will not help for the problem you have.
SHACHA
Tuesday 29th October 2024 Ohh, I will look for some other alternatives. Thanks for the reply and all the guidance. Best Regards!
Tuesday 29th October 2024 Ohh, I will look for some other alternatives. Thanks for the reply and all the guidance. Best Regards!