Skill code to move component 

Hi,
I'm trying to generate a skill program that launches place manual -hide and then picks a specific coordinate to pick up the component placed in that coordinate.

I know that I have a pin placed in 0,0 and would like the skill program to pick that coordinate and leave the component on the mouse for me to place manually.

I've tried doing the following
axlShell("place manual -h")
axlShell("pick 0 0")

and I've also tried running a script that I've recorded that does the exact same, but both methods fail. They do launch the place manual command but I cannot get skill to pick that coordinate so that it is left for me to move the component

Does anyone have some good ideas, thanks.

Best regards,
Ole

Hi,

I found out some more

I can use the following code
Command=strcat("place manual refdes" refdes_name)
axlShell(Command)

The only demand here is that the refdes_name is an unplaced symbol, I'm however missing 2 things if I do this.
1. After typing the command at the command line I would like to skill program to make the PCB editor window the main window - otherwise my shortcuts for rotate, mirror etc. does not work.
2. After the part is placed the place manual dialog is still shown and I would like it to close automatically after the user places the component

Does anyone know how to accomplish these 2 things?

Hi Ole,

Without knowing exactly what you are trying to do it is difficult to offer help.
However, I don't think many of us would try to do this type of function using Shell commands. I suggest that you look up the axlDynamicsObject and axlEnterEvent functions and base some code around those.

I can give you some sample code if I know what you are trying to do, and why.

Cheers, Dave

I think I understand what you are trying to do.
Here is a couple ways of handling this:

From the Allegro Command line via a script:
   place manual -h ; pick 0 0

From inside of Allegro SKILL
   axlShell("place manual -h ; pick 0 0")

I am sure there is different ways of performing this inside of
Allegro SKILL but the basic command above do what you are
looking for.

Hope this helps,
Mike Catrambone
UTStarcom, Inc.

If the main idea is to place a component, you can use axlDBCreateSymbol.

The benefit of this is, you know if the component was placed correctly as this procedure will return the dbid or nil.

From Cadence documentation:
axlDBCreateSymbol(
             t_refdes
             l_anchorPoint
             [g_mirror]
             [f_rotation]
         )

example:
;; place component C1 at point (x,y) on the top of the substrate
;; with 90 degree rotation
   axlDBCreateSymbol("C1", list(x, y), nil, 90.0)

The following will do it

(procedure ptest()
        cmd = "place manual -hide; pick 0 0"
        axlShell(cmd)
)

Restrictions:  
   1) Do not register this as an Allegro command via axlCmdRegister
       or you will find Allegro will immediately terminate the place manual command.
      Instead call it via Skill ex: skill "ptest"
   2) Make certain your pick from Skill is on a visiable portion of the symbol (not its
       center uness you have something like place bound on). Pins are typically visible.

Hi Ole,

Attached is some simple code that might help. It demonstrates use of dynamic objects, events, popups and transactions.
It uses some "private" Cadence functions, and some dubious coding of my own for the popups, so use with care. However, I have tested it in 15.2 and 15.5.1 and it possibly does what you want.

It will place symbols off grid. You could fix this by changing the third argument of  axEnterEvent to t and/or change event ->xy to event ->xySnap.

Cheers, Dave

Hi Dave,

This is actually what I'm looking for - this is great.
I can see that you've added the popup menu items - do you know if it is possible also to create keyboard shortcuts that are available during this command?
E.g., pressing R instead of choosing right click and rotate.

Best regards,
Ole

Hi Ole,

Try this. I have added keyboard shortcuts and fixed some small bugs.

Cheers, Dave

Hi Dave,

I found an issue, but not the solution yet.
If you pick up a part like shown in the movie at http://www.allegro-pcb.dk/movies/movebyrefdes/movebyrefdes.html you'll see the issue.

I've tried changing the code, but somehow it is related to the first pick made, do you have any suggestions.

Best regards,
Ole

Hi Ole,

Took me a while to figure that one out!
Here's some improved code. Please let me know if it is actually better.

Cheers, Dave

Hi Dave,

This seems to work, so thanks a lot for this Dave.

Ole

Hi Dave,

Do you know if it there exist a command to add the ratsnests to the components during a move command?

Best regards,
Ole

Hi Ole,

It is possible but my attached code uses some more private functions.

Cheers, Dave