IIC-OSIC Tools

Installation

Download and uncompress the file and get into the main folder and type this commmand

source iic-osic-setup.sh

And now we wait, this script will install everything for you, just wait a little bit. after the installation is completed we proceed to

Initialization of SKY130 PDK and tools

The setup script creates also an initialization script in the user's home directory. Use it to set up the environment by running

source ./iic-init.sh

this command must be run before executing Xschem, it gives the right routes for the installation to identify the elements, typical usage looks like this.

source iic-init.sh
xschem

Notes on folder system and error on symbols

Altho the installation program works on any machine, with any user name, carefull atention must be payed when working with different folders.

The following is an example, when trying to open a schematic file (.sch) and the terminal returns an error, where it states it can't find a symbol used in the simulation.

this means that xschem couldn't find a file necessary for the simulation at the specified path, it can be seen that the path repetes a folder like the following

/home/royce/Downloads/Downloads/mos_sym_spdt.sym

the correct form woul be

/home/royce/Downloads/mos_sym_spdt.sym

Why does this happens ?

this happens because the files store the route where they where stored originally

if we go to out folder and open the sch file(the one we tried to open with xschem and returned an error), and scroll all the way to the bottom we would see a line somehting like this

C {Downloads/mos_sym_spdt.sym} 110 -410 0 0 {name=x1}

yeah, quite clear, say what ?

so bare with me.

1. We created a schematic of something (lets say an inverter)
2. For practicity then we create a symbol.
3. We stored said symbol in a location, lets say Downloads (/home/user/downloads)
4. Then we create a new schematic, in which we import the symbol (the inverter in this example)
5. We run simulations, all good and fine and hit Save.
6. Now what happens is that the new schematic which has the symbol, stores with a relative path (for compatibility) the location of the elements used in the simulation.
7. If we save this file to lets say Home (here is where the problem beggins) and then change the location of this file (lets say to downloads) the program searches the prior location.

The problem occurs because we change the file from location, and the file does not update, this path is actually hardcoded on the file.

A proper management of routes will solve this issue.

Desktop

• Xschem
  • Symbols
  • Schematics
  • Raw

A folder system like this one will owrk across many systems and avoid the cumbersome management of routes

How do i fix it ?

You will see something like this

Double left click on the missing symbol and then hit the browse button, then you can look for the route of the symbol, this will update the relative path. Now it will appear on the schematic and we can save the file with the updated route