Netlist editor allowing for direct, interactive low-level editing of netlists

Abstract

Abstract A custom netlist editor is provided in which low-level netlist editing procedures may be employed by a user to directly modify a netlist in its native format. The custom netlist editor eliminates the need for user to edit netlist cells by hand or by making a new circuit schematic. More particularly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a netlist is interactively edited on a computer using a plurality of defined netlist editing procedures, the netlist representing a circuit in terms of a hierarchy of cell instances, each cell defining a predetermined circuit component, and signal nets connecting the cell instances. A plurality of user commands are defined, each having as a parameter at least one of the following: a cell name, an instance name, and a signal name. A user is prompted for a command, and a user command is input. The user command is executed by calling at least one of the defined netlist editing procedures. The foregoing steps are repeated in an interactive manner until the user quits the custom netlist editor.

Inventors

• 👤 Martin J. Bell

Bibliographic Details