is there a way to write a script to load a list of locations and 'step through' through in klayout

steven_martin

Hi

I am not sure if the following is possible.

I have a GDS file and a file contains a list of locations in the given GDS file. I would like to use klayout to load the GDS file, then somehow load the list of locations, and then "step through" (by clicking a button or use some short cut key) of each location. basically I want to move the klayout window to each of those locations. Is there a way to write a python script to do that?

Thanks

tok

Hi,
sure! This is possible! I hacked a snipped for you that allows you to cycle through locations by pressing Ctrl+n:

import pya
from itertools import cycle

main_window = pya.Application.instance().main_window()
current_view = main_window.current_view()

# Load layout into new view
path = pya.FileDialog.ask_open_file_name("Choose your file.", '.', "GDS2 (*.gds)")
cell_view = main_window.load_layout(path, 1)

# Load locations in microns
# TODO: load locations from your file.
#location_file = pya.FileDialog.ask_open_file_name("Choose your location file.", '.', "CSV (*.csv)")
locations = [(0,0), (1, 1)]
locations_iter = cycle(locations)

current_view = main_window.current_view()

# This function will be called when pressing Ctrl+n
def step_forward():
  # TODO: Width/height of view
  w, h = 1, 1
  x,y = next(locations_iter)
  view_box = pya.DBox(x-w/2, y-h/2, x+w/2, y+w/2)
  current_view.zoom_box(view_box)
  print(current_view.box())

# Register a menu item with callback and shortcut
action = pya.Action()
action.title = "step"
action.on_triggered = step_forward
action.shortcut = "Ctrl+n"

menu = main_window.menu()
menu.insert_item("tools_menu.end", "stepper", action)

# Jump to first location
step_forward()

What you need to do is: create a new Python macro and paste the code into it. Further there are some TODOs in the code. You may want to change the lines near them. For instance you need to load your locations. I didn't know anything about the file format so I just put a dummy list of locations.

steven_martin

really appreciate it. I will try it.

Thanks

stefant

I would use the Tools->Marker Browser that's used to load .rdb error files, it not only has "step thru" functionality, but also markers ..

Matthias

Hi all,

thanks for this lively discussion :-)

The marker browser is exactly build for this purpose. If you're able to format the list of coordinates in it's XML format, you're done. It's also possible to fill a marker database using a script and show this one. There is a discussion where I explained how: https://www.klayout.de/forum/discussion/comment/786#Comment_786. This script is somewhat outdated now, but the RDB concepts are still the same.

There is a screenshots gallery on the sample page: https://www.klayout.de/examples/screenshots.html. Maybe you like this way too. It's a graphical way to select a specific location.

Matthias

steven_martin

Matthias

Never mind. I found the description by using google:-) It's in https://www.klayout.de/rdb_format.html

I will try to use the "Marker Browser". However, I didn't find the description of the rdb file format. Is there some description on the file format? a casual search didn't find anything

Thanks
Steven

Matthias

Hi Steven,

ver good :-)

I wonder why Google won't find it - the RDB description is properly linked from the main page: https://www.klayout.de/rdb_format.html.

Best regards,

Matthias