home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Cream of the Crop 1
/
Cream of the Crop 1.iso
/
CAD
/
LASI35B2.ARJ
/
README
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1991-08-01
|
9KB
|
183 lines
Introduction
LASI (LAyout System for Individualists)
(Pronounced "LAZY")
The LASI CAD System consists of a main program and a set of utility
programs and documentation files. Its main purpose is to do integrated
circuit and device layout on an IBM compatible personal computer. It also
can be used for hybrids, printed circuit boards, schematic diagrams and
other precision drawing applications. LASI is intended for students,
schools, universities, independent designers and small businesses.
If you are new to LASI you should read and follow the "First Time Using
LASI" topic. If you are an experienced user you can skip that topic, but
you should read the other topics. You should also read the UPDATE.LOG
file using LHI.EXE by typing "lhi update", to see what changes have been
made since the last release.
First Time Using LASI
After you have loaded the LASI System files on your hard disk by running
the installation program LSINSTAL.BAT, you should run the help program
LHI.EXE for more information. With your mouse properly installed, make
the hard disk "\LASI" directory your current directory and run LHI.EXE by
typing "lhi" with no command line argument. The help program will default
to general help information and display a list of the available help
topics. To read any topic click your mouse cursor on that topic.
Read the topics HARDWARE, STARTING, OBJECTS and MODES first. These will
give you the basic idea of how LASI works and of how to get it running.
You should also read the other general topics at the left of the list and
then the other topics that correspond to menu commands as required.
The System is supposed to be intuitively obvious. But if you have never
used it before you need to "play" to get the feel of it.
Try the following:
Under the hard disk root directory create a subdirectory or "drawing
directory" with a name that would not be used for anything else. Copy
the FORM.DBD and the TXT.DBD files from the \LASI directory into it.
Make that directory your current directory.
Your are now ready to go. Run LASI.EXE. You should boot into System
Mode with the mouse cursor active. Clicking the right mouse button when
the cursor is on a menu button executes a command. You may try some of
the menu buttons, first hitting the <F1> help key for more information
about the button. You will find that most commands default through or
exit gracefully if you press <enter> or <esc>.
Enter Cell Mode by clicking the CELL button. You will be asked for the
cell name and rank. Enter any name that is a legal DOS filename and "1"
to the rank question. This makes a rank 1 cell. Answering with <enter>
only to either question will return to System Mode.
Try the Cell Mode menu buttons and use the <F1> help key for an
explanation. There are two menus that flip by clicking the right mouse
button with the cursor left of the menu area.
Using the OBJ command set the object to be added to boxes by entering
"b", if it isn't already. Select the ADD command and make some boxes.
Set and change the layer with the LAYR and CLYR commands. Use the GET,
FGET, MOV, etc. commands to manipulate the boxes that you have made.
Now change the object to paths or polygons by entering "p" to the OBJ
command. Make some paths with the ADD command, and set and change the
width using the WDTH and CWTH commands. Manipulate the paths using the
GET, FGET, MOV, etc. commands, and observe that paths are really a set
of vertices that are operated on by the various commands.
Use the ADD command to insert vertices by making active any vertex that
is not the last vertex in a path. Use the arc generator ARC to make a
few arcs and complete circles, and then DEL, CPY, and ADD vertices. Try
the special path commands PREV, PBEG, PEND, CUT and JOIN to see how
they can be used to make complex paths and polygons.
After you have made one or more rank 1 cells, make a higher rank cell
using the CELL command again, but this time enter "2" to the rank
question. You may make boxes and paths as before, but additionally you
may enter the name of a rank 1 cell that you have made. Add a rank 1
cell using the ADD command, and manipulate it using the CGET, MOV, etc.
commands. This rank 2 cell can now be added into higher rank cells
along with boxes, paths and cells of lower rank.
You have now established a hierarchy of cells that is used to make all
LASI drawings.
If you have an appropriate line printer or plotter, go back and modify
the FORM.DBD file to allow hard copies and plots to be made. Use
EDLIN.COM to edit the FORM.DBD file. Read the FORM help topic if you
didn't already.
If you have a RAM disk installed in your memory, turn on the RAM disk
provision by setting the "rdisk=" parameter in the FORM.DBD file to the
letter of the RAM disk. You should see a noticeable improvement in
drawing speed. Read the RAMDISK help topic if you didn't already.
Terms of Distribution
The LASI System can be copied and distributed by anyone. The self-
extracting executable and installation batch file should be copied from
the distribution disk. Individual files should NOT be copied, since all
the files and programs are intended to work with each other in the same
distribution.
An attempt will be made to keep known users updated with the latest
version by informing them that a new version is available, or by just
sending out new files on floppy disk.
If dangerous bugs are discovered an attempt will be made to notify or
send corrected programs to known users.
Unknown secondary users should be kept updated by those who gave them the
system software. Updating secondary users is a responsibility that should
be taken seriously. People have been found using ancient versions of the
programs, which have since been unbugged, greatly improved, or completely
revised.
To prevent continuously notifying or sending updates to anyone who really
isn't using LASI, There is a CUTOFF PERIOD OF ONE YEAR, after which
updates MAY have to be requested.
As a general rule, to be sure that you have the most updated software
contact the author directly.
The LASI System has been written over a period of years, mostly for the
author's own professional use, and is therefore not intended as profit-
making software.
For this reason, LASI is free for educational use in order to foster IC
design as a heuristic exercise and a true art. It is also free for non-
profit applications by individuals.
If LASI.EXE or any of its utilities are used to MAKE A PROFIT, then a
VOLUNTARY fee of $50 PER COMPUTER on which it is installed is requested.
This is not just to ease the conscience of someone using LASI for free,
but helps to pay for improving LASI with new hardware and software and
sending out updates. The fee is not expected to be a compensation for the
endless hours of coding and debugging that have gone into LASI.
Terms of Liability
The LASI System is constantly being revised and is distributed on an
"as is" basis. Since the programs are complicated, software bugs may be
found, often when someone does something that only rarely would be done.
If you have what you think is a real bug, then report it, and an attempt
will be made to fix it.
Neither the author nor any person distributing the LASI System assumes
any responsibility for who uses the programs or for how the programs are
used. Also, neither the author nor any person distributing the software
assumes any liability for any losses monetary or otherwise incurred
related to the use of the programs.
Final Comment
With the proper software, personal computers have easily become adequate
for small to medium sized IC layout applications. The LASI CAD System is
intended to give everyone unlimited access to an IC work station, both
for business and educational purposes. LASI is really intended to put
some fun and relaxation into doing layout tasks by allowing a person to
work when and where they want, and therefore, it is believed, do better
more creative work.
Dave Boyce
Dr. David E. Boyce
143B Bergdorf Rd., RR1
Parish, NY 13131
315-625-7291