Creating Feature Attribute Rules

You can set rules to be used for assigning attributes to features when the design is imported. The Attribute Assignment Editor uses the file attribute_assignment.xml, found in the folder containing the DFM4PADS executable.

If you want to save your attribute definitions, and not have them overwritten the next time you use the Attribute Assignment Editor, give the file a different name or save it in a different location.

For a list of the attributes available for DFM analysei, see “Internal Attribute Names”.

Procedure

If you have an existing attribute file that you want to edit, copy the file to the file named attribute_assignment.xml in the folder containing the DFM4PADS executable.
Open the DFMA wizard as described in “Setting DFM Analysis Preferences for PADS Layout”.
In the DFMA wizard, set Assign features attributes by rules = Yes, and click the Open Attribute Assignment Editor bar.
The Attribute Assignment Editor opens.

The values stored in attribute_assignment.xml display in the relevant drop-down lists.

Use the menu options as needed:

The File menu options are:

File Option	Explanation
New	Clears the grid.
Reread	Reads in the values from the attribute_assignment.xml file, overwriting the information currently displayed in the grid.
Save	Saves the displayed assignments to file attribute_assignment.xml; the path is displayed in the status line.
Close	Closes the Attribute Assignment Editor.

The Edit menu options are:

Edit Option	Explanation
Copy	Copies the values of Value, Type, Prefix, Number, Suffix, Side, Drill from the selected row.
Cut	Cuts the selected line.
Paste	Pastes the values of Value, Type, Prefix, Number, Suffix, Side, Drill to the selected row.
Delete	Deletes the selected row.
Add row	Adds a row at the bottom of the grid.

For a selected row, these are the right-click menu options:

Right-Click Option	Explanation
Copy	Copies the information in the selected row.
Cut	Cuts the information from the selected row.
Paste	to current — Pastes the copied or cut values of Value, Type, Prefix, Number, Suffix, Side, Drill to the selected row. at end — Adds the copied or cut row to the end of the grid.
Delete	Deletes the selected rows.
Insert new row	Inserts a new row with default values to one of these positions: before current, at end.
Insert copied row	Inserts the copied or cut row above the selected row.

For each attribute to be assigned to features, specify the following:

Column	Explanation
Attribute	Select the attribute to be set.
Value	Select the value to be set for the attribute.
Type	The type of feature for which to set the attribute: padstack or refdes.
Prefix	The attribute will be set for features with this prefix.
Number	Indicates whether the attribute should be assigned only for a feature with a number in the regular expression.
Suffix	The attribute will be set for features with this suffix.
Side	The attribute will be set for features on this side: Top or Bottom or Both.
Drill	The attribute will be set only on drill layers.

Save the file, and close the editor.
If you have entered incorrect values, a warning displays. You will not be able to save the file until you correct the errors.
If necessary, rename the attribute_assignment.xml file or save it in a different location so that it is not overwritten the next time you edit attributes.