Export Layer Mapping (DXF & GDSII Only)

The Export Layer Mapping page of the Export Wizard allows you to map the objects in your Sonnet project to the DXF layers or GDS streams. This page is opened in the Wizard for DXF or GDSII exports, but not for Gerber exports.

The translator reads your project file and gathers information about the metal levels, objects, materials and Technology Layers, then populates this page, with an initial mapping based on your export options. You may then edit this mapping if you wish. Note that entries are not created for levels in the Sonnet project which contain no objects.

The columns to the left of the white arrow, labeled "Project Editor,"of the layer mapping specify the Sonnet project elements that are to be written to the exported file. If you are performing a DXF export, the specified project elements are mapped to the DXF layer specified in the last column. If you are performing a GDSII export, the specified project elements are mapped to the GDSII Stream and Datatype specified in the last two columns. The various controls and fields are described below.

: Click on this button to add another entry row. Additional rows allow you to map the specified Sonnet elements to multiple DXF Layers or GDS streams and datatypes.

: Click on this button to delete the presently selected row in the dialog box.

: Click on this button to load the settings from an existing layer file with mapping settings for the file you are exporting.

: Once the mapping is specified, you may wish to save the settings for subsequent exports of similar DXF or GDSII files. Click on the Save button to save your settings in a file. It is recommended that for DXF you use a ''.lyr'' extension which is the default and for GDSII you use a ".lay" extension which is the default.

Tech Layer: This name identifies the Technology Layer which will be exported to the DXF layer or GDS stream and datatype. You may select any existing Technology Layer from the drop list. If a Technology Layer is selected, then the Object Type, Level and Material settings are inherited from the Technology Layer and may not be changed. If no Tech Layer is selected the entry is "<None>."

Object Type: This drop list is only enabled if the Tech Layer column is set to "<None>." This drop list allows you to select what type of object should be output from this metal level. The default setting is Any which causes any object on the specified Sonnet level to be included in the output DXF layer or GDS stream and datatype. To specify only one type of object, select Metal for planar metal polygons, Brick for dielectric bricks or Via for via polygons. If a Technology Layer is selected, this identifies the type of Technology Layer: Metal, Brick or Via.

Level: This drop list is only enabled if the Tech Layer column is set to "<None>." This specifies the level in the Sonnet project from which you are exporting to the identified DXF layer or GDS stream and datatype. The top level is number 0. For via conversion, you input a range of levels. For example, a via which extends from level 2 upwards to level 0 would be 2-0. A via extending from level 3 to ground would be 3-GND.

Material: This drop list is only enabled if the Tech Layer column is set to "<None>." Select the material type you wish to use for the objects being translated. The choices available depend on what type of object is selected in Object type: Metal, Via. or Brick and what materials are defined in the project. The default setting is Any which causes any polygon of the correct object type, regardless of the material, to be included in the output DXF layer or GDS stream and datatype. If you select a specific material, then only polygons using that material are included in the output layer. All materials defined for the Object Type selected appear in the drop list. In other words, if the Object type is Metal, then all planar metals defined in your project appear in the list and may be selected. If a Technology Layer is selected, the Material used by the Technology Layer is displayed here.

DXF Layer Name: This column only appears for DXF exports. If the Sonnet Level was assigned to a Technology Layer, then the DXF Layer name entered in the Tech Layer Mapping dialog box is used as the default name to identify the output DXF layer. If there is no Technology Layer, then the default value is based on the Sonnet material type name. If you wish to use another layer name, enter the desired name.

GDSII Stream: This column only appears for GDSII exports. If the Sonnet Level was assigned to a Technology Layer, then the GDSII stream layer number entered in the Tech Layer Mapping dialog box is used as the default number to identify the stream. If there is no Technology Layer, then the default value is the Sonnet metal level. If you wish to use another stream number, enter the desired value. This must be an integer value. Note that aside from the default, the layer number has no relationship to the project editor’s metalization level number.

GDSII Data Type: This column only appears for GDSII exports. If the Sonnet Level was assigned to a Technology Layer, then the GDSII data type number entered in the Tech Layer Mapping dialog box is used as the default number to identify the data type. If there is no Technology Layer, then the default value is 0. Each GDSII stream may have multiple data types.

Finish: When you are done specifying the mapping, click on the Finish button to execute the export. A browse window appears that allows you to specify the output file to which you will export. For DXF exports, the file extension is .dxf and for GDSII exports the file extension is .gds.