Import Options

The Import Options page of the Import Wizard is opened during a GDSII, DXF, Gerber or ODB++ import. When you are done entering the desired settings, you click on the Next button to apply the changes and continue the import process.

Imported Circuit Units (DXF Only): DXF files do not contain units, so you need to specify the length unit by selecting the desired length units from the drop list. Choices are inches (default), mils, microns, mm, cm and m. Note that the size of the imported circuit in the chosen length units is displayed directly below this drop list.

Box Size

The Sonnet EM analysis is performed inside a six-sided metal box. This section of the Import Options dialog box controls the Box Size in the resulting Sonnet project. The box size can be based on the size of the circuit which is being imported or if you are using a template for the import, can be set equal to the template box size. The two options are detailed below.

Imported Circuit Size: Click on this radio button if you wish to base the box size on the physical size of the imported circuit. A bounding box is placed around the circuit polygons and the size of the bounding box is used as the base size of the box. If you wish to expand the box to be bigger than the size of the circuit you may add margins to the box size. There are two methods for defining the size of the margins, as a percentage of the circuit size or by directly entering the desired length.

You may add a margin to any of the four box walls: top, bottom, left or right. The margins do not have to be equal for different box walls. To enter a margin for a box wall, select the checkbox for that box wall and enter the desired value in the enabled text entry box. The entered value is based on the method you have selected above the text entry boxes for the margins. The two methods are detailed below.

% Circuit Size: If the % Circuit Size radio button is selected, then the value entered for the selected margin should be the desired percentage of the circuit size. For example, if your circuit is 50 microns by 50 microns and you enter 10, then the box size will be increased by 10% (5 microns) in the direction of the selected box wall.
<Units>: This method radio button is labeled with the present length units for the project. If this is selected, then the entered value should be the desired length by which you wish to increase the box size in the direction of the selected box wall.

The defined box size is displayed below the Cell Size section of the dialog box.

Template Box Size: Click on this radio button if you wish to use the box size of the template project as the box size for your translated project. This radio button is only enabled if you are using a project as a template for the import. You have three choices as to where to place your translated circuit in the box:

Center Circuit: Places the center point of the circuit in the center of the box.
Move to lower left: Places the lower left hand corner of the circuit in the lower left hand corner of the box.
Do not change coordinates: Uses the same location as the source file with the lower left hand corner of the Sonnet box defined as (0,0).

Cell Size

This section of the Import Options dialog box controls the cell size in the resulting Sonnet project. The cell size can be automatically determined by the software or directly entered by the user.

Auto: Select this radio button to have the software inspect your circuit and attempt to choose an appropriate cell size. The values used are displayed to the right.
Manual: Select this radio button if you wish to enter the cell size. The x and y text entry boxes to the right are enabled; enter the desired lengths in the text entry boxes.

The number of cells used is displayed below this section of the dialog box.

Specify advanced options: Select this checkbox if you wish to open the Import Advanced Options page of the Import Wizard. This page will be opened next when this checkbox is selected.

Restore Defaults: Click on this button to restore all the settings in this page to their original state when the software was initially installed.

Next: Click on this button to go to the next page of the Import Wizard. If the Specify advanced options checkbox is selected, the Import Advanced Options page is opened next. If not, the Import Via Options page is opened.