Method and system for ensuring consistency of design rule application in a CAD environment

摘要

In a computer-aided design environment, a method for ensuring consistency of design rule application among a plurality of CAD tool programs contemplates the use of a global design rule definition file containing one or more global variables each having a specific design rule characteristic assigned thereto. The values of the global variables are passed to CAD tool programs within the environment directly or indirectly through a technology file which contains a subset of the design rules. Each time a CAD tool session is initialized, the current set of design rules are updated through the use of the technology file and the global design rule definition file. Subsequent modifications or changes of the design rules requires only changing the global design rule definition file to ensure synchronization of design rule application among the various CAD tools in the environment.