Chapter 3: Hierarchy
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3-9: Libraries
3-9-2: Reading Libraries
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The Open Library... command (in menu File) brings a new library into Electric from disk. These libraries may have the extension ".elib", ".jelib", or ".delib" (the jelib format is the default, see Section 10-1). There is also a Open Recent Library entry that lists all recently opened libraries.

Figure 3.23
You can also use the open-library icon from the tool bar.

Electric users with very old ".elib" files may have difficulty reading them into Electric. If you have been using versions of Electric prior to 7.00, it may help to upgrade to that version and read the libraries. Saving ".elib" files from version 7.00 will work properly in the current system.

By default Electric searches for libraries in the working directory, absolute file path references, and Electric's internal library directory. Users can specify additional directories to search by using a file called "LIBDIRS" placed in the directory with the files being read. This file provides additional paths to search for library files. The file has the following syntax:

     * <comments>
     include <another_LIBDIRS_file>
     <library_directory>

Paths may be absolute or relative.

Besides Electric libraries, it is possible to read circuit descriptions that are in other formats with these commands in the File / Import menu:

Some file formats (CIF, GDS, EDIF, LEF, DEF, SUE, and Applicon 860) are technology-specific. Before reading them, you will be prompted for the layout technology to use. The default is to use the current technology.

If you import a library that already exists in Electric, the following warning appears:

Figure 36

You can save the previous library, overwrite the previous library, cancel the operation, or merge the new library into the previous library. The "Merge" option creates new versions of cells when the names conflict, producing a library that has both the previous and new contents in it.


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