VLSICAP is integrated into the graphical VISTA user interface
(VUI), but not fully integrated into the VISTA task level due to the
primary integration considerations stated above. Thus a minimum-effort
integration was made for the user interface too. However, the environment's
pre- and postprocessing facilities can be used when working with the
integrated VLSICAP. For most problems there is no need to step out of the
environment
.
User interface integration is accomplished through using the VUI library
and the corresponding functions of the XLISP task interpreter. LISP functions invoking the various
VLSICAP executables are triggered by the user interface created with the
VUI XLISP bindings and integrated as a top-level menu into
VISTA. The VLSICAP menu of the VISTA main window consists of menu
entries for preparing input data and invoking the grid generator MESHCP,
for invoking the VLSICAP graphics processor for intermediate visualization,
and finally for directly invoking the VLSICP numerical processor.
When working with VLSICAP, input and output files reside in a dedicated directory chosen with the set directory option of the File menu of the VISTA main window. The PED (PIF editor) is used in order to create a geometry for VLSICAP. Alternatively an input data file could be created with a text editor. However, using PED is most convenient within the VISTA environment.