ASTROCHIPLAYOUTDB1.21 30.8.2010
1.9.2010:
Faster scrolling implemented, errors concerning object selection were removed.
Moving large Modules can take very long, but
INVs, ANDs, ORs, NANDs, XORs and BITs can be moved fast.
28.8.2010:
Some small errors were removed in version 1.21.
The medium sized chip SQUAREMEM (2X2 words memory)
is viewable and scrolls alright. The compilation
takes a long time. I don't want to test XPRO32.
That may take a week. But most combinations of
signals are in the tested chips so it is
possible that it is viewable.
If a chip visualization fails, please remove the
files in the database folder. Then it may work.
version 1.2:
The only change in version 1.2 is that you can
go back to the last plan state without unconnected
signals by using ESC, if you can't insert an object
in the plan anymore.
version 1.1:
This program generates visual plans from the descriptions
contained in AstroChip files. AstroChip is a freeware
language for developing and testing chips.
The version 1.1 displays the same chips as version 1.0,
but it is possible to save and load displayed
integrated circuit plans, move objects like ANDs, ORs
and modules in the frame and resize modules. So you
can reduce the size of the unoptimized plans. Finding
an optimal arrangement of the elements is impossible
for large plans, because the algorithms for that task
are very slow even for the fastest computers on earth.
AstroChipLayoutDB1.1 does not allow moving the flipflops
near the module input. All other objects can be moved.
It is possible that an object selected for moving can't
be layed down anywhere, because the object can't be
connected anymore. The reason is that for connecting
not every path is checked because of performance reasons
and the path used the last time is also not found, because
the order of the creation of the paths has changed so
the situation is different.
Version 1.2 allows you to restore the last connected
configuration, so data losses are avoided. Use the
ESC key to go back to the last plan state with
connected signals.
If something is changed in one module it is automatically
changed in all modules of the same type.
It took six days to extend the source from version
1.0 to version 1.1. Version 1.2 was a development,
which was done in several hours.
After entering the chip source and compiling the
source the visual result is created after using
the "view" button. Small chips appear immediately,
big ones (more than 1MB source) take a long time.
Use the console window for checking if there still is
progress. If the chip is displayed you can move it
with the cursor keys and get the file and move menu
by clicking anywhere or on an object.