( SNUG 99 Item 16 ) ----------------------------------------------- [3/31/99]

   "In Synopsys 99.05 the VHDL construct rising_edge(clk), "alias databit : 
    std_logic is data(5)" and all of "use ieee.numeric_std.all;" are fully 
    supported.  In order to use the designware components with the numeric
    standard package, you need to do "use dware.dw_foundation.all;", not
    the individual "use dw01" constructs.  The only way to use the "/",
    "mod", and "rem" constructs is with the "dware" package.

    A few new variables available in 99.05 are "hdlin_bussed_clock = true" 
    which allows you to buss clock signals.  "hdlin_keep_feedback_netnames
    = true" will use the internal VHDL netname rather than the "_port" for
    internal signal connections.  "hdl_report_inferred_module = verbose"
    will report and give the names of module inferred by VHDL constructs.

    If you find yourself reading a VHDL netlist back into Synopsys, it will
    read 2X faster with the following "read -f vhdl -netlist filename.vhd".
    See the "HDL Coding style synthesis application notes" for more updates
    which can be found in 99.05.

    TCL Interface: TCL version 7.6 has been integrated into Synopsys 99.05.
    It can be invoked with "dc_shell -tcl_mode" and "dc_shell-t" commands.
    NOTE that the default $SYNOPSYS/admin/setup/synopsys_dc.setup file is
    now written in TCL!!!  A "#" needs to be the first character on the
    first line of any dc_shell TCL script.  A web page can be found at
    http://www.scriptics.com which explains TCL and TCL constructs.  Many
    of the standard commands had to be changed because the conflicted with
    TCL reserved words.  A list can be found on Page 68 in the notes.
    Other Notes: TCL normally works with list, however all of the Synospys
    tools produce "collections".  There is a nice little script in the
    handouts which will convert a collection to a list.

    (from outside the meeting)

    Synopsys 99.08 has some ugly bugs in it.  It tends to crash, it runs
    faster, but gives you a worse result.  PT2 (primetime) is unstable,
    there are patch releases available.

    (back at the meeting)

    DC99 is 2x faster than 98, which is 3x faster than 97.
    Reoptomize_design is 2.5x faster.  Use the command "compile -top" to
    fix constraints from the top level.  

    There is now a "checkpoint" option.  It now takes 3 '^C's to kill a
    dc_shell script.  A unix "kill" will cause a "checkpoint" file to be
    created before it actually dies.  "compile_checkpoint_cpu_interval",
    a new variable, will periodically checkpoint your design as you are
    running.  The "compile_new_boolean_structure" compiler knows about
    all of the "don't care" feature that are built into the language and
    will optimize around them.  Try the following: "set_structure -true
    -boolean true -boolean_effort medium".

    DC99 can only use 2.0 gig of memory.  Under solaris 2.6 it can use
    4.0 gig of memory if you do a "limit database unlimited".
    "simplify_constraints" - new command which opomized tied signals.
    The  "reoptomize_design" command has changed, so old scripts won't
    work.  (See page 61 in the handout for a nice list of obsoleted
    commands going back to V3.0.)

    There are scripts available to convert transcripts into TCL."

       - [ Kenny from South Park ]


   "Although some nice user enhancements were added, no 'Earth Shattering'
    features were added."

       - Anon