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<div>DEF 5.8 C/C++ Programming Interface (Open Licensing Program)</div>
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<h1><a name="1016178">Preface</a></h1>
<p><a name="1016179">This manual describes the C and C++ programming interface used to read and write Cadence</a><font color="#000000"><sup>®</sup></font> Design Exchange Format (DEF) files. To use this manual, you should be an experienced C or C++ programmer, and be familiar with DEF file structure. </p>
<h2><a name="1016761">What's New</a></h2>
<p><a name="1016762">For information on what is new or changed in the DEF programming interface for version 5.8, see </a><a href="../defapiWN/defapiWNTOC.html" target="external_window"><font color="#0000ff"><u><em>What's New in DEF C/C++ Programming Interface</em></u></font></a>.</p>
<p><a name="1016764">For information on what is new or changed in the LEF programming interface for version 5.8, see </a><a href="../lefapiWN/lefapiWNTOC.html" target="external_window"><font color="#0000ff"><u><em>What's New in LEF C/C++ Programming Interface</em></u></font></a>.</p>
<p><a name="1016767">For information on what is new or changed in LEF and DEF for version 5.8, see </a><a href="../lefdefWN/lefdefWNTOC.html" target="external_window"><font color="#0000ff"><u><em>What's New in LEF/DEF</em></u></font></a>.</p>
<h2><a name="1016736">Related Documents</a></h2>
<p><a name="1013423">The DEF C/C++ programming interface lets you create programs that read and write DEF files. For more information about the Design Exchange Format (DEF) file syntax, see the <br></a><a href="../lefdefref/lefdefrefTOC.html" target="external_window"><font color="#0000ff"><u><em>LEF/DEF Language Reference</em></u></font></a>.</p>
<h2><a name="conventions"></a><a name="1016486">Typographic and Syntax Conventions</a></h2>
<p><a name="1016489">This list describes the conventions used in this manual.</a></p>
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<strong></strong>
<strong><a name="1016491"><font size="2" face="'Courier New'" color="#000000">text</font></a></strong>
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<blockquote><a name="1016972">Words in </a><font size="2" face="'Courier New'" color="#000000">monospace</font> type indicate keywords that you must enter literally. These keywords represent language tokens.</blockquote>
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<strong></strong>
<strong><a name="1016494"><font size="2" face="'Courier New'" color="#000000"><em>variable</em></font></a> </strong>
</p>
<blockquote><a name="1017021">Words in </a><font size="2" face="'Courier New'" color="#000000"><em>italics</em></font><font color="#000000"><em> </em></font>indicate user-defined information for which you must substitute a name or a value.</blockquote>
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<strong></strong>
<strong><a name="1017022"><font size="2" face="'Courier New'" color="#000000"><em>int</em></font></a></strong>
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<blockquote><a name="1017041">Specifies an integer argument</a></blockquote>
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<strong></strong>
<strong><a name="1017050"><font size="2" face="'Courier New'" color="#000000"><em>num</em></font></a></strong>
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<blockquote><a name="1017103">Some LEF classes can be defined more than once. A statement that begins with the identifier</a><font color="#000000"><em> num </em></font>represents a specific number of calls to the particular class type.</blockquote>
<p>
<strong></strong>
<strong><a name="1017105"><font size="2" face="'Courier New'" color="#000000">{ }</font></a></strong>
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<blockquote><a name="1017129">Braces enclose each entire LEF class definition. </a></blockquote>
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<strong></strong>
<strong><a name="1017132"><font size="2" face="'Courier New'" color="#000000">|</font></a></strong>
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<blockquote><a name="1017154"><font size="2" face="'Courier New'" color="#000000"> </font></a>Vertical bars separate possible choices for a single argument. They take precedence over any other character. </blockquote>
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<strong></strong>
<strong><a name="1017156"><font size="2" face="'Courier New'" color="#000000">[ ]</font></a></strong>
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<blockquote><a name="1017164"><font size="2" face="'Courier New'" color="#000000"> </font></a>Brackets denote optional arguments. When used with vertical bars, they enclose a list of choices from which you can choose one.</blockquote>
<p><a name="1016482">4/18/17</a></p>
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