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<div>LEF 5.8 C/C++ Programming Interface (Open Licensing Program)</div>
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<h1><a name="1015430">Preface</a></h1>
<p><a name="1016519">This document describes the C and C++ programming interface used to read and write Cadence</a><font color="#000000"><sup>®</sup></font> Library Exchange Format (LEF) files. You should be an experienced C++ or C programmer and be familiar with LEF file structure to read this manual. </p>
<h2><a name="1016820">What's New</a></h2>
<p><a name="1016828">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><font color="#000000"><em>.</em></font></p>
<p><a name="1016823">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><font color="#000000"><em>.</em></font></p>
<p><a name="1016783">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="1016775">Related Documents</a></h2>
<p><a name="1016795">The LEF C/C++ programming interface lets you create programs that read and write LEF 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="1016523">Typographic and Syntax Conventions</a></h2>
<p><a name="1017192">This list describes the conventions used in this manual.</a></p>
<p>
<strong></strong>
<strong><a name="1017194"><font size="2" face="'Courier New'" color="#000000">text</font></a></strong>
</p>
<blockquote><a name="1017199">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>
<p>
<strong></strong>
<strong><a name="1017208"><font size="2" face="'Courier New'" color="#000000"><em>variable</em></font></a></strong>
</p>
<blockquote><a name="1017215">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>
<p>
<strong></strong>
<strong><a name="1016189"><font size="2" face="'Courier New'" color="#000000"><em>int</em></font></a></strong>
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<blockquote><a name="1017229">Specifies an integer argument</a></blockquote>
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<strong></strong>
<strong><a name="1017241"><font size="2" face="'Courier New'" color="#000000"><em>num</em></font></a></strong>
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<blockquote><a name="1017248">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="1017257"><font size="2" face="'Courier New'" color="#000000">{ }</font></a></strong>
</p>
<blockquote><a name="1017264">Braces enclose each entire LEF class definition. </a></blockquote>
<p>
<strong></strong>
<strong><a name="1017273"><font size="2" face="'Courier New'" color="#000000">|</font></a></strong>
</p>
<blockquote><a name="1017280">Vertical bars separate possible choices for a single argument. They take precedence over any other character. </a></blockquote>
<p>
<strong></strong>
<strong><a name="1017289"><font size="2" face="'Courier New'" color="#000000">[ ]</font></a></strong>
</p>
<blockquote><a name="1017296">Brackets denote optional arguments. When used with vertical bars, they enclose a list of choices from which you can choose one.</a></blockquote>
<p><a name="1016182">4/12/17</a></p>
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