All of the entities that comprise an active design can be packaged together and exported, imported, edited, and shared as a single encrypted or unencrypted component. This includes complete components, as well as component parts (e.g., pins, vias, primitives, et cetera) on a layer that constitutes a chip or RLC. Once a component is created, it can be exported and shared, with one of two levels of encryption.
Export and, if appropriate, encrypt a component by completing these steps.
- From the Layout Editor, select the component.
- From the Layout menu, select Export > Layout Component to open an explorer window.
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Navigate to a chosen directory. Then enter a File name for the component and, if appropriate, choose Layout Component file (*.aedbcomp) on the Save as type drop-down menu (selected by default).
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Click Save and the component will be saved in the chosen directory in a folder named <filename>.aedbcomp.
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The explorer window closes and the Create Layout Component window opens. From the Info tab, enter metadata into the appropriate fields. The component's file name is shown in the Name: field.
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Click the Encryption tab.
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From the Encryption tab, choose on the following:
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No encryption: remove the check on the Encrypt Component box and skip to step 11.
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Encrypted technology: geometry will remain visible, but stackup and material information is encrypted. The component may be editable. Click Set Password to open the Set Passwords window, and proceed to step 8.
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Fully encrypted: all data, except port locations, is hidden under a blackbox stencil. The component will remain uneditable. Click Set Password to open the Set Passwords window, and proceed to step 8.
Check the Replace Material and Layer Names box and all material and layer names will be obfuscated (e.g., Dialetric_1 will be renamed Layer1 and the material column will be hidden from view).
If there is a check in the Encrypt Component box, the Set Passwords window will open if users attempt to leave the Encryption tab. Attempting to bypass the window will produce a
Warning: Please input password. dialog box. This is true even if no encryption is chosen. To leave the Encryption tab, uncheck the Encrypt Component box.
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Click OK to open the Set Passwords window.
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From the Allow Component Use area, choose on the following:
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With User Password: the component can be exported as an .aedbcomp file and reopened in Electronics Desktop or other compatible software with the correct password.
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With Internal Key: the component can be exported as an .aedbcomp file and reopened in (and only in) Electronics Desktop without a password.
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Enter and re-enter a password in the chosen fields in the Allow Component Use area.
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If future component editing is chosen, on the Allow Component Use area, choose on the following:
Never: once the Set Passwords window is closed, the component will no longer be editable.
Always: if future component editing is chosen, and no further security is appropriate.
With User Password: if future component editing is chosen, but some further security is appropriate. Enter and re-enter a password in the chosen fields.
Choosing Fully encrypted deactivates the Allow Component Edit area. This level of encryption is a permanent state and the component will not be editable after the Create Layout Component window is finally closed.
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Click OK to save, close the Set Passwords window, and return to the Create Layout Component window.
Once a component is encrypted and users click OK, encryption cannot be removed from the component. However, encryption strength can be increased (i.e., if the user chooses not to encrypt the component, the exported component can be re-imported and exported again as an Encrypted technology component. If the user exports the Encrypted technology component, the exported component can be re-imported and exported again as a Fully encrypted component.
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Click the Mesh Settings tab.
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To save existing mesh settings with the exported component, check the Select mesh settings from: box and make a selection on the drop-down menu.
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Click OK to export the component.
The procedure is complete.