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Connection Lookup
The connection lookup algorithm starts at an object and looks for any objects that touch the starting object or any object touching the starting object. This code is implemented in find.c and used throughout the code base for a variety of purposes.
The connection lookup process starts at an object (pins/pads only?) and searches for intersecting objects. For each object it finds, it sets a specified flag. (todo: eventually this should build a list of objects instead). These flags are used in a convoluted way to identify things that have already been found, and if the algorithm should continue looking for more objects.
One of the tricks that the algorithm uses to restore the state of the flags in some cases is to use ClearFlagOnAllObjects to wipe out a flag (an undoable operation), then do everything without adding operations to the Undo stack, run ClearFlagsOnAllObjects a second time (without undo), and then Undo the first one. I guess the point of this is to prevent the undo system from sucking up resources during these operations? This has led to a global variable “User” which has the effect of causing flag change operations to be added to the undo list. I think this is absolutely horrid. This variable needs to die. I think a better way of accomplishing this goal is by locking the undo system.
Uses of the Connection Lookup Algorithm
DRC
The DRC uses the connection lookup code in combination with the “Bloat” and “Shrink” settings to detect places with insufficient spacing and overlap.
NotifyLine
action.c
NotifyMode
action.c
ActionConnection
action.c
ActionDisplay
action.c
ActionSaveTo
action.c
IPCD HID
GTK HID
netlist window
netlist.c
report.c
Places that call DoIt
Notes from 20180810
Saves list of unused pins and pads: ActionSaveTo:action.c:5752 LookupUnusedPins:find.c:2464 PrintAndSelectUnusedPinsAndPadsOfElement:find.c:1982 DoIt:find.c:2000, 2044
Saves list of element connections ActionSaveTo:action.c:5752 LookupElementConnections:find.c:2255 PrintElementConnections:find.c:2120 DoIt:find.c:2136, 2161
There are quite a few of these. (action.c: 905, 906, 1366, 2314, 2315, 2789, 2792) LookupConnection:find.c:2376 (netlist.c: 171, 180) LookupConnection:find.c:2376 (report.c: 598) LookupConnection:find.c:2376 DoIt:find.c:2417
(ipcd356.c: 493, 514, 538) LookupConnectionByPin:find.c:2431 DoIt:find.c:2439
(gsvit.c:433) RatFindHook:find.c:2450 (lesstif/netlist.c:140) RatFindHook:find.c:2450 (gtk/gui-netlist-window.c:543) RatFindHook:find.c:2450 (rats.c:474) RatFindHook:find.c:2450 (select.c:996) RatFindHook:find.c:2450 DoIt:find.c:2456
start_do_it_and_dump:find.c:2681 DoIt:find.c:2689
