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AEL in ADS 2012.08 (New User to AEL)

Question asked by luv2fish on May 20, 2013
Latest reply on Jun 11, 2013 by volker_muehlhaus

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Hello,

In ADS2012.08, how can I get my custom AEL code to compile only for a given workspace? Do I need to place the .ael files in a workspace location and point to them using the LOCAL_AEL variable?

In general, I am new to AEL code writing. I have been reading the Agilent documentation online, but I am having trouble with compiling within a workspace and debugging AEL code.

Does Agilent offer AEL training?

Does anybody have a good place to go for simple examples?

I want to create custom variable equations (functions) in schematics, as well as in the data display.

Thanks.

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aehoward May 21, 2013 9:02 AM
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Hello,

I do not know of a way to get custom AEL code to compile only for a given workspace, but maybe someone else knows how to do this. On our Knowledge Center there are many examples of custom AEL functions that compute certain things. I wrote a document about how to write custom AEL measurement expressions: http://edocs.soco.agilent.com/display/eesofkcads/Writing+custom+AEL+measurement+expressions

There are many AEL functions you can see in the ADS installation directories under $HPEESOF_DIR/expressions/ael/
These tend to be written to be more robust (but are also more complex) than the examples you find on our Knowledge Center.

Andy Howard
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- luv2fish @ aehoward on May 22, 2013 12:12 PM
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  Andy,
  
  Thanks for the link to your document. It is very informative. I will read in detail.
  
  Thanks.
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volker_muehlhaus May 21, 2013 9:15 AM
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You asked about an AEL training:

Where are you located? Last September, Agilent offered a 2 day training "ADS AEL and PDL development" in their Gent/Belgium office. There was a lot of PDK content, but this also covered AEL and customization in general. Highly recommended!

Best regards
Volker
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- luv2fish @ volker_muehlhaus on May 22, 2013 12:13 PM
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  Volker,
  
  I am located in the U.S. in northwest Chicago suburbs. I have contacted my local sales person for more information.
  
  Dave
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sdgrant May 21, 2013 2:45 PM
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For "custom variable equations (functions) in schematics" you need to provide a bit more information. What exactly are you thinking about for this requirement?

For the data display it is a bit more straight-forward. What you are dealing with here are Measurement Expressions. Custom functions that can be developed to support post-processing of simulation data. These are best created as custom AEL files, loaded via the user_defined_fun.ael file and everything is saved into your Home Directory (in $HOME/hpeesof/expressions/ael). When this is configured then any customization added there will automatically be available to use for any workspace you work with using ADS 2012.08.

This is documented in Help > Topics and Index under Design Tools > Measurement Expressions > Introduction to Measurement Expressions > User-Defined Functions.

Measurement Expressions are not intended to be configured as part of a specific workspace but they can be added to a library (set up as a PDK) and that library can be enabled for specific workspaces but that process if quite involved. It is better to develop the function as above and once working they can be reconfigured as necessary.

There are many examples of Measurement Expressions AEL file in $HPEESOF_DIR/expressions/ael that can be read and used for reference if required.
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- luv2fish @ sdgrant on May 22, 2013 12:34 PM
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  Based on your comments, I think I may want to use PDKs which can be used for a given workspace and not for the entire ADS user session. I want to provide a workspace to other colleagues, but I do not want to have them placing files within their Home Directory (in $HOME/hpeesof/expressions/ael to get the workspace to run properly. I think a PDK would be cleaner and only activate the AEL code for the workspace that I provide them.
  
  Image I have a data display that contains 400 equations. This can make the data display slow to manipulate. I want to move these equations into an AEL file and have the variable results available for plotting within the same data display. If I can move these equations into AEL, I can condense the equations by making use of the 'while loop' capabilities in AEL.
  
  I do not want to place these equations into tho schematic since this will make the simulation take longer to run (such as in a 'measurement equation').
  
  Any thoughts?
  
  Dave
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  - volker_muehlhaus @ luv2fish on May 22, 2013 1:18 PM
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    Hi Dave,
    
    here is something to try:
    
    If you want to customize data display with AEL data display expressions, the file name is +dk_defined_fun.ael+ and the file path is specified with variable EXPRESSIONS_DIRECTORY inside the library's +eesof_lib.cfg+ file. Example: EXPRESSIONS_DIRECTORY=../expressions/ael
    
    That is what you would do for the PDK approach, and I think it might also work for a workspace libray. To edit +eesof_lib.cfg+, right click the library in the ADS workspace tree (in Library View mode) and select "Configure Library". This will bring up a multi-page dialog. The setting you want to edit is "Expressions directory" on the "Custom AEL" tab.
    
    More details are found in the ADS online help if you search for EXPRESSIONS_DIRECTORY.
    
    Good luck, and let us know if this works for the "normal workspace" case. For PDK, it is known to work.
    
    Best regards
    Volker
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    expressions.PNG21.4 KB
    config_library.PNG39.0 KB
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    - volker_muehlhaus @ volker_muehlhaus on May 22, 2013 1:52 PM
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      Hi Dave,
      
      I've just tested the method that I proposed above, and it works fine. So you can indeed define custom equations (expressions) inside the workspace library, without using a separate PDK. My example workspace is attached.
      
      Best regards
      Volker
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      custom_equation.PNG97.0 KB
      Equation_Test_wrk.7zads5.9 KB
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      - luv2fish @ volker_muehlhaus on Jun 10, 2013 2:46 PM
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        This does work!!
        
        This will come in very handy.
        
        However, I did notice that if I edit my custom .ael file and then try to re-open the ADS workspace, I get and ADS error opening the workspace. The workspace does open after you acknowledge the issue. (See attached).
        
        I also noticed that once I open and close the workspace (and a data display) that uses the custom .ael code, these equation are now available for all of my workspaces. This may still cause issues with conflicting variable names of other workspaces.
        
        Dave
        
        Edited by: luv2fish on Jun 10, 2013 4:44 PM
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        ADS Error Opening WorkSpace.jpg53.1 KB
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        volker_muehlhaus @ luv2fish on Jun 11, 2013 8:22 AM
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        Hi Dave,
        
        you are right, I confirm that other workspaces loaded later into the same session will "see" the custom expression, although it was only defined locally in that first workspace. It seems that expression, once loaded, are not cleared from memory.
        
        However, I do not see the error upon opening the workspace that you have experienced. This might be related to your code and you should be able to fix that. The message looks weird. When you use your AEL expression in the data display, does that show/report any errors? Have you tried debugging your AEL code with console output (fputs to stderr)?
        
        Best regards
        Volker
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eyeung May 21, 2013 5:36 PM
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Hello,

Please contact your local Agilent EEsof field engineer if you are interested in a custom AEL training class. We do not have a standard AEL training class at the moment. But we can provide a custom training class as a consulting engagement.

Edwin Yeung
Agilent EEsof technical support
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AEL in ADS 2012.08 (New User to AEL)

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