[Magic-dev] Method of storing layer information in MAGIC files

[Rajit Manohar]

Hello,

Magic treats a contact differently from other programs.

Suppose I wanted to draw an n-diffusion to metal1 contact (ndc). If you 
paint one, magic draws metal1, n-diffusion, as well as the appropriate 
via. If you draw a
large contact, the vias are converted into an array of small vias.

So when a contact is selected, everything magic drew for you is 
selected; this is why when a contact is erased, you see the effect you 
were pointing out. If you didn't, then painting an isolated contact 
(not near anything) and deleting it would leave residual paint.

In other drawing editors such as ledit, to draw an ndc you would have 
to draw metal1, n-diffusion, as well as the vias in the correct 
configuration---which
might take longer, depending on what you are trying to do. You can also 
delete the via without deleting any of the surrounding material.

 From what you said, it appears that you do not want to delete the 
contact; rather, you'd like to delete the via. I know some (all?) 
technology files support both methods of connections between layers, 
and so if you draw the vias yourself you can delete them as well.

Regards,

-Rajit