API reference - Class InstElement

Notation used in Ruby API documentation

Module: db

Description: An element in an instantiation path

This objects are used to reference a single instance in a instantiation path. The object is composed of a CellInstArray object (accessible through the cell_inst accessor) that describes the basic instance, which may be an array. The particular instance within the array can be further retrieved using the array_member_trans, specific_trans or specific_cplx_trans methods.

Public constructors

new InstElement ptrnewDefault constructor
new InstElement ptrnew(const Instance inst)Create an instance element from a single instance alone
new InstElement ptrnew(const Instance inst,
unsigned long a_index,
unsigned long b_index)
Create an instance element from an array instance pointing into a certain array member

Public methods

[const]bool!=(const InstElement b)Inequality of two InstElement objects
[const]bool<(const InstElement b)Provides an order criterion for two InstElement objects
[const]bool==(const InstElement b)Equality of two InstElement objects
void_createEnsures the C++ object is created
void_destroyExplicitly destroys the object
[const]bool_destroyed?Returns a value indicating whether the object was already destroyed
[const]bool_is_const_object?Returns a value indicating whether the reference is a const reference
void_manageMarks the object as managed by the script side.
void_unmanageMarks the object as no longer owned by the script side.
[const]Transarray_member_transReturns the transformation for this array member
voidassign(const InstElement other)Assigns another object to self
[const]const CellInstArray ptrcell_instAccessor to the cell instance (array).
[const]new InstElement ptrdupCreates a copy of self
[const]longiaReturns the 'a' axis index for array instances
[const]longibReturns the 'b' axis index for array instances
[const]InstanceinstGets the Instance object held in this instance path element.
[const]unsigned longprop_idAccessor to the property attached to this instance.
[const]ICplxTransspecific_cplx_transReturns the specific complex transformation for this instance
[const]Transspecific_transReturns the specific transformation for this instance

Deprecated methods (protected, public, static, non-static and constructors)

voidcreateUse of this method is deprecated. Use _create instead
voiddestroyUse of this method is deprecated. Use _destroy instead
[const]booldestroyed?Use of this method is deprecated. Use _destroyed? instead
[const]boolis_const_object?Use of this method is deprecated. Use _is_const_object? instead
[static]new InstElement ptrnew_i(const Instance inst)Use of this method is deprecated. Use new instead
[static]new InstElement ptrnew_iab(const Instance inst,
unsigned long a_index,
unsigned long b_index)
Use of this method is deprecated. Use new instead

Detailed description

!=

Signature: [const] bool != (const InstElement b)

Description: Inequality of two InstElement objects

See the comments on the == operator.

<

Signature: [const] bool < (const InstElement b)

Description: Provides an order criterion for two InstElement objects

Note: this operator is just provided to establish any order, not a particular one.

==

Signature: [const] bool == (const InstElement b)

Description: Equality of two InstElement objects

Note: this operator returns true if both instance elements refer to the same instance, not just identical ones.

_create

Signature: void _create

Description: Ensures the C++ object is created

Use this method to ensure the C++ object is created, for example to ensure that resources are allocated. Usually C++ objects are created on demand and not necessarily when the script object is created.

_destroy

Signature: void _destroy

Description: Explicitly destroys the object

Explicitly destroys the object on C++ side if it was owned by the script interpreter. Subsequent access to this object will throw an exception. If the object is not owned by the script, this method will do nothing.

_destroyed?

Signature: [const] bool _destroyed?

Description: Returns a value indicating whether the object was already destroyed

This method returns true, if the object was destroyed, either explicitly or by the C++ side. The latter may happen, if the object is owned by a C++ object which got destroyed itself.

_is_const_object?

Signature: [const] bool _is_const_object?

Description: Returns a value indicating whether the reference is a const reference

This method returns true, if self is a const reference. In that case, only const methods may be called on self.

_manage

Signature: void _manage

Description: Marks the object as managed by the script side.

After calling this method on an object, the script side will be responsible for the management of the object. This method may be called if an object is returned from a C++ function and the object is known not to be owned by any C++ instance. If necessary, the script side may delete the object if the script's reference is no longer required.

Usually it's not required to call this method. It has been introduced in version 0.24.

_unmanage

Signature: void _unmanage

Description: Marks the object as no longer owned by the script side.

Calling this method will make this object no longer owned by the script's memory management. Instead, the object must be managed in some other way. Usually this method may be called if it is known that some C++ object holds and manages this object. Technically speaking, this method will turn the script's reference into a weak reference. After the script engine decides to delete the reference, the object itself will still exist. If the object is not managed otherwise, memory leaks will occur.

Usually it's not required to call this method. It has been introduced in version 0.24.

array_member_trans

Signature: [const] Trans array_member_trans

Description: Returns the transformation for this array member

The array member transformation is the one applicable in addition to the global transformation for the member selected from an array. If this instance is not an array instance, the specific transformation is a unit transformation without displacement.

assign

Signature: void assign (const InstElement other)

Description: Assigns another object to self

cell_inst

Signature: [const] const CellInstArray ptr cell_inst

Description: Accessor to the cell instance (array).

This method is equivalent to "self.inst.cell_inst" and provided for convenience.

create

Signature: void create

Description: Ensures the C++ object is created

Use of this method is deprecated. Use _create instead

Use this method to ensure the C++ object is created, for example to ensure that resources are allocated. Usually C++ objects are created on demand and not necessarily when the script object is created.

destroy

Signature: void destroy

Description: Explicitly destroys the object

Use of this method is deprecated. Use _destroy instead

Explicitly destroys the object on C++ side if it was owned by the script interpreter. Subsequent access to this object will throw an exception. If the object is not owned by the script, this method will do nothing.

destroyed?

Signature: [const] bool destroyed?

Description: Returns a value indicating whether the object was already destroyed

Use of this method is deprecated. Use _destroyed? instead

This method returns true, if the object was destroyed, either explicitly or by the C++ side. The latter may happen, if the object is owned by a C++ object which got destroyed itself.

dup

Signature: [const] new InstElement ptr dup

Description: Creates a copy of self

Python specific notes:
This method also implements '__copy__' and '__deepcopy__'.

ia

Signature: [const] long ia

Description: Returns the 'a' axis index for array instances

For instance elements describing one member of an array, this attribute will deliver the a axis index addressed by this element. See ib and array_member_trans for further attributes applicable to array members. If the element is a plain instance and not an array member, this attribute is a negative value.

This method has been introduced in version 0.25.

ib

Signature: [const] long ib

Description: Returns the 'b' axis index for array instances

For instance elements describing one member of an array, this attribute will deliver the a axis index addressed by this element. See ia and array_member_trans for further attributes applicable to array members. If the element is a plain instance and not an array member, this attribute is a negative value.

This method has been introduced in version 0.25.

inst

Signature: [const] Instance inst

Description: Gets the Instance object held in this instance path element.

This method has been added in version 0.24.

is_const_object?

Signature: [const] bool is_const_object?

Description: Returns a value indicating whether the reference is a const reference

Use of this method is deprecated. Use _is_const_object? instead

This method returns true, if self is a const reference. In that case, only const methods may be called on self.

new

(1) Signature: [static] new InstElement ptr new

Description: Default constructor

Python specific notes:
This method is the default initializer of the object.

(2) Signature: [static] new InstElement ptr new (const Instance inst)

Description: Create an instance element from a single instance alone

Starting with version 0.15, this method takes an Instance object (an instance reference) as the argument.

Python specific notes:
This method is the default initializer of the object.

(3) Signature: [static] new InstElement ptr new (const Instance inst, unsigned long a_index, unsigned long b_index)

Description: Create an instance element from an array instance pointing into a certain array member

Starting with version 0.15, this method takes an Instance object (an instance reference) as the first argument.

Python specific notes:
This method is the default initializer of the object.

new_i

Signature: [static] new InstElement ptr new_i (const Instance inst)

Description: Create an instance element from a single instance alone

Use of this method is deprecated. Use new instead

Starting with version 0.15, this method takes an Instance object (an instance reference) as the argument.

Python specific notes:
This method is the default initializer of the object.

new_iab

Signature: [static] new InstElement ptr new_iab (const Instance inst, unsigned long a_index, unsigned long b_index)

Description: Create an instance element from an array instance pointing into a certain array member

Use of this method is deprecated. Use new instead

Starting with version 0.15, this method takes an Instance object (an instance reference) as the first argument.

Python specific notes:
This method is the default initializer of the object.

prop_id

Signature: [const] unsigned long prop_id

Description: Accessor to the property attached to this instance.

This method is equivalent to "self.inst.prop_id" and provided for convenience.

specific_cplx_trans

Signature: [const] ICplxTrans specific_cplx_trans

Description: Returns the specific complex transformation for this instance

The specific transformation is the one applicable for the member selected from an array. This is the effective transformation applied for this array member. array_member_trans gives the transformation applied additionally to the instances' global transformation (in other words, specific_cplx_trans = array_member_trans * cell_inst.cplx_trans).

specific_trans

Signature: [const] Trans specific_trans

Description: Returns the specific transformation for this instance

The specific transformation is the one applicable for the member selected from an array. This is the effective transformation applied for this array member. array_member_trans gives the transformation applied additionally to the instances' global transformation (in other words, specific_trans = array_member_trans * cell_inst.trans). This method delivers a simple transformation that does not include magnification components. To get these as well, use specific_cplx_trans.