1/5/26 Second Release as 0.81. Please follow the directions very closely

Installing the ConfirmaXL IC Design System (win10/11 only)

  • The ConfirmaXL IC Design System is composed of the ConfirmaXL framework in combination with a variety of 3rd party point tools.

  • Installing the entire system requires downloading, unzipping of five CXL zip files followed by the download of seven 3rd part software installers

  • A total of 8 separate software packages are being installed

  • This install video just added. Hope it helps!

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Step 1: Start by create these four folders on you “c:\” drive

  • c:\ydrive

  • C:ydrive\tech

  • c:\ydrive\tech\process (1/17/26, note updated folder path as previous listing was in error!)

  • c:\y

Step 2: Create temp folder c:\temp. Download the following zipped folders to c:\temp

  • CXLconfirmaXL.zip ….This ConfirmaXL software folder has been updated 1/27/26. Place the unzipped ConfirmaXL folder as c:\confirmaXL

  • CXLlibs.zip …. This contains two folders with CXL/Kicad libraries. Place the unzipped folders into C:\ydrive\tech

  • CXLpsmgPDKs.zip …. This contains a folder with the P180 simulation PDK. Place the unzipped folder into C:\ydrive\tech\process

  • CXLmyChipDesigns.zip … This is a folder containing an initial project folder and guest working folder. Place into C:ydrive

  • CXLmyChipDesignsSimFolder.zip … This is a folder setup to receive spice simulation data. Place unzipped folder into C:\y

Placing folders exactly as above enables ConfirmaXL to run with current settings. Changing folder locations is allowed but will require updates to the ConfirmaXL settings files.

Open the c:\confirmaXL folder. Drag the ConfirmaXL shortcut to the desktop. ConfirmaXL can now be started from the desktop.

This completes installation of ConfirmaXL

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Step 3: Download the following seven 3rd party installers to c:\temp (clear the temp folder first). Please install at locations specified to avoid needing to update ConfirmaXL settings

  • Kicad V6.03 … install to C:\Program Files

  • NGspice 44.2 simulator … install to C:\ngspice-44.2_64)

  • Xyce 7.9 simulator … install to C:\Program Files

  • Klayout … Klayout will install at c:\users\you\appdata\roaming\klayout where “you” is your “Windows User Name”

  • LASI … Unzip and place resulting folder at C:\lasi7 (you can drag the included lasi7 shortcut to the desktop)

  • Topspice 10 Demo … install to C:\Program Files (the topview viewer program is also here)

  • Qspice (optional) … install to C:\Program Files

  • LTspice (optional) … install to default location, usually somewhere like “c:\users\you\appdata\programs\adi

    You may need to update the ConfirmaXL spice engine and waveform viewer “setup” forms to reflect the paths on your install !

The baseline set of 3rd party design tools are now installed

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Step 4: Kicad Configuration

Install the required symbol libraries into Kicad. The easiest way to do this is to overwrite the initial Kicad symbol table file with the one provided with ConfirmaXL.

The Kicad “sim-lib-table” file provided by ConfirmaXL is located here,

C:\ydrive\MyChipDesigns\psmg\p180\designs\guestworking\Kicad_symbolTable

Take the guestworking “sim-lib-table” and copy over the Kicad “sim-lib-table” file found here,

C:\Users\you\AppData\Roaming\kicad\6.0\sym-lib-table

where “you” is replaced with your “Windows User Name”

After updating the symbol table the next step is to install the “Pass2ConfirmaXL” script. The script to be installed is,

C:\confirmaXL\bin\Debug\Pass2ConfirmaXL.exe

Procedure:

a) Open Kicad

b) select the BOM icon on the top right side of the interface

c) select the “+” to add a BOM generator… navigate to or enter C:\confirmaXL\bin\Debug\Pass2ConfirmaXL.exe and enter

d) Enter a name for the generator “Pass2ConfirmaXL”

e) Add %B to the “Command line running the generator”. The complete line should be C:\confirmaXL\bin\Debug\Pass2ConfirmaXL.exe %B

f) Select “generate” button. This should cause ConfirmaXL to start

h) Exit Kicad. This ensures the Pass2ConfirmaXL script is saved and available for future.

Step 5: Klayout Configuration

Update the path in the ConfirmaXL ==> setup IC layout tools, Klayout tab

The current path will look like … C:\Users\Kgfai\AppData\Roaming\KLayout\klayout_app.exe -e

Replace “kgfai” with your “Windows User Name”

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The complete ConfirmaXL Design System is now Installed.

** Performing your first spice simulation

Start ConfirmaXL via the ConfirmaXL shortcut.

Select the “Open Sch” button to open the default schematic in Kicad

Select “Fast Netlist” to create a spice netlist from the schematic

Select the “Spice Simulators” tab on left, choose NGspice or Xyce.

(Note: The number of devices may exceed that allowed by demo Topspice)

Select “Sim Netlist” to start the simulation

Select “View Plots” to open Topview to plot simulation results

ConfirmaXL User Manuals (These are all draft versions)

Predictive Semiconductor Modeling Group PSMG P180 PDK Document

Part I - Introduction

Part II - Creating Primitive, Net and Hierarchical KiCad Symbols

Part III - Creating Schematics for Simulation

Part IV - Kicad, Spice & Layout Plug-ins & Project Organization