Where to Use AEL Functions

The following table shows where each function in the AEL manual can be used.

• Measurement Expressions (Data Display equations and Schematic MeasEqns)—Post-process simulation data or write your own functions to extend the functionality beyond the built-in expressions. In addition to the functions marked Measurement Expressions, you can also use the functions in the Measurement Expressions documentation.
• Schematic—Manipulate the schematic, for example, create or edit component definitions, do database traversals, modify designs and more.
• Layout—Manipulate the layout, for example, create dynamic shapes by writing custom artwork macros and more. For more information, see Layout Library.
• Simulation—Start and control simulations.
• GUI—Customize ADS's graphical user interface (GUI). For more information, see Customization and Configuration.

Function	Measurement Expressions	Schematic	Layout	Simulation	GUI
abs()	X	X	X	X	X
acos()	X	X	X	X	X
acosh()	X	X	X	X	X
acot()	X	X	X	X	X
acoth()	X	X	X	X	X
add_menu()					X
add_separator()					X
ael_gfile_hasext()	X	X	X	X	X
api_dlg_unmanage()					X
api_get_current_window()					X
api_get_graph_color_index_by_name()					X
api_get_graph_color_name_by_index()					X
api_get_graph_pattern_index_by_name()					X
api_get_graph_pattern_name_by_index()					X
api_get_window_graph()					X
api_set_current_window()					X
api_set_current_window_by_seq_num()					X
append()	X	X	X	X	X
arg()	X	X	X	X	X
arg_list()	X	X	X	X	X
array_lowerBound()	X	X	X	X	X
array_size()	X	X	X	X	X
array_type()	X	X	X	X	X
array_upperBound()	X	X	X	X	X
asin()	X	X	X	X	X
asinh()	X	X	X	X	X
atan()	X	X	X	X	X
atan2()	X	X	X	X	X
atanh()	X	X	X	X	X
call()	X	X	X	X	X
call_depth()	X	X	X	X	X
car()	X	X	X	X	X
cdr()	X	X	X	X	X
ceil()	X	X	X	X	X
chdir()	X	X	X	X	X
check_syntax()	X	X	X	X	X
check_user_menu()					X
chmod()	X	X	X	X	X
chr()	X	X	X	X	X
cint()	X	X	X	X	X
clear_server()	X	X	X	X	X
clear_user_menu()					X
cmplx()	X	X	X	X	X
conj()	X	X	X	X	X
cons()	X	X	X	X	X
convBin()	X	X	X	X	X
convert_array()	X	X	X	X	X
convHex()	X	X	X	X	X
convOct()	X	X	X	X	X
cos()	X	X	X	X	X
cosh()	X	X	X	X	X
cot()	X	X	X	X	X
coth()	X	X	X	X	X
create_compound_form()		X
create_constant_form()		X
create_design_default_item()		X
create_design_default_parm()		X
create_form_set()		X
create_item()		X
create_parm()		X
create_server()	X	X	X	X	X
create_text_form()		X
date_time()	X	X	X	X	X
dB()	X	X	X	X	X
db_add_symbol_properties()		X
db_clear_map()		X	X
db_current_instance()		X	X
db_factor()		X	X
db_find_instance()		X	X
db_find_property()		X	X
db_first_dg()		X	X
db_first_instance()		X	X
db_first_mask()		X	X
db_first_node()		X	X
db_first_parm()		X	X
db_first_point()		X	X
db_first_property()		X	X
db_first_segment()		X	X
db_free_points()		X	X
db_get_arc_segment_attribute()		X	X
db_get_bbox_x1()		X	X
db_get_bbox_x2()		X	X
db_get_bbox_y1()		X	X
db_get_bbox_y2()		X	X
db_get_coord()		X	X
db_get_design()		X	X
db_get_design_attribute()		X	X
db_get_dg_attribute()		X	X
db_get_instance_attribute()		X	X
db_get_instance_bbox()		X	X
db_get_instance_description()		X	X
db_get_instance_parm()		X	X
db_get_location_angle()		X	X
db_get_location_x()		X	X
db_get_location_y()		X	X
db_get_map()		X	X
db_get_map_attribute()		X	X
db_get_mask_attribute()		X	X
db_get_node_attribute()		X	X
db_get_node_number()		X	X
db_get_node_wires()		X	X
db_get_parm_attribute()		X	X
db_get_parm_nominal_value()		X	X
db_get_path_attribute()		X	X
db_get_pin_attribute()		X	X
db_get_port_attribute()		X	X
db_get_port_number()		X	X
db_get_property_attribute()		X	X
db_get_rep()		X	X
db_get_rep_attribute()		X	X
db_get_rep_bbox()		X	X
db_get_rep_db_factor()		X	X
db_get_rep_unit_mks()		X	X
db_get_rep_unit_name()		X	X
db_get_segment_attribute()		X	X
db_get_symbol_attribute()		X
db_get_text_attribute()		X	X
db_get_transform_angle()		X	X
db_get_transform_mirror_x()		X	X
db_get_transform_mirror_y()		X	X
db_get_transform_x()		X	X
db_get_transform_y()		X	X
db_get_wire_attribute()		X	X
db_get_x()		X	X
db_get_y()		X	X
db_instance_next_pin()		X	X
db_next_dg()		X	X
db_next_instance()		X	X
db_next_mask()		X	X
db_next_node()		X	X
db_next_parm()		X	X
db_next_point()		X	X
db_next_port()		X	X
db_next_property()		X	X
db_next_segment()		X	X
db_node_first_pin()		X	X
db_node_next_pin()		X	X
db_num_parms()		X	X
db_segment_to_points()		X	X
db_set_map()		X	X
db_setup_map()		X	X
db_setup_transform()		X	X
db_total_points()		X	X
db_transform_angle()		X	X
db_transform_bbox()		X	X
db_transform_coord()		X	X
db_transform_points()		X	X
dBm()	X	X	X	X	X
de_activate()		X	X
de_add_arc()		X	X
de_add_arc1()		X	X
de_add_arc2()		X	X
de_add_arc3()		X	X
de_add_arc4()		X	X
de_add_circle()		X	X
de_add_construction_line()		X	X
de_add_layer()		X	X
de_add_path()		X	X
de_add_point()		X	X
de_add_polygon()		X	X
de_add_polyline()		X	X
de_add_property()		X	X
de_add_rectangle()		X	X
de_add_text()		X	X
de_add_trace()		X	X
de_add_vertex()		X	X
de_add_wire()		X	X
de_add_wire_label()		X	X
de_analyze()				X
de_analyze_tune()				X
de_ang_factor()		X	X
de_archive_project()		X	X
de_bom()		X	X
de_boolean_logical()			X
de_break_connection()		X	X
de_change_annotation_layer()		X
de_change_units()		X	X
de_check_rep_options()		X	X
de_chop()			X
de_clear_dc_annotation()		X
de_clear_highlighting()		X	X
de_clear_rep()		X	X
de_clear_show_connected()		X	X
de_close_all()		X	X
de_close_all_datadisplay()		X
de_close_design()		X	X
de_close_window()		X	X
de_config_window()		X	X
de_connect()		X	X
de_convert_path_to_trace()			X
de_convert_to_polygon()		X	X
de_convert_trace_to_path()			X
de_convert_traces_to_instances()			X
de_copy()		X	X
de_copy_design()		X	X
de_copy_file()		X	X
de_copy_project()		X	X
de_copy_to_buffer()		X	X
de_copy_to_layer()		X	X
de_create_window()		X	X
de_crop()			X
de_current_design_name()		X	X
de_current_design_type()		X	X
de_data_dialog()					X
de_dc_annotation()		X
de_deactivate()		X	X
de_define_edge_area_port()			X
de_define_npport()			X
de_define_palette_group()		X
de_define_port()			X
de_delete()		X	X
de_delete_all_orphaned_instances()		X	X
de_delete_design()		X	X
de_delete_project()		X	X
de_delete_view()		X	X
de_deselect_all()		X	X
de_deselect_all_force()		X	X
de_deselect_by_name()		X	X
de_deselect_window()		X	X
de_difference()			X
de_draw_arc()		X	X
de_draw_arc1()		X	X
de_draw_arc2()		X	X
de_draw_arc3()		X	X
de_draw_arc4()		X	X
de_draw_circ()		X	X
de_draw_point()		X	X
de_draw_port()			X
de_draw_rect()		X	X
de_draw_text()		X	X
de_dse_l2s()			X
de_dse_s2l()		X
de_edit_annotation_attribute()		X
de_edit_item()		X	X
de_edit_path_trace()			X
de_edit_symbol_pin()		X	X
de_edit_text_attribute()		X	X
de_edit_text_string()		X	X
de_empty()		X	X
de_end()		X	X
de_end_command()		X	X
de_end_edit_item()		X	X
de_error_bell()		X
de_exit()		X
de_export_design()		X	X
de_fill()		X	X
de_find_arc_center()		X	X
de_find_line_center()		X	X
de_find_pin()		X	X
de_find_vertex()		X	X
de_fix_instances()		X	X
de_flatten()		X	X
de_free_instances()		X	X
de_free_item()		X	X
de_generate_symbol()		X
de_get_alternate_window()		X	X
de_get_data_parm()		X	X
de_get_design_instances()		X	X
de_get_env()		X
de_get_file_names()		X	X
de_get_layer_attribute()		X	X
de_get_layer_names()		X	X
de_get_preference()		X	X
de_get_variable_names()		X
de_get_variable_value()		X
de_get_window()		X	X
de_group_edit_parameter_value()		X	X
de_hide_or_display_component_name())		X
de_highlight_instance()		X	X
de_import_design()		X	X
de_info()					X
de_init_item()		X	X
de_insert_arrow()		X	X
de_insert_dimlin()			X
de_instantiate()		X	X
de_intersection()			X
de_invoke_help()		X	X
de_last_view()		X	X
de_mirror_x()		X	X
de_mirror_y()		X	X
de_miter_vertex()			X
de_modify_arc_resolution()		X	X
de_modify_break()		X	X
de_modify_circle_radius()		X	X
de_modify_explode()		X	X
de_modify_join()		X	X
de_move()		X	X
de_move_annotation()		X
de_move_break()		X	X
de_move_to_layer()		X	X
de_net()		X	X
de_netlist()		X
de_new_datadisplay()		X	X
de_new_design()		X	X
de_new_project()		X	X
de_open_check_rep_dialog()					X
de_open_datadisplay()		X
de_open_design()		X	X
de_open_hierarchy_dialog()					X
de_open_info_dialog()					X
de_open_project()		X	X
de_open_window()		X	X
de_oversize()		X	X
de_pan_window()		X	X
de_parameter_changed_callback		X	X
de_parts()		X	X
de_parts_option_add_exclusion_items()		X	X
de_parts_option_add_inclusion_items()		X	X
de_parts_option_check_bom()		X	X
de_parts_option_include_header()		X	X
de_parts_option_set_attribute_columns()		X	X
de_parts_option_set_center_placement()		X	X
de_parts_option_set_delimeter()		X	X
de_parts_option_set_hierarchical()		X	X
de_parts_option_set_package_offset()		X	X
de_parts_option_sort_by_component()		X	X
de_paste_from_buffer()		X	X
de_place_design_template()		X
de_place_item()		X	X
de_place_port()		X	X
de_place_unplaced()		X	X
de_playback_macro()		X	X
de_plot()		X	X
de_plot_to_file()		X	X
de_pop_outof_instance()		X	X
de_post_help()		X	X
de_print_info()					X
de_prompt()					X
de_push_into_instance()		X	X
de_question()					X
de_read_layer()		X	X
de_read_preferences()		X	X
de_refresh_layers()		X	X
de_refresh_view()		X	X
de_release_simulator()		X
de_remove_all_layers()		X	X
de_remove_properties()		X	X
de_restore_all_datadisplay()		X
de_restore_status()		X
de_restore_view()		X	X
de_retrieve_version_info()		X	X
de_rotate()		X	X
de_rotate_90()		X	X
de_rotate_center()		X	X
de_rotate_image()		X	X
de_save_all_designs()		X	X
de_save_design()		X	X
de_save_design_template()		X
de_scale()		X	X
de_search_and_replace()		X	X
de_select_all()		X	X
de_select_all_force()		X	X
de_select_all_on_layer()		X	X
de_select_by_name()		X	X
de_select_item()		X	X
de_select_range()		X	X
de_select_unplaced()		X	X
de_select_window()		X	X
de_set_annotation_font()		X
de_set_annotation_height()		X
de_set_annotation_id_layer()		X
de_set_annotation_name_layer()		X
de_set_annotation_parameters_layer()		X
de_set_annotation_precision()		X
de_set_annotation_rows()		X
de_set_arc_radius()		X	X
de_set_background_color()		X	X
de_set_backup_count()		X	X
de_set_coord_entry_popup()		X	X
de_set_coordinate_readout_mode()		X	X
de_set_curve_radius()		X	X
de_set_design_template()		X	X
de_set_drag_move()		X	X
de_set_drag_move_size()		X	X
de_set_drag_move_units()		X	X
de_set_dse_start()		X	X
de_set_dual_placement()		X	X
de_set_edit_property()		X	X
de_set_edit_symbol_pin()		X	X
de_set_edit_text()		X	X
de_set_error_bell()		X
de_set_foreground_color()		X	X
de_set_global_db_factor()			X
de_set_grid_color()		X	X
de_set_grid_display_type()		X	X
de_set_grid_snap()		X	X
de_set_grid_snap_mode()		X	X
de_set_grid_snap_type()		X	X
de_set_highlight_color()		X	X
de_set_inst_pin_order_property()		X	X
de_set_item_id()		X	X
de_set_item_parameters()		X	X
de_set_layer()		X	X
de_set_major_grid_display()		X	X
de_set_minor_grid_display()		X	X
de_set_miter_cutoff()			X
de_set_miter_length()			X
de_set_move_annotation()		X
de_set_origin()		X	X
de_set_oversize()		X	X
de_set_path_corner()			X
de_set_path_width()			X
de_set_pin_color()		X	X
de_set_pin_size()		X	X
de_set_pin_size_units()		X	X
de_set_pin_snap()		X	X
de_set_pin_snap_units()		X	X
de_set_place_popup_mode()		X	X
de_set_place_popup_on_zero_parm()		X	X
de_set_plot_pin_names()		X	X
de_set_plot_pin_numbers()		X	X
de_set_plot_pins()		X	X
de_set_plotting_depth()			X
de_set_port()		X	X
de_set_port_size()		X	X
de_set_port_size_units()		X	X
de_set_preference()		X	X
de_set_reroute_wires()		X	X
de_set_resolution_for_arc()		X	X
de_set_rotation_increment()		X	X
de_set_route_around_annot()		X
de_set_route_dist_units()		X
de_set_scale()		X	X
de_set_select_box_size()		X	X
de_set_select_box_units()		X	X
de_set_select_color()		X	X
de_set_select_filter()		X	X
de_set_select_inside_polygon()		X	X
de_set_select_point_size()		X	X
de_set_select_point_size_units()		X	X
de_set_self_intersect()		X	X
de_set_shape_entry_mode()		X	X
de_set_simulation_dataset()		X
de_set_simulation_host()		X
de_set_step_and_repeat()		X	X
de_set_swap_template_instance()		X	X
de_set_tap_length()			X
de_set_tee_color()		X	X
de_set_tee_size()		X	X
de_set_tee_size_units()		X	X
de_set_text_absolute()		X	X
de_set_text_angle()		X	X
de_set_text_font()		X	X
de_set_text_height()		X	X
de_set_text_justification()		X	X
de_set_text_string()		X	X
de_set_trace_sim_mode()		X	X
de_set_trace_single_elem()		X	X
de_set_trace_tech()			X
de_set_trace_traverse()			X
de_set_undo_edit_count()		X	X
de_warning_bell()		X
de_short_design_name()		X	X
de_shove()		X	X
de_show_connected()		X	X
de_show_design_in_window()		X	X
de_show_equiv_inst()		X	X
de_show_fixed()		X	X
de_show_unplaced()		X	X
de_simple_dialog_cancel_cb()		X
de_snap()		X	X
de_split()			X
de_split_tlin()			X
de_step_and_repeat()		X	X
de_store_current_view()		X	X
de_stretch()		X	X
de_stretch_dimlin()			X
de_stretch_tlin()			X
de_swap_instances()		X	X
de_switch_view()		X
de_tap_tlin()			X
de_tune()				X
de_tune_deinit()				X
de_unarchive_project()		X	X
de_undo()		X	X
de_undo_vertex()		X	X
de_unhighlight_instances()		X	X
de_union()			X
de_update_optimization_values()		X
de_update_parameters()		X	X
de_update_tune_parameters()		X	X
de_valid_name()		X
de_variables()		X	X
de_version_number_int()		X	X
de_vertex_to_arc()		X	X
de_view_all()		X	X
de_warning_bell()		X
de_window_is_open()		X	X
de_write_layer()		X	X
de_write_preferences()		X	X
de_zoom_in_point()		X	X
de_zoom_in_scale()		X	X
de_zoom_out_point()		X	X
de_zoom_out_scale()		X	X
de_zoom_window()		X	X
deg()	X	X	X	X	X
delete_nth()	X	X	X	X	X
delete_word()	X	X	X	X	X
dm_create_cb()		X
dm_find_form_definition()		X
dm_find_item_definition()		X
dm_first_parm_definition()		X
dm_get_design_class_code()		X
dm_get_design_name()		X
dm_get_form_definition_attribute()		X
dm_get_item_definition_attribute()		X
dm_get_parm_definition_attribute()		X
dm_get_simcode_from_designcode()		X
dm_index_parm_definition()		X
dm_next_parm_definition()		X
dm_num_parm_definitions()		X
error()	X	X	X	X	X
evaluate()	X	X	X	X	X
execute()	X	X	X	X	X
exp()	X	X	X	X	X
expandenv()	X	X	X	X	X
fclose()	X	X	X	X	X
fflush()	X	X	X	X	X
fgets()	X	X	X	X	X
file_loaded()	X	X	X	X	X
filedate()	X	X	X	X	X
filestat()	X	X	X	X	X
find_word()	X	X	X	X	X
find_word_voc()	X	X	X	X	X
fix()	X	X	X	X	X
fix_path()	X	X	X	X	X
float()	X	X	X	X	X
floor()	X	X	X	X	X
fmt()	X	X	X	X	X
fmt_tokens()	X	X	X	X	X
fopen()	X	X	X	X	X
format_date_time()	X	X	X	X	X
format_instance_data()		X
fprintf()	X	X	X	X	X
fputs()	X	X	X	X	X
freopen()	X	X	X	X	X
get_dir_files()	X	X	X	X	X
get_eqn_list()		X
get_item_list()		X	X
get_measurement_list()		X
get_parameter_names()		X	X
get_push_history()		X	X
getcwd()	X	X	X	X	X
getenv()	X	X	X	X	X
geterror()	X	X	X	X	X
getppid()	X	X	X	X	X
getsysenv()	X	X	X	X	X
identify_value()	X	X	X	X	X
im()	X	X	X	X	X
imag()	X	X	X	X	X
index()	X	X	X	X	X
insert()	X	X	X	X	X
insert_nth()	X	X	X	X	X
install_get_xy()					X
install_get_xy_pair()					X
int()	X	X	X	X	X
is_complex()	X	X	X	X	X
is_dir()	X	X	X	X	X
is_file()	X	X	X	X	X
is_function()	X	X	X	X	X
is_function_defined()	X	X	X	X	X
is_integer()	X	X	X	X	X
is_list()	X	X	X	X	X
is_real()	X	X	X	X	X
is_string()	X	X	X	X	X
is_type()	X	X	X	X	X
is_voc()	X	X	X	X	X
leftstr()	X	X	X	X	X
library_group()		X
list()	X	X	X	X	X
list_select()					X
list_undefined()	X	X	X	X	X
listlen()	X	X	X	X	X
ln()	X	X	X	X	X
load()	X	X	X	X	X
log()	X	X	X	X	X
log10()	X	X	X	X	X
ly_find_layer_by_gds_num()		X	X
ly_find_layer_by_name()		X	X
ly_find_layer_name_by_num()		X	X
mag()	X	X	X	X	X
max2()	X	X	X	X	X
member()	X	X	X	X	X
midstr()	X	X	X	X	X
min2()	X	X	X	X	X
mkdir()	X	X	X	X	X
nth()	X	X	X	X	X
nthcdr()	X	X	X	X	X
num()	X	X	X	X	X
num_args()	X	X	X	X	X
offset_array()	X	X	X	X	X
on_error()	X	X	X	X	X
parse()	X	X	X	X	X
parse_blank()		X
pcb_get_form_value()		X
pcb_get_mks()		X
pcb_get_parm_type()		X
pcb_get_string()		X
pcb_set_form_value()		X
pcb_set_mks()		X
pcb_set_string()		X
phase()	X	X	X	X	X
phasedeg()	X	X	X	X	X
phaserad()	X	X	X	X	X
polar()	X	X	X	X	X
pop_message_handler()	X	X	X	X	X
pow()	X	X	X	X	X
prm()		X
push_message_handler()	X	X	X	X	X
rad()	X	X	X	X	X
re()	X	X	X	X	X
real()	X	X	X	X	X
reference_library_group()		X
reference_palette_group()		X
remov()	X	X	X	X	X
remove()	X	X	X	X	X
rename()	X	X	X	X	X
rename_word()	X	X	X	X	X
repla()	X	X	X	X	X
resize_array()	X	X	X	X	X
rightstr()	X	X	X	X	X
round()	X	X	X	X	X
send_server_command()	X	X	X	X	X
send_server_data()	X	X	X	X	X
send_server_interrupt()	X	X	X	X	X
send_server_kill()	X	X	X	X	X
server_running()	X	X	X	X	X
set_design_choices()		X
set_design_sub_choices()		X
set_design_type()		X
set_netlist_info()		X
set_num_pnts_for_arc()		X	X
set_port_size_units()		X	X
set_simulator_type()		X
set_user_menu_label()					X
setenv()	X	X	X	X	X
sgn()	X	X	X	X	X
sin()	X	X	X	X	X
sinc()	X	X	X	X	X
sinh()	X	X	X	X	X
sleep()	X	X	X	X	X
sort_list()	X	X	X	X	X
sprintf()	X	X	X	X	X
sqrt()	X	X	X	X	X
start_server()	X	X	X	X	X
start_timer()	X	X	X	X	X
step()	X	X	X	X	X
strcasecmp()	X	X	X	X	X
strcat()	X	X	X	X	X
strcmp()	X	X	X	X	X
stripstr()	X	X	X	X	X
strlen()	X	X	X	X	X
system()	X	X	X	X	X
tan()	X	X	X	X	X
tanh()	X	X	X	X	X
tmpnam()	X	X	X	X	X
tolower()	X	X	X	X	X
total_elapsed_time()	X	X	X	X	X
toupper()	X	X	X	X	X
unit_name()		X	X
val()	X	X	X	X	X
validate_name()		X
warning()	X	X	X	X	X
what_col()	X	X	X	X	X
what_file()	X	X	X	X	X
what_function()	X	X	X	X	X
what_line()	X	X	X	X	X
xor()	X	X	X	X	X