Task: Identify Library Configuration

The goal of this task is to provide a complete view of the affected work items and work products in terms of the design and the libraries that hosts it.

Design name and design version identification:

Library name (s)
Locations (s)
Configuration information including variant configuration or effectivity parameters

Cell or cell hierarchy information is for source items (starting points) and target items (deliverables). These may be different where cells are being moved, copied, and merged into a new design or design variant. In addition, the naming (labeling) of the new configuration such as a reserved release version could be specified.

Request Library Configuration

Notify the relevant design authority, or authorities, of the need to identify the source and target libraries.

Understand Change Request

The Design Authority needs to understand the request and the technical change needed to either the design, libraries, cells or cell hierarchy. It may be necessary to modify the description of the CR to meet the intended mission. This may require collaboration with others and reference to supporting information such as the original requirement, specification, defect or test.

Modify Change Request (optional)

Depending on the outcome of the CR analysis it may be necessary to update the CR which may cause it to be returned to the CCB, depending if the update is minor or major.

Analyze Library Configurations (optional)

If library configurations are provided, analyze these to validate that they are relevant to the CR. Mark them as valid or invalid. Update the CR to reflect the findings.

Identify or Select Libraries

It be possible that the select the libraries to work with (as sources) and to target (for the results) from the description alone, for instance through naming conventions. It may be necessary to look within the libraries to see that indeed the intended items are at the given location. It may be necessary to inspect planned or pending releases to identify the target.

Select Cell to Modify

The identity of the cell or cell hierarchy to modify needs to be defined sufficiently. Again this may be by description and identifiers alone or it may be necessary to inspect the library and cells. Furthermore some view of other CRs in play is necessary to understanding other planned or pending changes. It can also be prudent to inspect high priority defects which haven’t yet been launched into CRs to see what may be impacted if an emergency CR is launched.

Analyze Cells in the Library Configuration (optional)

Exploring the cells in terms of their state, function and quality will help confirm the validity of the library and cell configuration. Understanding other work in progress can also help establish the stability of the configuration.

Analyze Cell Hierarchy (optional)

Exploring the cells in terms of their composition and inclusion helps further confirm the validity of the library and cell configuration. Similarly understanding other work in progress can also help establish the stability of the configuration. This step may well require collaboration with other design authorities.

Assign Library and Cell Configuration

Library and cell configuration descriptors including links are added to the CR and approved by the design authority, along with any notes about the risk associated with these choices, such as due to other CRs in play and their links. It may be necessary to withhold this step until the CR is replanned.