Hi, does anyone know how to fix this cif error? When I was trying to export gds from magic, I got an error (shown below) after I type “gds write xxxx.gds”. It shows “no room for contacts in area” but I don’t have any drc errors. Also, how do I locate this cif error in my layout?

(First, if you don't know, CIF is an older format for mask data. Magic has both CIF and GDS generators, and where the same code is used for both, sometimes it will output error messages reporting "CIF errors" even though you were writing GDS.) The most common reason for this error is that you have some abutting areas for contacts that are slightly offset vertically or horizontally. Magic has an algorithm to divide up the contact areas to determine where to place contact cuts. Sometimes the algorithm will end up with some bridge of material between two contact cuts that is large enough not to break DRC rules, but is too small by itself to place a cut. If there is no associated DRC error, then it is probably safe to ignore this error. If you want to see the error, then there is a "feedback area" left on the layout. Use the command "feedback find" followed by "zoom box" to see the area of the error in question.

Thank you! I used the “feedback find” and found the area where it showed no area for VIA1. I removed that via and it solved the issue. Thanks. 😊