HSPICE reference catalog

Effective documentation for the HSPICE dialect (spiceLsp.dialect = "hspice"): shared entries plus dialect overlays.

Source of truth: JSON under reference/. Hover in the editor uses the same corpus.

Index

Name	Kind	Summary	Source
`.ac`	directive	AC frequency analysis (HSPICE)	dialect
`.alter`	directive	Rerun simulation with alternate parameters or analyses (HSPICE)	dialect
`.data`	directive	Define a named data table for data-driven sweeps (HSPICE)	dialect
`.dc`	directive	DC analysis and sweeps (HSPICE)	dialect
`.end`	directive	Terminate the netlist (HSPICE)	dialect
`.ends`	directive	End a subcircuit definition	shared
`.ic`	directive	Force initial node voltages (HSPICE)	dialect
`.include`	directive	Include an external file (HSPICE)	dialect
`.lib`	directive	Call a named library section (HSPICE)	dialect
`.measure`	directive	Measure delay, rise/fall, extrema, and other results (HSPICE)	dialect
`.model`	directive	Define a device model	shared
`.nodeset`	directive	Suggest initial guesses for DC convergence (HSPICE)	dialect
`.noise`	directive	Noise analysis paired with .AC (HSPICE)	dialect
`.op`	directive	DC operating-point report (HSPICE)	dialect
`.option`	directive	Set HSPICE simulation options	dialect
`.param`	directive	Define parameters and expressions (HSPICE)	dialect
`.print`	directive	Print tabulated analysis results (HSPICE)	dialect
`.probe`	directive	Select waveforms saved for post-processing (HSPICE)	dialect
`.subckt`	directive	Begin a subcircuit definition	shared
`.temp`	directive	Set simulation temperature(s) (HSPICE)	dialect
`.tf`	directive	DC small-signal transfer function (HSPICE)	dialect
`.tran`	directive	Transient analysis (HSPICE)	dialect
`C`	element	Capacitor	shared
`R`	element	Resistor	shared
`X`	element	Subcircuit instance	shared

Directives

.ac

hspice.directive.ac — AC frequency analysis (HSPICE)

Dialect overlay (replaces shared entry with the same name).

.AC type np fstart fstop
.AC type np fstart fstop SWEEP var type2 np2 start stop
.AC DATA=datanm

Parameter	Description	Units
`type`	LIN, DEC, or OCT frequency spacing.
`np`	Points (LIN) or points per decade/octave.
`fstart / fstop`	Frequency range.	Hz
`SWEEP …`	Optional nested parameter/source sweep.
`DATA=datanm`	Data-driven AC analysis.

Examples

.AC DEC 10 1 1G
.AC LIN 50 1k 100Meg
.AC DATA=ac_corners

HSPICE adds nested SWEEP and DATA= forms on top of classic LIN/DEC/OCT.

See also: hspice.directive.data, hspice.directive.noise

.alter

hspice.directive.alter — Rerun simulation with alternate parameters or analyses (HSPICE)

Dialect overlay (replaces shared entry with the same name).

.ALTER [title_string]

Parameter	Description	Units
`title_string`	Optional title for this alter case.

Examples

.ALTER slow_corner .TEMP 125 .LIB 'models.lib' SS

An .ALTER block may contain elements and many control statements (.PARAM, .LIB, .DATA, .DC, .TRAN, .OP, …). Analysis types already used in the main deck have restrictions—see the HSPICE user guide.

See also: hspice.directive.data, hspice.directive.lib, hspice.directive.param

.data

hspice.directive.data — Define a named data table for data-driven sweeps (HSPICE)

Dialect overlay (replaces shared entry with the same name).

.DATA datanm pnam1 [pnam2 ...]
pval1 [pval2 ...]
...
.ENDDATA

Parameter	Description	Units
`datanm`	Data-block name referenced by DATA=datanm on .DC / .AC / .TRAN.
`pnam`	Parameter column name (must be declared with .PARAM).
`pval`	Row of values; column count matches the parameter list.

Examples

.DATA load_sweep rload 1k 10k 100k .ENDDATA
`.DATA load_sweep rload

1k
10k .ENDDATA`

.DC DATA=load_sweep

HSPICE supports inline .DATA … .ENDDATA blocks and external/MER file forms. Value rows may be bare (no leading +) or classic + continuations. Analysis statements select a block with DATA=datanm (optionally DATA=datanm(Nums)).

See also: hspice.directive.dc, shared.directive.param, hspice.directive.tran

.dc

hspice.directive.dc — DC analysis and sweeps (HSPICE)

Dialect overlay (replaces shared entry with the same name).

.DC var1 start1 stop1 incr1
.DC var1 START=start1 STOP=stop1 STEP=incr1
.DC var1 start1 stop1 incr1 [SWEEP] var2 start2 stop2 incr2
.DC var1 type np start1 stop1
.DC DATA=datanm
.DC MONTE=val

Parameter	Description	Units
`var1`	Primary sweep variable: independent source, element/model parameter, or TEMP.
`start1 / stop1 / incr1`	Linear sweep bounds and step (positional or START=/STOP=/STEP=).
`type np`	LIN\|DEC\|OCT with point count for parameterized / nested sweeps.
`SWEEP var2 …`	Optional nested (second) sweep over another source or parameter.
`DATA=datanm`	Data-driven sweep using a .DATA block.
`MONTE=val`	Monte Carlo DC analysis.

Examples

.DC Vgs 0 1.8 0.1
.DC Vds 0 1.8 0.05 SWEEP Vgs 0 1.8 0.3
.DC TEMP START=0 STOP=100 STEP=25
.DC DATA=corner_table
.DC MONTE=100

HSPICE extends classic SPICE .DC with keyword START/STOP/STEP, nested SWEEP, DATA= tables, and MONTE=. Prefer DATA= for multi-parameter corner tables.

See also: hspice.directive.data, shared.directive.op, hspice.directive.print

.end

hspice.directive.end — Terminate the netlist (HSPICE)

Dialect overlay (replaces shared entry with the same name).

.END [comment]

Parameter	Description	Units
`comment`	Optional comment, often the deck name.

Examples

.END
.END inverter_tb

Also closes any open .ALTER sequences. Statements after .END are ignored.

.ends

shared.directive.ends — End a subcircuit definition

.ends [name]

Parameter	Description	Units
`name`	Optional subcircuit name; should match `.subckt`.

Examples

.ends
.ends buffer

See also: shared.directive.subckt

.ic

hspice.directive.ic — Force initial node voltages (HSPICE)

Dialect overlay (replaces shared entry with the same name).

.IC V(node)=value [V(node2)=value2 ...]

Parameter	Description	Units
`V(node)`	Node (or hierarchical path) to initialize.	V

Examples

.IC V(out)=0
.IC V(clk)=0 V(data)=1.8

Also accepted as .DCVOLT. Used with .TRAN … UIC to skip the quiescent OP and start from these voltages.

See also: hspice.directive.nodeset, hspice.directive.tran

.include

hspice.directive.include — Include an external file (HSPICE)

Dialect overlay (replaces shared entry with the same name).

.INCLUDE 'filename'

Parameter	Description	Units
`filename`	File path to insert (quotes recommended).

Examples

.INCLUDE 'models/nmos.inc'
.INC '../stimuli/clock.sp'

Also accepted as .INC. Prefer .LIB when selecting a named section from a library file.

See also: hspice.directive.lib

.lib

hspice.directive.lib — Call a named library section (HSPICE)

Dialect overlay (replaces shared entry with the same name).

.LIB 'filename' entryname

Parameter	Description	Units
`filename`	Library file path.
`entryname`	Section name inside the library (.LIB entry … .ENDL).

Examples

.LIB 'models.lib' TT
.LIB '/pdk/hspice/models' FF

Library files define sections with .LIB entryname … .ENDL entryname. Nested .LIB calls are supported up to a limited depth.

See also: hspice.directive.include, shared.directive.model

.measure

hspice.directive.measure — Measure delay, rise/fall, extrema, and other results (HSPICE)

Dialect overlay (replaces shared entry with the same name).

.MEASURE {TRAN|DC|AC} name TRIG … TARG …
.MEASURE {TRAN|DC|AC} name MAX|MIN|PP|AVG|RMS|INTEG …

Parameter	Description	Units
`TRAN	DC	AC`
`name`	Measurement result name written to the measure output.
`TRIG / TARG`	Trigger and target conditions (VAL=, RISE=/FALL=/CROSS=).

Examples

.MEASURE TRAN trise TRIG V(out) VAL=0.1*vdd RISE=1 TARG V(out) VAL=0.9*vdd RISE=1
.MEASURE TRAN tpd TRIG V(in) VAL=0.5 RISE=1 TARG V(out) VAL=0.5 RISE=1
.MEASURE TRAN vmax MAX V(out)

Also accepted as .MEAS. Many measure forms exist (FIND/WHEN, PARAM, DERIV, etc.); TRIG/TARG and MAX/MIN cover the most common timing and peak checks.

See also: hspice.directive.tran, hspice.directive.print, hspice.directive.probe

.model

shared.directive.model — Define a device model

.model mname type (param=value ...)

Parameter	Description	Units
`mname`	Model name referenced by instances.
`type`	Model type (e.g. NMOS, PMOS, D, NPN).

Examples

.model nmos NMOS (VTO=0.7)

.nodeset

hspice.directive.nodeset — Suggest initial guesses for DC convergence (HSPICE)

Dialect overlay (replaces shared entry with the same name).

.NODESET V(node)=value [V(node2)=value2 ...]

Parameter	Description	Units
`V(node)`	Node voltage guess for the DC solution.	V

Examples

.NODESET V(out)=0.9
.NODESET V(n1)=0 V(n2)=1.8

Unlike .IC, .NODESET is a soft hint for finding the operating point, not a hard initial condition for transient UIC.

See also: hspice.directive.ic, hspice.directive.op

.noise

hspice.directive.noise — Noise analysis paired with .AC (HSPICE)

Dialect overlay (replaces shared entry with the same name).

.NOISE outvar srcnam [interval]

Parameter	Description	Units
`outvar`	Output voltage node or pair, e.g. V(out) or V(out,ref).
`srcnam`	Independent source treated as the noise input reference.
`interval`	Optional print interval for intermediate noise summaries.

Examples

.NOISE V(out) Vin
.NOISE V(out,0) Vin 10

Requires a companion .AC statement. Reports total output noise and equivalent input noise.

See also: hspice.directive.ac

.op

hspice.directive.op — DC operating-point report (HSPICE)

Dialect overlay (replaces shared entry with the same name).

.OP [format [time ...]]

Parameter	Description	Units
`format`	Optional report style: ALL, BRIEF, CURRENT, DEBUG, NONE, VOLTAGE.
`time`	Optional time(s) for reporting during transient (with ALL/VOLTAGE/CURRENT/DEBUG).	s

Examples

.OP
.OP BRIEF
.OP ALL 10n

HSPICE often prints bias automatically with other analyses; use .OP when you only need the operating point, or to request a formatted report at specific times.

See also: hspice.directive.dc, hspice.directive.ic, hspice.directive.nodeset

.option

hspice.directive.option — Set HSPICE simulation options

Dialect overlay (replaces shared entry with the same name).

.OPTION keyword=value [keyword=value ...]

Parameter	Description	Units
`keyword`	Option name (e.g. POST, RUNLVL).

Examples

.OPTION POST=2
.OPTION RUNLVL=5

Option keywords differ across simulators; this entry covers the .option form.

.param

hspice.directive.param — Define parameters and expressions (HSPICE)

Dialect overlay (replaces shared entry with the same name).

.PARAM name=value [name2=value2 ...]

Parameter	Description	Units
`name`	Parameter identifier.
`value`	Number, ‘algebraic expression’, distribution function, or str(‘…’).

Examples

.PARAM vdd=1.8 rload=10k
.PARAM cload='2*cunit'
.PARAM tox=agauss(3n,0.1n,3)

HSPICE allows quoted expressions and statistical distributions (GAUSS/AGAUSS/…) used with Monte Carlo. Parameters referenced by .DATA columns must be declared here.

See also: hspice.directive.data, hspice.directive.alter

.print

hspice.directive.print — Print tabulated analysis results (HSPICE)

Dialect overlay (replaces shared entry with the same name).

.PRINT {DC|TRAN|AC} ov1 [ov2 ...]

Parameter	Description	Units
`DC	TRAN	AC`
`ov`	Output variable; AC forms include VM/VP/VR/VI/VDB.

Examples

.PRINT TRAN V(out) I(Vdd)
.PRINT AC VM(out) VDB(out) VP(out)

See also: hspice.directive.probe, hspice.directive.measure

.probe

hspice.directive.probe — Select waveforms saved for post-processing (HSPICE)

Dialect overlay (replaces shared entry with the same name).

.PROBE {DC|TRAN|AC} ov1 [ov2 ...]

Parameter	Description	Units
`DC	TRAN	AC`
`ov`	Output variable to save (node voltage, branch current, etc.).

Examples

.PROBE TRAN V(out) V(in) I(Vdd)
.PROBE AC VM(out) VP(out)

Pair with .OPTION POST=… . With .OPTION PROBE, only .PROBE/.PRINT/.PLOT variables are written, shrinking waveform files.

See also: hspice.directive.print, hspice.directive.option

.subckt

shared.directive.subckt — Begin a subcircuit definition

.subckt name n1 [n2 ...] [params: p=val ...]

Parameter	Description	Units
`name`	Subcircuit name.
`n1...`	External port nodes in order.

Examples

.subckt buffer in out
.subckt inv in out

See also: shared.directive.ends

.temp

hspice.directive.temp — Set simulation temperature(s) (HSPICE)

Dialect overlay (replaces shared entry with the same name).

.TEMP t1 [t2 ...]

Parameter	Description	Units
`t1`	Temperature in Celsius; multiple values run multi-temperature analysis.	°C

Examples

.TEMP 25
.TEMP -40 25 125

TEMP can also be the sweep variable on .DC / nested SWEEP.

See also: hspice.directive.dc, hspice.directive.option

.tf

hspice.directive.tf — DC small-signal transfer function (HSPICE)

Dialect overlay (replaces shared entry with the same name).

.TF outvar srcnam

Parameter	Description	Units
`outvar`	Output variable, e.g. V(out) or I(Vload).
`srcnam`	Independent input source name.

Examples

.TF V(out) Vin
.TF I(Vmeas) Iin

Reports transfer gain plus small-signal input and output resistances.

See also: hspice.directive.op, hspice.directive.dc

.tran

hspice.directive.tran — Transient analysis (HSPICE)

Dialect overlay (replaces shared entry with the same name).

.TRAN tstep tstop [tstart [tmax]] [UIC]

Parameter	Description	Units
`tstep`	Printing increment.	s
`tstop`	Stop time.	s
`tstart`	Optional start of printing.	s
`tmax`	Optional maximum timestep.	s
`UIC`	Use initial conditions.

Examples

.TRAN 1p 10n

HSPICE commonly uses uppercase directives; spice-lsp matches case-insensitively.

Elements

C

shared.element.C — Capacitor

Cname n1 n2 value [params...]

Parameter	Description	Units
`n1`	Positive node.
`n2`	Negative node.
`value`	Capacitance.	F

Examples

C1 out 0 1p

R

shared.element.R — Resistor

Rname n1 n2 value [params...]

Parameter	Description	Units
`n1`	Positive node.
`n2`	Negative node.
`value`	Resistance.	ohm

Examples

R1 in out 1k
Rload out 0 50

X

shared.element.X — Subcircuit instance

Xname n1 [n2 ...] subckt_name [params...]

Parameter	Description	Units
`n1...`	Nodes connected to subcircuit ports.
`subckt_name`	Name of a `.subckt` definition.

Examples

X1 a b buffer

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