markdown/gh_discussions/Query/3763.md

# How can I set a false path within a macro?

Tool: OpenSTA

Subcategory: Usage question

## Conversation

### oharboe
I want to set a false path for two pins on a macro, but not at the macro's level, but rather at the containing macros level.

I looked at
https://github.com/The-OpenROAD-Project/OpenROAD-flow-scripts/blob/bf9f1e81bfabb85c0bfe794d18a4ea82dda83872/flow/designs/tsmc65lp/vanilla5/constraint.sdc#L724

and thought it was supported. Though when I read https://github.com/The-OpenROAD-Project/OpenSTA/blob/3275a304e17092895b7d7721148edc7dc67ba3aa/search/Sta.cc#L2080, it looks like I can only use the ports of the macro for the constraints.sdc file as `-to` and `-from`. 

No changes are intended for mock-array w.r.t. this, I'm only using mock-array to illustrate what I'm trying to find the syntax for:

```
>>> set_false_path -from [get_pins ces_6_6/io_ins_right*] -to [get_pins ces_6_6/io_outs_right*]
[WARNING STA-0018] 'ces_6_6/io_ins_right[0]' is not a valid start point.
[WARNING STA-0018] 'ces_6_6/io_ins_right[10]' is not a valid start point.
[WARNING STA-0018] 'ces_6_6/io_ins_right[11]' is not a valid start point.
[WARNING STA-0018] 'ces_6_6/io_ins_right[12]' is not a valid start point.
```


![image](https://github.com/The-OpenROAD-Project/OpenROAD/assets/2798822/65c8550d-3187-4503-a1b7-2e35c81ccba6)


### vijayank88
@oharboe 
I got this from OpenSTA user guide:
```
from_list A list of clocks, instances, ports or pins.
through_list A list of instances, pins or nets.
to_list A list of clocks, instances, ports or pins.
```
So as per this you can provide `pins` also.
```
The **set_false_path** command disables timing along a path from, through and to a group of design objects.

Objects in **from_list** can be clocks, register/latch instances, or register/latch clock pins. The -rise_from
and -fall_from keywords restrict the false paths to a specific clock edge.

Objects in **through_list** can be nets, instances, instance pins, or hierarchical pins,. The -rise_through
and -fall_through keywords restrict the false paths to a specific path edge that traverses through the
object.

Objects in **to_list** can be clocks, register/latch instances, or register/latch clock pins. The -rise_to and -
fall_to keywords restrict the false paths to a specific transition at the path end.
```

### maliberty
You probably need to use -through as those points are not the beginning or end of a timing path.

### maliberty
I suspect you want 

set_false_path -through [get_pins ces_6_6/io_ins_right*] -through [get_pins ces_6_6/io_outs_right*]