A PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF SCIENCE BACKROOM ROLES AND ACTIVITIES FOR

Highly integrated programmable arrays, in which a logic array integrated circuit chip is divided into configurable logic blocks interconnected by configurable interconnect lines, have been programmed by automatic means and methods. The present invention provides for allowing a user to manually specify the partitioning of a logic design, and to allow a user to retain portions of a previously partitioned, placed, and routed design when making revisions. To allow for manual control of partitioning, a library of symbols includes a partitioning symbol that specifies which primitive logic functions can be grouped. The user specifies which ports of primitive logic functions will correspond with ports on the logic block symbol. The present invention also allows for partitioning parts of a design before combining the parts.