Existing text output from a design rule checker is put in appropriate
input format, and automatically displayed as text within a design tool
using existing design tool capabilities, such as highlighting, zooming,
and drawing box-regions. A graphical display of the output of the rule
checker includes the informative text. Design rule violations are listed
in a manner in which they can be individually selected. The output is
displayed on a unique software program layer within the design tool so as
to not effect or make any permanent changes to the original design file.
The layers can be safely deleted when no longer in use.