A method performs an operation on physical design data stored as data objects
in
a database. Each data object represents a design figure of an integrated circuit
(IC) design laid-out on an IC design area. The method includes (a) dividing the
IC design area into a second plurality of sub-areas, (b) assigning an area property
to each of the data objects, the area property indicating the sub-areas on which
at least part of the corresponding design figure is to be located, (c) selecting
a first data object, and (d) conducting an operation involving the first data object
and a second data object involving selecting the second data object from a subset
of data objects having an area property indicating a sub-area indicated by an area
property of the first data object, and performing the operation on the first data
object and the second data object.
