Authors may enable automatic abutment in their PyCells to increase productivity for their end users. When one PyCell with automatic abutment enabled is dragged over another, the layout editor will automatically merge the diffusion of the two devices and remove the redundant contacts.

Working with IPL member,Ciranova has defined protocols that enable the same automatic abutment code in a single PyCell to operate within any OpenAccess layout editor. This means that PDK developers do not need to create separate PCell libraries to support tools from different vendors. End users can move designs between layout editors without flattening the layout or losing any PyCell functionality.