The dbGet command can used interactively to explore the design.

Below are some useful single line

dbGet scripts:
1. To get a list of unplaced instances in the design:
dbGet [dbGet -p top.insts.pStatus unplaced].name
2. To list all the placed instances in the design:
dbGet [dbGet -p top.insts.pStatus placed].name
3. To list all the fixed instances in the design:
dbGet [dbGet -p top.insts.pStatus fixed].name
4. To see what metal layers your block's IO pins are on:
dbGet top.terms.pins.allShapes.layer.name
5. To get a list of NONDEFAULT rules in the design:
dbGet head.rules.name
6. To get NDR applied on a specified net:
dbGet [dbGet -p top.nets.name netName].rule.name
7. To get the placement status of an instance:
dbGet [dbGetInstByName instName].pStatus
8. To get the points of a rectangular routing blockage:
dbGet top.fplan.rBlkgs.shapes.rect
9. To get the points of a rectilinear routing blockage:
dbGet top.fplan.rBlkgs.shapes.poly
10. To get a list of all cell types used in the design:
dbGet -u top.insts.cell.name
(The "-u" filters out duplicate objects.)
11. To get the size of block placement halos:
dbGet [dbGet -p2 top.insts.cell.subClass block*].pHaloTop
dbGet [dbGet -p2 top.insts.cell.subClass block*].pHaloBot
dbGet [dbGet -p2 top.insts.cell.subClass block*].pHaloLeft
dbGet [dbGet -p2 top.insts.cell.subClass block*].pHaloRight
12. To get the size and top/bottom layers of block routing halos:
dbGet [dbGet -p2 top.insts.cell.subClass block*].rHaloSideSize
dbGet [dbGet -p2 top.insts.cell.subClass block*].rHaloBotLayer.name
dbGet [dbGet -p2 top.insts.cell.subClass block*].rHaloTopLayer.name
13. To make sure all your tiehi/lo connections have tie cells (and are not connected to a rail instead):
dbGet top.insts.instTerms.isTieHi 1
dbGet top.insts.instTerms.isTieLo 1
(Should return "0x0" if all connections have tie cells.
If "1"s are returned, use the following to find the terms that still need a tie cell:)
dbGet [dbGet -p top.insts.instTerms.isTieHi 1].name

dbGet [dbGet -p top.insts.instTerms.isTieLo 1].name

14. To get all insTerm names which are tied to tieLo cells:
dbGet [dbGet -p [dbGet -p2 top.insts.cell.subClass coreTieLo].instTerms.net.allTerms.isInput 1].name
15. To change the routing status of a net (for example, from FIXED to ROUTED):
dbSet [dbGet -p top.nets.name netName].wires.status routed
16. To get the status of your design:
dbGet top.statusIoPlaced
dbGet top.statusPlaced
dbGet top.statusClockSynthesized
dbGet top.statusRouted
dbGet top.statusRCExtracted
dbGet top.statusPowerAnalyzed
17. To find out which layers are used in a net:
dbGet [dbGet -p top.nets.name netName].wires.layer.name
18. To find all the instances of a certain cell type:
dbGet [dbGet -p2 top.insts.cell.name cellName].name
19. To get the size of a cell in the library, but not necessarily in the current design:
dbGet [dbGetCellByName cellName].size
20. To get nets that are marked in the db as clock net:
dbGet [dbGet -p top.nets.isClock 1].name
21. To set all instances with a particular pattern in its name to fixed status:
dbSet [dbGet p top.insts.name *clk*].pStatus fixed
22. To get database units:
dbGet head.dbUnits
23. To get manufacturing grid:
dbGet head.mfgGrid
24. To get physical only cells like filler cell, end cap cell etc:
dbGet [dbGet -p top.insts.isPhysOnly 1].name
25. To filter all the PG pins with direction bidi of a specific instance:
dbGet [dbGet -p [dbGet -p top.insts.name instName].pgCellTerms.inOutDir bidi].name
26. To get class and subClass of a cell:
dbGet [dbGetCellByName cellName].baseClass
dbGet [dbGetCellByName cellName].subClass
27. To find out the instname/cellname of the driver driving a specific net.
set netName <netName>
set inst [dbGet [dbGet -p [dbGet -p top.nets.name $netName].allTerms.isOutput 1].inst]
Puts "Net: $netName, driving inst name: [dbGet $inst.name], driving cell name: [dbGet

$inst.cell.name]"
28. To list all layers for the pin of a cell:
dbGet [dbGet -p selected.cell.terms.name pinName].pins.allShapes.layer.extName
29. Report points of polyon that forms the die area:
dbShape -output polygon [dbGet top.fPlan.boxes]
30. To query the max_cap for a list of cells
set cellPtrList [dbGet -p head.allCells.name BUF*]
foreach cellPtr $cellPtrList {puts "[dbGet $cellPtr.name] [dbFTermMaxCap [dbGet -p
$cellPtr.terms.name <termName>] 1]"}
31. To find all instances with a specify property name "myProp" (string property type) and value
"xyzzy"
set inst_ptrs [dbGet -p top.insts.props {.name == "myProp" && .value == "xyzzy"]
Puts "Instances with property myProp and value xyzzy: [dbGet $inst_ptrs.name]"