FPGA software troubles
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When installing the Xilinx Foundation M1.5 software from the CD accompanying the book,ensure it is installed in "C:\fndtn" even though the installer gives you to option to install it elsewhere.This is because some of the compiler tools expect to be in this directory and will quit with strange exit codes or unrelated error messages.
There are some strange dependencies on the device templates on the CD which if not installed properly will cause the FPGA compiler to quit.If you have room simply install all the families of devices,if you're short on room install the family you intend to use and all the earlier families too.By example,we use a 4000E series here so install the 4000/3000A/3000 series also.
Make sure you install the service packs associated with Xilinx Foundation M1.5 release of the software.There are 2,though the first may already be incorporated into the release on the CD.These fix some major problems and are highly recommeded.
Xilinx use "project definition files" to point to various source files in your project.The "pdf" files are held one directory level higher than all the sources so if transferring projects between machines be sure to take both because a project will not work without its "pdf" file.
The system variable LM_LICENSE_FILE is commonly found on machines with other CAD software installed,so may contain pointers to serveral other LM licence files.This is fine - however the pointer to the Xilinx software must appear first in the semicolon separated list,so you may have to edit "autoexec.bat" so that it is:
SET LM_LICENSE_FILE=C:\fndtn\data\license.dat;C:\other\cad\software.dat
Users with Adobe Acrobat installed will find the Xilinx "pdf" files have the Adobe icon and double clicking will result in Acrobat trying to load the project definition file.It will of course fail.
©2000 SPROW [Created 17-Dec-2000] | home
