Mentor Graphics Interface/Tutorial Guide

Preface

About This Manual

This manual explains how to use Version M1.5 of the Xilinx/Mentor Graphics Interface software with Mentor Graphics^® software version C.1.

Before using this manual, you should be familiar with the operations that are common to all Xilinx software tools: how to bring up the system, select a tool for use, specify operations, and manage design data. These topics are covered in the Development System Reference Guide.

You must consult The Programmable Logic Data Book for device-specific information on Xilinx device characteristics, including readback, boundary scan, configuration, length count, and debugging. The Programmable Logic Data Book is available in hard copy and on the Xilinx web site (http://www.xilinx.com/partinfo/databook.htm).

For specific design issues or problems, use the Answers Search function on the Web (http://www.xilinx.com/support/searchtd.htm) to access the following.

• Answers Database: current listing of solution records for the Xilinx software tools
  
  
• Applications Notes: descriptions of device-specific design techniques and approaches
  
  
• Data Sheets: pages from The Programmable Logic Data Book
  
  
• XCELL Journal: quarterly journals for Xilinx programmable logic users
  
  
• Expert Journals: the latest news, design tips, and patch information on the Xilinx design environment
  
  

If you cannot access the Web, you can install and access the Answers book with the DynaText online browser in the same manner as the Xilinx book collection. The Answers book includes information in the Answers Database at the time of this release.

Manual Contents

This manual covers the following topics.

• Chapter 1, “Introduction,” describes the Mentor Graphics Design Manager^™ Interface, the Xilinx design flow, key features, inputs and outputs, and the architectures with which they work.
  
  
• Chapter 2, “Getting Started,” describes how to configure your system for the Mentor Graphics Design Manager, and how to invoke and exit the Mentor Graphics Design Manager.
  
  
• Chapter 3, “Schematic Designs,” describes how to use the Mentor Graphics Design Manager and Design Architect^™ to design with pure schematic designs. It covers, schematic design entry, functional simulation, implementation, and timing simulation.
  
  
• Chapter 4, “HDL Designs,” describes how to use the Mentor Graphics Interface to design with pure HDL designs. It covers, HDL design entry, functional simulation, implementation, and timing simulation.
  
  
• Chapter 5, “Mixed Designs with VHDL on Top,” describes how to use the Mentor Graphics Interface to design with mixed schematic and VHDL designs with VHDL on Top. It covers, design entry, functional simulation, implementation, and timing simulation.
  
  
• Chapter 6, “Mixed Designs with Schematic on Top,” describes how to use the Mentor Graphics Interface to design with mixed schematic and VHDL designs with schematic on top. It covers, design entry, functional simulation, implementation, and timing simulation.
  
  
• Chapter 7, “Advanced Techniques,” describes useful design and simulation techniques that were not covered in the other sections of this manual.
  
  
• Chapter 8, “Manual Translation,” describes how to manually process your design from the operating system command line.
  
  
• Chapter 9, “Schematic Design Tutorial,” steps you through a typical FPGA or CPLD design procedure from schematic entry to completing a functioning device using the Mentor Graphics Design Architect configured for Xilinx designs. It also steps you through both a functional and a timing simulation of an FPGA or CPLD design using the Mentor Graphics QuickSim II^™.
  
  
• Chapter 10, “Schematic-on-Top with VHDL Tutorial,”guides you through a typical FPGA and CPLD design procedure from schematic entry with instantiated HDL to completion of a functioning device using the Mentor Graphics Design Architect configured for Xilinx designs.
  
  
• Appendix A, “ModelSim and QuickHDL,” explains how to use QuickHDL in place of ModelSim^™ in the procedures in this manual.
  
  

Conventions

Typographical

This manual uses the following conventions. An example illustrates each convention.

• Courier font indicates messages, prompts, and program files that the system displays.
  
  speed grade: -100
  
  
• Courier bold indicates literal commands that you enter in a syntactical statement. However, braces “{ }” in Courier bold are not literal and square brackets “[ ]” in Courier bold are literal only in the case of bus specifications, such as bus [7:0].
  
  rpt_del_net=
  
  Courier bold also indicates commands that you select from a menu.
  
  File Open
  
  
• Italic font denotes the following items.
  
  
  • Variables in a syntax statement for which you must supply values
    
    edif2ngd design_name
    
    
  • References to other manuals
    
    See the Development System Reference Guide for more information.
    
    
  • Emphasis in text
    
    If a wire is drawn so that it overlaps the pin of a symbol, the two nets are not connected.
    
    
• Square brackets “[ ]” indicate an optional entry or parameter. However, in bus specifications, such as bus [7:0], they are required.
  
  edif2ngd [option_name] design_name
  
  Square brackets also enclose footnotes in tables that are printed out as hardcopy in DynaText^®.
  
  
• Braces “{ }” enclose a list of items from which you must choose one or more.
  
  lowpwr ={on|off}
  
  
• A vertical bar “|” separates items in a list of choices.
  
  lowpwr ={on|off}
  
  
• A vertical ellipsis indicates repetitive material that has been omitted.
  
  IOB #1: Name = QOUT'
  IOB #2: Name = CLKIN'
  .
  .
  .
  
  
• A horizontal ellipsis “. . .” indicates that an item can be repeated one or more times.
  
  allow block block_name loc1 loc2 ... locn;
  
  

Online Document

Xilinx has created several conventions for use within the DynaText online documents.

• Red-underlined text indicates an interbook link, which is a cross-reference to another book. Click the red-underlined text to open the specified cross-reference.
  
  
• Blue-underlined text indicates an intrabook link, which is a cross-reference within a book. Click the blue-underlined text to open the specified cross-reference.
  
  
• There are several types of icons.
  
  Iconized figures are identified by the figure icon.
  
  
  
  Iconized tables are identified by the table icon.
  
  
  
  The Copyright icon displays in the upper left corner on the first page of every Xilinx online document.
  
  
  
  The DynaText footnote icon displays next to the footnoted text.
  
  
  
  Double-click these icons to display figures, tables, copyright information, or footnotes in a separate window.
  
  
• Inline figures display within the text of a document. You can display these figures in a separate window by clicking the figure.