Getting Started

The following subsections describe the basic requirements for running the tutorial.

Nomenclature

In this tutorial, the following terms are used:

• “XC4000 family” includes XC4000E, XC4000L, XC4000EX, XC4000XL, XC4000XLA and XC4000XV devices.
  
  
• “Right-click” means click the right mouse button. Unless specified, all other mouse operations are performed with the left mouse button.
  
  

Throughout this tutorial, file names, project names, and directory names (paths) are specified in lower case, and the design is referred to as “Watch”.

Required Software

The Xilinx Foundation Series package, Version 1.5, is required to perform this tutorial. The design requires that you install the XC4000E libraries and device files, as well as the XABEL interface. These options are selected by default in the install program.

Installing the Tutorial

This tutorial assumes that the software is installed in the default location c:\fndtn\active. If you have installed the software in a different location, substitute your installation path for c:\fndtn\active.

The tutorial projects are optionally installed (as sample projects) in the c:\fndtn\active\projects directory when you install the Foundation Series software. If you have installed the software, but are not sure whether the tutorial projects were installed, check for directories named c:\fndtn\active\projects\wtut*. These directories contain the various tutorial files.

NOTE

Refer to “Setting Up the Foundation Tools” chapter the for installation instructions. For even more detailed instructions, refer to the Foundation Series 1.5 Install and Release Document.

Tutorial Project Directories and Files

During the software installation, the following schematic project directories are installed.

• c:\fndtn\active\projects\wtut_sc
  (incomplete schematic tutorial)
  
  
• c:\fndtn\active\projects\watch_sc
  (complete schematic tutorial)
  
  

The schematic tutorial files are copied into these directories.

The wtut_sc project contains an incomplete copy of the tutorial design. You will create the remaining files when you perform the tutorial. As described in a later step, you can copy this project to another area and perform the tutorial in this new area if desired.

The watch_sc solution project contains the design files for the completed tutorial, including schematics and the bitstream file.To conserve disk space, some intermediate files are not provided. Do not overwrite any files in the solutions directories.

Starting the Project Manager

1. Double click the Foundation Series Project Manager icon on your desktop or select Start Programs Xilinx Foundation Series Xilinx Foundation Project Manager from the Start menu.
   
   
   
   
2. A Getting Started dialog box displays, allowing you to select a project to open. If you have not opened this tutorial project before now, click the More Projects... button.
   
   

   Figure 4.1 Getting Started Dialog Box

3. Browse to the c:\fndtn\active\projects directory in the Directories list (it should open to this location by default) and select the wtut_sc project in the Projects list of the Open Project dialog box. Select Open to open the wtut_sc project.
   
   

Copying the Tutorial Files (Optional)

You can either work within the wtut_sc directory as it has originally been installed, or you can make a copy to work on. Perform the following steps to make a working copy of the tutorial files. Whenever copying projects in Foundation, it is important to use the “Copy Project” feature in the Project Manager to ensure that the project's directory structure is kept intact.

1. Select File Copy Project.
   
   
2. Under the Destination section, type Mywatch (or a unique name of your choice) in the Name field.
   
   
3. Click OK.
   
   
4. Select File Open Project.
   
   
5. Scroll down in the project list and select Mywatch. Click Open.
   
   
6. The Mywatch project may contain two UCF files. If this is the case, select the wtut_sc.ucf file. Select Document Remove or press Del to remove the file from the project. Click Yes to confirm the removal of the file.
   
   This does not delete the file from disk. It only removes it from the project so that it is not used during compilation. The file still exists in the project directory on the disk. If you mistakenly remove a file from a project, select Document Add to add it back.