The Project Manager

The Project Manager controls all aspects of the design flow.You can access all of the various design entry and design implementation tools as well as the files and documents associated with your project. The Project Manager also maintains revision control over multiple design iterations.

The Project Manager is divided into three main subwindows. To the left is the Design Hierarchy Browser which displays the project elements. To the right is a set of tabs, each one opens a separate functional window. The third window at the bottom of the Project Manager is the Message Console and shows status messages, errors, and warnings, and is updated during all project actions. These windows are discussed in more detail in the following sections.

Figure 4.3 Project Manager

Hierarchy Browser

The Hierarchy Browser displays the project source files in a hierarchical tree. Within this display, you can quickly navigate to any point in your design.

In the Files tab of the Hierarchy Browser, the design source files and libraries are displayed. Next to each filename, an icon tells you the file type (schematic, HDL file, state machine, library, text file). If a file contains lower levels of hierarchy, the icon has a “+” in the lower right corner. You can expand the tree by clicking this icon. You can open a file to edit by simply double-clicking the filename in the browser.

A Versions tab is also available behind the Files tab. This tab displays a design's implementation revisions. Because this is a new design which has not yet been implemented, the Versions tab does not yet contain any revision information. Versions are discussed in more detail later in the tutorial during design implementation.

Project Manager Functional Tabs

As mentioned previously, the right-hand side of the Project Manager contains a series of functional tabs. Briefly, the functions of these tabs follow.

• Flow - Provides access to tools you use to complete your entire design, arranged in a flow-chart style to guide you through the design flow. Status indicators in the lower right corner of each phase button indicate whether the step has been completed successfully.
  
  
• Contents - Lists contents and date the file selected in the Hierarchy Browser was last modified.
  
  
• Reports - Displays design flow reports.
  
  
• Synthesis - Displays all of the HDL macros contained in the project, and, from this tab, you can update these macros.
  
  

You have the option to browse through these tabs to see how the tabs are updated during the design flow process.

Message Console Window

Errors, warnings, and informational messages are displayed in the Message Window. Errors are displayed in red, warnings in blue, and informational messages in black.