Configuring Your Program

When you run LogiBLOX for the first time, you must configure your project directory for LogiBLOX.

NOTE

You should not manually modify the configuration files used by LogiBLOX. LogiBLOX changes these files when you create or edit LogiBLOX modules.

Configuration Files

When you invoke LogiBLOX, the program looks for the logiblox.ini configuration file in your current directory. If logiblox.ini does not exist, the program displays a Setup window that enables you to set the vendor, project directory, device family, and outputs for LogiBLOX. The logiblox.ini file is created and stored in your project directory after you create the first LogiBLOX module. Thereafter, logiblox.ini is updated, when necessary, each time a module is processed.

The logiblox.ini File

The logiblox.ini file contains the information you recorded in the initial setup window. When LogiBLOX is started, it reads this initialization information and uses it to configure the Module Selector.

Following is an example of a logiblox.ini file.

GenerateVHDLModel=True 
   GenerateEdifModel=False 
   GenerateVerilogModel=False 
   GenerateVHDLInstantiation=True 
   GenerateVerilogInstantiation=False 
   GenerateNGDNetlist=False 
   IgnoreWarning=True 
   UserCancelled=True 
   TargetFamily=xc4000e 
   CAEVendor=synopsys 
   BusNotation=B<I> 
   PreviousModule=framecnt

Module Information

Also included in the project directory are the .mod files. These files record information about the modules you add to your design. Each .mod file represents a module that was generated for the current project. The .mod files are created and changed automatically by LogiBLOX.

Each module is recorded in a format similar to the following example.

module ACCUM 
   symbol accum4 
   family xc4000e 
   symboltemplate accum02 
   attributes 
      BUS_WIDTH = 4 
      OPTYPE = ADD_SUB 
      REGISTERED = Q 
      STYLE = MAX_SPEED 
      ENCODING = SIGNED 
      ASYNC_VAL = 2#1100# 
      SYNC_VAL = 2#1001# 
   pins 
      ADD_SUB 
      C_IN 
      B(3:0) 
      LOAD 
      CLOCK 
      ASYNC_CTRL  
      SYNC_CTRL 
      Q_OUT(3:0) 
      OVFL 
      C_OUT

Setup Window

The setup window is displayed if the Module Selector does not find a logiblox.ini file in the current directory. This is the case when you start a new design.

Define the settings in this window each time you start a project. You can also edit these settings after you have created a module by clicking Setup in the Module Selector.

If you create a netlist for a symbol in your design and then change an option on the Setup window, you must recreate the netlist to reflect the new option settings.

Vendor Panel

Use the Vendor panel to select the 3rd-party vendor and associated bus notation.

Figure 2.1 Vendor Panel (Setup Window)

Vendor Name

Select a vendor from the pull-down list box. You must choose one of the following in order to return to the Module Selector.

Cadence
Foundation
Mentor
Synopsys
Viewlogic
Other

Bus Notation

Different vendors use different notations to reference a bus index. When you select one of the vendors in the Vendor Name list, LogiBLOX automatically assigns the default notation for that vendor. If you select Other, you must also select a bus notation from the following choices. You must choose one in order to return to the Module Selector.

B<I>
BI
B(I)
B[I]

B is the name of the bus. I is the index of the bus. For example, if the bus notation is B<I> and the bus name is Q_OUT[2:0], the expanded bus will be Q_OUT<2>, Q_OUT<1>, Q_OUT<0>.

Project Directory Panel

The project directory is the directory in which LogiBLOX stores the logiblox.ini configuration file and all output files. Use the Project Directory choice in the Setup window to set the directory path to your project directory.

Figure 2.2 Project Directory Panel (Setup Window)

LogiBLOX Project Directory

You can define a project directory by doing one of the following.

Open the Browse window and select a directory from the list of available directories.
Enter the directory name directly in the Project Directory field.

NOTE

In schematic environments such as Viewlogic and Mentor, this option is disabled.

NOTE

In Windows 95^®, if you start LogiBLOX by selecting `Run' in the Start menu and entering `lbgui' in the Run window, the default project directory may show as C:\WIN95\DeskTop. This will send all output generated by LogiBLOX to the desktop. You should change the project directory to something else, such as C:\LOGIBLOX.

Device Family Panel

Use the Device Family choice in the Setup window to select one of the supported Xilinx device families.

Figure 2.3 Device Family Panel (Setup Window)

Device Family

Select a device family from the pull-down list box. The default is the XC4000E family. The following device families are supported by LogiBLOX.

Spartan
SpartanXL
XC3000A
XC3000L
XC3100A
XC3100L
XC4000E
XC4000EX
XC4000L
XC4000XL
XC4000XV
XC5200
XC9500
XC9500XL

LogiBLOX checks whether the appropriate libraries are installed for each of these families. The families whose libraries are not installed will not appear in the list of choices in the pull-down list box.

This information is needed by the Design Rule Checker (DRC). It is also used for NGO file generation.

Options Panel

Use the Options choice in the Setup window to select the outputs you require for your design. Each of your selections (except the LogiBLOX DRC box) generates a file that is placed in the project directory.

Figure 2.4 Options Panel (Setup WIndow)

There are four selection groups in the Options panel.

Simulation Netlist

The choices in this box create simulation netlists of the selected LogiBLOX module in different formats. You can choose one or more of the following outputs.

Behavioral VHDL netlist - generates a simulation netlist in behavioral VHDL. The output file has a .vhd extension.
Gate level EDIF netlist - generates a simulation netlist in EDIF format. The output file has an .edn extension.
Structural Verilog netlist - generates a simulation netlist in structural Verilog. The output file has a .v extension.

Component Declaration

The choices in this box create instantiation templates in different formats that can be copied into your design. You can choose either, both, or neither of the following outputs.

VHDL template - generates a LogiBLOX VHDL component declaration and instantiation template that can be inserted into your VHDL design when a LogiBLOX module is to be instantiated. The output file has a .vhi extension.
Verilog template - generates a LogiBLOX Verilog module definition and instantiation template that can be inserted into your Verilog design when a LogiBLOX module is to be instantiated. The output file has a .vei extension.

VHDL component instantiations require a matching component declaration, while Verilog instantiations require a matching module port definition.

Implementation Netlist

Select NGO File to generate an implementation netlist in Xilinx-NGD binary format. You must select this option when instantiating LogiBLOX symbols in an HDL. The output file has an .ngc extension. NGDBuild will read these files when processing the top level module.

LogiBLOX DRC

Select the Stop Process on Warning check box to halt module processing if any warning messages are encountered during the design entry process.

Control Buttons

Click OK to save your changes and close the Setup window. LogiBLOX saves the settings in the logiblox.ini file in the project directory. This information is used to configure subsequent sessions with the Module Selector.

Cancel

Click Cancel to close the Setup window without saving any of your changes.

Apply

This button is disabled. It is present to comply with the Microsoft Windows standard.

Help

Click Help to display help information for the various fields in the window.

User Preferences Window

Use the User Preferences window to select the editor you want to use for editing memory files. The default editor on UNIX^™ platforms is vi. The default editor on Windows 95 and Windows NT^® is Wordpad.

Select the User Prefs button in the Module Selector to bring up the User Preferences window