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anonimcs's avatar
anonimcs
Icon for Contributor rankContributor
2 years ago
Solved

Change VHDL generic via command line for synthesis

Hello everyone,

I have a project which consists of multiple IPs. I have a qsys file for each configuration of the IPs and I also have a top-level generic that allows me to not have a duplicate of VHDL code just for having different input bit widths. My question here is that I want to configure the generic via command line (or with some scripts) but I couldn't find a way to do so. The closest thing I could find is creating project revisions, but those are not fully flexible as we need to create all project-related files before running synthesis. I was wondering if anyone could configure their generics via command line without having to copy all the project files + the vhdl source code

Configuration
  • ShengN_altera's avatar
    ShengN_altera
    2 years ago

    Hi,


    then how should I make the pin assignments for the pins not used when generic = 0 (they're only used when generic = 1). Is there a way to set them 'conditionally' in the qsf file ?

    For above mentioned can't be achieved in .qsf, you may need to use .tcl script if/then/else already as mentioned. For example like below in .tcl:

    set a [get_parameter -name C3_CNT]


    if {$a == 1} {

    set disable 0

    set enable 1

    } else {

    set enable 0

    set disable 1

    }

    if {$enable} {

    set_location_assignment PIN_W28 -to outclk6 -disable -comment IOBANK_3C -remove

    set_location_assignment PIN_W28 -to outclk6 -comment IOBANK_3C

    export_assignments

    }

    if {$disable} {

    set_location_assignment PIN_W28 -to outclk6 -disable -comment IOBANK_3C

    export_assignments

    }


    Remember that if want to enable, make sure source the .tcl twice in order to remove the previous -disable assignment.


    [Take Note This]: Critical Warning(19941): QSF command 'set_parameter' can only apply to the top-level design and cannot include '-to' or '-entity' arguments.

    If you notice that 'set_parameter' doesn't take effect, remove the '-to' or '-entity' arguments because it can only apply to top-level design.


    Thanks,

    Best Regards,

    Sheng



7 Replies

    • anonimcs's avatar
      anonimcs
      Icon for Contributor rankContributor
      2 years ago

      Looks promising, which file should I add this command to ?

      Cheers,

  • ShengN_altera's avatar
    ShengN_altera
    Icon for Super Contributor rankSuper Contributor
    2 years ago

    Hi,

    You can add this tcl command to a .tcl file. Then go to View -> Tcl Console, in the Tcl Console type source <file_name>.tcl. Besides, can go to Tools -> Tcl Scripts and then Select and Run.

    Also, you can straightaway include that tcl command in the .qsf file.

    Thanks,

    Best Regards,

    Sheng

    • anonimcs's avatar
      anonimcs
      Icon for Contributor rankContributor
      2 years ago

      Hi,

      Adding the tcl command directly to the qsf file is totally fine for me, but I have a follow-up question. As I mentioned, the entity's port widths are dependent on this generic, then how should I make the pin assignments for the pins not used when generic = 0 (they're only used when generic = 1). Is there a way to set them 'conditionally' in the qsf file ?

      Cheers

  • ShengN_altera's avatar
    ShengN_altera
    Icon for Super Contributor rankSuper Contributor
    2 years ago

    Hi,

    Sorry for confusion. The package require ::quartus::project is not needed in the previous post community.intel.com/t5/Programmable-Devices/Change-VHDL-generic-via-command-line-for-synthesis/m-p/1534942#M93067 situation. It'll only be needed when you want to project_open and export_assignments the tcl assignment like the .tcl script attached below. Btw, you can generate the .tcl script attached below by going to Project -> Generate Tcl File for Project.

    Forgot to mention that if you want to source the .tcl script in command prompt you can use this command quartus_sh -t

    Thanks,

    Best Regards,

    sheng

  • ShengN_altera's avatar
    ShengN_altera
    Icon for Super Contributor rankSuper Contributor
    2 years ago

    Hi,


    then how should I make the pin assignments for the pins not used when generic = 0 (they're only used when generic = 1). Is there a way to set them 'conditionally' in the qsf file ?

    For above mentioned can't be achieved in .qsf, you may need to use .tcl script if/then/else already as mentioned. For example like below in .tcl:

    set a [get_parameter -name C3_CNT]


    if {$a == 1} {

    set disable 0

    set enable 1

    } else {

    set enable 0

    set disable 1

    }

    if {$enable} {

    set_location_assignment PIN_W28 -to outclk6 -disable -comment IOBANK_3C -remove

    set_location_assignment PIN_W28 -to outclk6 -comment IOBANK_3C

    export_assignments

    }

    if {$disable} {

    set_location_assignment PIN_W28 -to outclk6 -disable -comment IOBANK_3C

    export_assignments

    }


    Remember that if want to enable, make sure source the .tcl twice in order to remove the previous -disable assignment.


    [Take Note This]: Critical Warning(19941): QSF command 'set_parameter' can only apply to the top-level design and cannot include '-to' or '-entity' arguments.

    If you notice that 'set_parameter' doesn't take effect, remove the '-to' or '-entity' arguments because it can only apply to top-level design.


    Thanks,

    Best Regards,

    Sheng