Forum Discussion

Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
17 years ago

I want knowing POF file format structures.

hello, everyone.

I want knowing POF file format structures.

I can open a .pof file and program this to the EPCS16 device if i know

the length of the header so i can remove it first. The header includes

info about Quartus build date/version/device/comment e.t.c

The .pof file also includes a signature, but since the useful data

only exists until about 1/3 into the file, this signature is also

removed when programming..

Does anyone know the .pof file format? I really need to know this:

1. Where is the header-length is specified?

2. What does the different "unknown" bytes in the header (except for

the obvious ascii coded strings) specify?

My application can also read the contens of the flash and save it to a

file. It would be really useful if this could be saved in a .pof valid

format, and written back using the quartus programming tool, so:

3. What does the Quartus programming tool look for to determine if

the .pof is valid? (checksum? probably some of the info requested in

1, 2?)

4. What does the signature/footer describe?

Thanks so much.

15 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    17 years ago

    I don't think Altera publish the pof file format. You could try asking them via "My Support" though.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    17 years ago

    thank you, vernmid.

    I wish changing like that.

    But,the b/d developer does not want the rbf format.:o
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    12 years ago

    --- Quote Start ---

    Have you considered a different file format?

    rbf for example

    http://www.altera.com/support/kdb/solutions/rd01212004_4844.html

    Just contains the data

    --- Quote End ---

    hi vernmid

    i want to download the rbf data in the EPCS4, does all the rbf data need to be download ？

    how？ only the least significant bit (LSB) of each data byte is loaded first？

    i have read out all the EPCS4 data and found there are some different between RBF data and EPCS4 data
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    12 years ago

    Yes. Altera is suggesting to program *.rpd data, which is essentially a *.rbf file padded with 0xff up to the flash size.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    12 years ago

    hi FVM !

    thanks for your quick reply!

    but i always doubt that all rpd data was just only be simple reversed ?

    because i have read out all the EPCS4 data and compare with .rpd file data , there are not only simple reversed...
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    12 years ago

    --- Quote Start ---

    Yes. Altera is suggesting to program *.rpd data, which is essentially a *.rbf file padded with 0xff up to the flash size.

    --- Quote End ---

    sorry i make a mistake！

    there are some different bettwen .rbf file data with EPCS4 stored data,(not only reversal)

    rpd file data are same with EPCS4 stored data after be reversed.

    i am curious why .rpd file was different with .rbf file