Forum Discussion
Honored ContributorUse Max+Plus to load program from PLD?
Hello, I have a PLD that has a program loaded onto it, and the code has been lost. Is it possible to use Max+Plus to load the vhdl code from the chip so that the code can be used to program other PLD's?
12 Replies
Altera_ForumOk, thanks. That helps a lot.
- Altera_Forum--- Quote Start --- I have the .pof file. --- Quote End --- If you have a working board, then you should be able to use Quartus to verify that this .pof file is the one currently burned into a working board. --- Quote Start --- I would rewrite the code but the problem is that it was written 18 years ago by someone else. I'm just the middleman in this whole thing so I'm not even sure what the code does. --- Quote End --- Right, so its really up to you how important having the source code it. You could arguably consider the PLD to be a chip. If it does what you want, then you're done. If however you have to change functionality, then you'll have to rewrite the code. Cheers, Dave
- Altera_Forum
I have the .pof file. I would rewrite the code but the problem is that it was written 18 years ago by someone else. I'm just the middleman in this whole thing so I'm not even sure what the code does.
- Altera_Forum--- Quote Start --- can .acf files be used to program PLDs? --- Quote End --- No. These files are 'assignment and constraints files' (or something like that). They contain the pin assignments and other features. This is similar information to what is stored in the Quartus settings files (.qsf). If you can find an .sof, .pof, or perhaps a Jam STAPL file .jam, you might be ok. How complex is the design? Its a PLD, so it can't have that much logic. Just re-write the code. Cheers, Dave
- Altera_Forum
Hmm, can .acf files be used to program PLDs?
- Altera_Forum
Ok, thanks for the help.
- Altera_Forum
Yes, but it'll be a pain in the arse, but not quite as bad as the bit-stream. All its telling you whats inside each LUT, and what it connects to. Good luck working that circuit out. You'd probably spend as much time re-writing the code, if not a bit less.
- Altera_Forum
Ok, after doing some more searching, I found an old compilation report.
Would information such as what is shown below be able to be used to recover the code? -- Node name is 'AD2' = ':246' -- Equation name is 'AD2', type is output AD2 = LCELL( _EQ005 $ GND); _EQ005 = A1 & !_LC105 & T02 & T04 # _LC105 & _LC126; - Altera_Forum--- Quote Start --- IIRC, MAX and MAX II CPLDs don't allow the bitstream to be read back. --- Quote End --- They do, if protection isn't set.
- Altera_Forum
IIRC, MAX and MAX II CPLDs don't allow the bitstream to be read back.
