Create pin list for migration device set

Hi De-em:

I've been asking for something like this for years, but Altera has yet to get it.

To me, they should provide a "Migration pin out" and if possible a symbol for popular schematic software based on the device package.

I know as a FPGA designer, the first thing we need after the spec, is a board, the last thing we have is the complete functionality, and management always wants up to fit more logic into a smaller device.

What I want to be able to do is get a board quickly with the largest device possible in that package, then at the end of the design, when cost matters, be able to migrate it into the smallest device and know it will work with the original board, even if I didn't have "Migrate device" clicked.

How I work around this, is I take the excel pinout files, and merge all the various parts together into one master pinout then compare functionality pin by pin to insure I get all the variables understood.

It's a long process, and there are device family rules that can kill you even it you get it all right.

I'm currently working on the Cyclone V design, and "Device Migration" is not possible, because all the family members are not available yet, and the pinout available is useless, because it only lists the 150k LE Family members right now.

I've already found a tone of pins in the 300k LE part that are unavailable, by playing with the beta version of Quartus 12.

If they provided a "Migration pin-out" I could at least go forward with the board with some hope of migration compatibility.

Sorry this really wasn't an answer to your question, but thanks for bringing it up.

Pete

Pete