How to include Component Declaration Files (.cmp)

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Hello,

Can anyone tell me how to use the component declaration file generated by the Quartus IP catalog tool in another file? ( have been writing AHDL for many years but I am new to VHDL).

As an example I have a component shiftcounter and the IP tool generates a file shiftcounter.cmp including the following:

component shiftCounter

PORT

(clk_en : IN STD_LOGIC ;

clock : IN STD_LOGIC ;

cnt_en : IN STD_LOGIC ;

data : IN STD_LOGIC_VECTOR (7 DOWNTO 0);

sclr : IN STD_LOGIC ;

sload : IN STD_LOGIC ;

q : OUT STD_LOGIC_VECTOR (7 DOWNTO 0)

);

end component;

At the moment I keep copy & pasting this into the VHDL files that use that component but I'm sure there must be a way to "include" it.

Any clues, please?

Thanks.

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it is meant for copy/paste in a top level vhdl that wants to instantiate it. It is good for those of us lazy enough not to copy/paste from entity interface then just changing "entity" word to "component"