QII 7.2SP3 SOPC Builder - Cannot modify PLL module?

Question

Hello all... I'm really hoping you guys can help me figure this strange problem out ...

I'm using QII 7.2 SP3. Go into SOPC builder to an existing system, because I want to tap out the third clock output of a PLL that's in the system. (I'm currently only using .c0 and .c1, want to now use .c2)

I double-click the PLL module I've named pll_FPGA, and the SOPC Builder's PLL Configuration Dialog pops up, where it has a button for me to "Launch Altera's ALTPLL MegaWizard" ...

Click the "launch.." button, and nothing happens. :confused:

I try using the stock megawizard from within QII and can edit it, but because none of the SOPC builder configuration files are updated that way, I can't get SOPC builder to recognize that there is now a .c2 output coming from this PLL module...

Has anyone seen this strange error before? Haven't had a need to touch SOPC builder since QII 7.2, and I'm wondering if one of the service packs has caused a problem, or if something else might be going on ...

thanks so much,

..dane

altera_forum · Answer

Hi,  I encounterd the exact same problem, also with QII 7.2 SP3 (Win XP).  There happens nothing when clicking "Launch Altera's ALTPLL MegaWizard" in the "Configuration Dialog" of a PLL module.  But it does work with a QII 7.2 without any SP installed on an other machine (also Win XP)! So I think this bug was introduced with a SP.  It is possible to generate the system with the SOPC Builder, but there is some strange output wich is not shown in QII 7.2 without any SP installed:  
#  2008.06.04 18:22:27 (*) Starting generation for system: nios_sys1.
............
#  2008.06.04 18:22:29 (*) Running Generator Program for pll_0
qmegawiz   
   The last argument to qmegawiz should be the file name.
  options:
   -help or -h             Displays this help
   module=        Specifies the megafunction name to create
                           new wrappers from command line
                           Megafunction parameters and ports can
                           be specified in the command line
                           Megafunction name is optional when editing
                           existing wrappers
   entity=        same as module=
   megafunction=  same as module=
   wizard=    Specifies the wizard name to create
                           new wrappers from command line
                           Wizard name is optional when editing wrappers
   plugin=    same as wizard=
   -f:         Gets parameter assignments and port selections
                           from the given file.
Megafunction parameters should be specified in the format =
Megafunction port usage can be set as =used or =unused
Optional output files generated by the megawizard can be selected/deselected
through the parameter OPTIONAL_FILES.
   INST                    controls the generation of _inst.v
   INC                     controls the generation of .inc
   CMP                     controls the generation of .cmp
   BSF                     controls the generation of .bsf
   BB                      controls the generation of _bb.v
   WAVE                    controls the generation of sample waveform file(s)
                           (wherever the wizard supports it)
   SIM_NETLIST             controls the generation of simulation netlist file
                           (wherever the wizard supports it)
   SYNTH_NETLIST           controls the generation of synthesis netlist file
                           (wherever the wizard supports it)
   ALL                     generates all the applicable optional files
   NONE                    disables the generation of all optional files
The above values when preceded by a '-' disable the generation of the file
Multiple files can be enabled or disabled as shown below
   OPTIONAL_FILES=NONE|INC|CMP enables include and component files only
   OPTIONAL_FILES=ALL|-INC enables all files except include file
List of megafunctions supported by the qmegawiz command line mode are
   alt2gxb
   altclkctrl
   altddio_bidir
   altddio_in
   altddio_out
   altecc_decoder
   altecc_encoder
   altfp_add_sub
   altfp_compare
   altfp_sqrt
   altiobuf_bidir
   altiobuf_in
   altiobuf_out
   altlvds_rx
   altlvds_tx
   altmult_accum
   altmult_complex
   altpll
   altsyncram
   dcfifo
#  2008.06.04 18:22:31 (*) Running Generator Program for cpu_0
  While the SOPC Builder reports that "Info: System generation was successful.", compiling the system will FAIL with this error message: 
Info: Elaborating entity "pll_0_s1_arbitrator" for hierarchy "nios_sys1:inst|pll_0_s1_arbitrator:the_pll_0_s1"
Warning: Using design file pll_0.vhd, which is not specified as a design file for the current project, but contains definitions for 2 design units and 1 entities in project
	Info: Found design unit 1: pll_0-europa
	Info: Found entity 1: pll_0
Info: Elaborating entity "pll_0" for hierarchy "nios_sys1:inst|pll_0:the_pll_0"
Warning (10492): VHDL Process Statement warning at pll_0.vhd(170): signal "reset_input1" is read inside the Process Statement but isn't in the Process Statement's sensitivity list
Error (10500): VHDL syntax error at altpllpll_0.vhd(1) near text "/";  expecting "entity", or "architecture", or "use", or "library", or "package", or "configuration"
Error (10622): VHDL syntax error at altpllpll_0.vhd(76): INT_FEEDBACK__MODE_RADIO is an illegal identifier in VHDL
Error: Node instance "the_pll" instantiates undefined entity "altpllpll_0"
Error: Quartus II Analysis &amp; Synthesis was unsuccessful. 3 errors, 30 warnings
	Info: Allocated 193 megabytes of memory during processing
	Error: Processing ended: Wed Jun 04 18:28:32 2008
	Error: Elapsed time: 00:00:12
Error: Quartus II Full Compilation was unsuccessful. 3 errors, 30 warnings
   So the big question is, how can we fix this???  regards frank

altera_forum · Answer

I have opened a service request with Altera ..

altera_forum · Answer

from Altera's tech support (reply to my service request):

--- Quote Start ---

I have tested some projects in my computer in v7.2sp3. I don’t find such error. Could you please check if your project path contains any space, or your Quartus II and Nios II IDE installation directory contain space?

--- Quote End ---

And an update on my part-- I went back to an OLD archive from January and began copying portions of the .SOPC and .PTF files from the Jan version to the current version using a GUI-based diff tool (we use Beyond Compare).. After tons of changes I was sure things would just crash and burn, but I thought I'd try it anyway, and don't'cha'know, things started working. The 3rd PLL output that I wanted showed up (that's the stuff I was copying, because it USED to be enabled and I wanted to RE-enable it), AND I am now able to open the PLL megawizard...

But I think something OUTSIDE the project has changed, too. Because now I can go back to the previously "non-working" copy of the project and it works fine now.

(spooky music playing)

I am wondering about path names, environment variables, and other non-project-specific settings at this point... The case is still open, but at least I can push forward with the design now ... Hopefully I can help narrow this down for Altera and you guys ..

..dane

altera_forum · Answer

Thank you dane and Altera tech support

--- Quote Start ---

from Altera's tech support (reply to my service request):

--- Quote Start ---

I have tested some projects in my computer in v7.2sp3. I don’t find such error. Could you please check if your project path contains any space, or your Quartus II and Nios II IDE installation directory contain space?

--- Quote End ---

(...)

--- Quote End ---

I do have spaces my Quartus II and Nios II IDE installation directory. This is due the fact, that I installed the software at "C:\Program Files\Altera\...".

My Project path also had spaces in it.

After removing the spaces from the project path it works fine now (QII still lives in "C:\Program Files\...")!

But in my opinion it is a strange behaviour, that it does not work with spaces in the project path (spaces are legal characters in files and directories).

~fred

altera_forum · Answer

Cool...  thanks for the post!

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QII 7.2SP3 SOPC Builder - Cannot modify PLL module?

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