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wa_itd's avatar
wa_itd
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11 days ago
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Modifying and/or hiding interfaces based on component parameters?

I am working in Quartus Prime 26.1 with Platform Designer. I have created a _hw.tcl file for my new component. I would like to hide some interfaces based on the component parameters; for example, "En...
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  • KennyT_altera's avatar
    KennyT_altera
    3 days ago

    After refer to https://docs.altera.com/r/docs/683609/26.1/quartus-prime-pro-edition-user-guide-platform-designer/answers-to-top-faqs 

    You can do this, but not through ongoing Component Editor edits.

     

    Platform Designer supports parameter-dependent interface visibility via ELABORATION_CALLBACK (see Section 4.7, “Control Interfaces Dynamically with an Elaboration Callback” in the link above).
    The expected flow is: create the component once in Component Editor, then manually edit _hw.tcl for callbacks/custom Tcl (Section 4.3). If you reopen that customized component in Component Editor, your custom Tcl is overwritten (Section 4.3 note / 4.3.2).

    For loading/testing without “New Component”: Platform Designer discovers _hw.tcl from IP search paths during Discovery (Section 4.2). So put your component directory in IP Catalog Search Locations / SEARCH_PATH / user_components.ipx (Sections 2.6.5.1.x and 2.6.5.2), reopen Platform Designer, and instantiate from IP Catalog.

    So in short: your approach is valid; use manual _hw.tcl + IP search path discovery, not repeated Component Editor edits.

wa_itd's avatar
wa_itd
Icon for New Contributor rankNew Contributor
11 days ago

I have since discovered that there is no problem if the _hw.tcl is loaded without the Component Editor GUI. So, perhaps the following questions are more important:

  • How is it possible to load a _hw.tcl file without clicking "New Component" (thus opening the Component Editor)?
  • How can you use callbacks when the _hw.tcl file is not located in the project directory?
sstrell's avatar
sstrell
Icon for Super Contributor rankSuper Contributor
10 days ago

You create the component with Component Editor first and then you simply edit the _hw.tcl file the tool creates manually.  Going back to the Component Editor will always create a new _hw.tcl without your customizations (backs up the previous file as _hw.tcl~).

  • wa_itd's avatar
    wa_itd
    Icon for New Contributor rankNew Contributor
    10 days ago

    Thanks for your comment! I am wondering though, how do you then test the _hw.tcl that you've modified? Other than placing the file in the project directory and restarting Platform Designer such that it is reloaded? Feels like there should be an easier way...

    • KennyT_altera's avatar
      KennyT_altera
      Icon for Super Contributor rankSuper Contributor
      3 days ago

      After refer to https://docs.altera.com/r/docs/683609/26.1/quartus-prime-pro-edition-user-guide-platform-designer/answers-to-top-faqs 

      You can do this, but not through ongoing Component Editor edits.

       

      Platform Designer supports parameter-dependent interface visibility via ELABORATION_CALLBACK (see Section 4.7, “Control Interfaces Dynamically with an Elaboration Callback” in the link above).
      The expected flow is: create the component once in Component Editor, then manually edit _hw.tcl for callbacks/custom Tcl (Section 4.3). If you reopen that customized component in Component Editor, your custom Tcl is overwritten (Section 4.3 note / 4.3.2).

      For loading/testing without “New Component”: Platform Designer discovers _hw.tcl from IP search paths during Discovery (Section 4.2). So put your component directory in IP Catalog Search Locations / SEARCH_PATH / user_components.ipx (Sections 2.6.5.1.x and 2.6.5.2), reopen Platform Designer, and instantiate from IP Catalog.

      So in short: your approach is valid; use manual _hw.tcl + IP search path discovery, not repeated Component Editor edits.

    • KennyT_altera's avatar
      KennyT_altera
      Icon for Super Contributor rankSuper Contributor
      1 day ago

      closing the caes since the soln accepted