Answers Database

FPGA Express: Program does not start after double-clicking on icon


Record #2723

Product Family:  Software

Product Line:  Synopsys

Problem Title:
FPGA Express: Program does not start after double-clicking on icon


Problem Description:
Keywords: FPGA Express, license, icon, license.dat

Urgency : Standard

General Description:
After invoking FPGA Express, either by double-clicking on the icon or by
selecting Start->Programs->Synopsys->FPGA Express, the FPGA Express splash
screen appears, but nothing happens.

There are a few things that can cause this behaviour.


Solution 1:

If the version of FPGA Express has been purchased through Xilinx and uses the
Xilinx license.dat, then the FlexLM license software must be installed.  At
a minimum, the %XILINX%\BIN\NT area must exist (with the lmgrd program, etc.),
and this must be defined in the PATH environment variable.

This area may exist by way of a Xilinx M1 install, by copying that directory
from the CD to a similarly named directory on your hard drive, or by simply
refering to the CD itself (PATH=D:\BIN\NT;%PATH% , where D is your CD-ROM
drive).



Solution 2:

If there is a problem with the license.dat or the LM_LICENSE_FILE variable,
then this behaviour may occur.

Check to make sure the license exists and that the LM_LICENSE_FILE points to
that explicit license.dat file.  Use the LMUTIL tools to check the validity
of the license.dat.  Check that the license.dat refers to the Ethernet
address or C: drive Volume Serial Number of the machine used for licensing.

Problems with the licensing will usually give an error, but not always.



Solution 3:

If certain files in the C:\Windows directory have dates set in the future,
they will need to be modified to have this problem corrected.
Freeware/Shareware utilities like "touch.exe" will update the timestamps.
These files may vary, but always reside in the Windows directory.



Solution 4:

If files in the %EXPRESS%\bin-win32i directory have become corrupt, they
will need to be replaced.  To do so, simply reinstall FPGA Express.  Check
the other solutions before doing this.



End of Record #2723