Answers Database

XABEL, M1.4: Using XABEL with M1.4 Alliance software


Record #3253

Product Family:  Software

Product Line:  Data I/O

Problem Title:
XABEL, M1.4:  Using XABEL with M1.4 Alliance software


Problem Description:
Keywords:  xabel, alliance, foundation

Urgency:  Hot

General Description:

XABEL is only provided as part of the Foundation Series software.
Since Foundation 1.4 will not begin shipping until at least 1
month after Alliance 1.4 began shipping, how will Alliance 1.4
customers use XABEL software before Foundation F1.4 is available?

*Note, it is advisable for those customers wishing to use XABEL to
either move to the Foundation Series software package, or to
begin migration to an alternative HDL solution, such as VHDL or
Verilog.  While we do provide information on using XABEL with an
Alliance package (Xilinx Solution 2951), it is not a well
integrated solution, nor an official Xilinx development system
flow.  For an integrated XABEL flow, please consider using the
Foundation Series software.


Solution 1:

If you do not have access to the Web to download the 1.4
version of XABEL, you may follow the following instructions to
use the version of XABEL found on the F1.3 CD.

The following procedure describes the process for using the
XABEL software with the new Alliance 1.4 Implementation Tools.
Note that this procedure requires that you have the Foundation
F1.3 CDROMs available, which is where you will install the XABEL
software from.

1.  Install the "Design Implementation Tools" for the Alliance
    Series 1.4 software.  By default, this will be installed into
    the C:\XILINX directory.

2.  Install the XABEL software from the "Foundation Series vF1.3
    Design Implementation Tools" CDROM.
       -When installing, choose to install "Design Entry Tools
	Only"  This will install just the XABEL software.

     *********************VERY IMPORTANT***********************
       -CHANGE THE INSTALL DIRECTORY TO SOMETHING OTHER THAN
	THE DEFAULT C:\XILINX.	THIS XABEL SOFTWARE MUST *NOT* BE
	INSTALLED INTO THE SAME DIRECTORY AS THE IMPLEMENTATION
	TOOLS WERE IN STEP 1.).
     **********************************************************

      For example, install the XABEL software into C:\XABEL.

3.)  In the Environment Settings Options dialog box, DESELECT the
     following 2 choices:
     Set/Update XILINX in autoexec.bat
     Set/Update XILINX_CD in autoexec.bat

4.)  After installation, reboot the machine.  The autoexec.bat
     should now have the following settings:

XILINX=C:\XILINX
PATH=C:\XABEL\BIN\NT;C:\XILINX\BIN\NT;<rest_of_path>

where C:\XILINX is the Alliance 1.4 Implementation Tools install
directory and C:\XABEL is the Foundation F1.3 XABEL install
directory.

5.)  Copy the XLNXLIB directory (located in C:\XABEL\DATA\) into
     the C:\XILINX\DATA directory.

You should now be set up to run XABEL with the 1.4 Alliance Tools.
If you need more information about running this flow, please refer
to (Xilinx Solution 2951).



Solution 2:

There is a preliminary version of M1.4-compatible XABEL
available on the File Download area of the Xilinx Web Answers
Page at:
ftp://ftp.xilinx.com/pub/swhelp/foundation/xabel141.zip

Included in this ZIP file is a REAME.TXT file which explains
how to install the software, as well as a READ_ABL.TXT which
discusses the capabilities and known issues with the XABEL
software.



End of Record #3253