backannotate

Equivalent to executing the Back-Annotate command from the Tools menu. You can export an SDF file, after layout, along with the corresponding netlist in the VHDL or Verilog format. These files are useful in backannotated timing simulation.

Actel recommends that you export both SDF and the corresponding VHDL/Verilog files. This will avoid name conflicts in the simulation tool.

Designer must have completed layout before this command can be invoked, otherwise the command will fail.

backannotate -name file_name -format format_type -language language -dir directory_name [-netlist] [-pin]

Arguments

-name file_name

Use a valid file name with this option. You can attach the file extension .sdf to the File_Name, otherwise the tool will append .sdf for you.

-format format_type

Only SDF format is available for back annotation

-language language

The supported Language options are:

-dir directory_name

Specify the directory in which all the files will be extracted.

-netlist

Forces a netlist to be written. The netlist will be either in Verilog or VHDL.

-pin

Designer exports the pin file with this option. The .pin file extension is appended to the design name to create the pin file.

Supported Families

All

Exceptions

• The -pin argument is not supported for ProASIC and ProASICPLUS families.

Examples

Example 1:

backannotate

Uses default arguments and exports SDF file for back annotation

Example 2:

backannotate -dir \

 {..\my_design_dir} -name "fanouttest_ba.sdf" -format "SDF" –language \ "VHDL93" –netlist

This example uses some of the options for VHDL

Example 3:

backannotate -dir \

 {..\design} -name "fanouttest_ba.sdf" -format "SDF" -language "VERILOG" \

-netlist

This example uses some of the options for Verilog

Example 4:

If  { [catch { backannotate -name "fanouttest_ba" -format "SDF" } ]} {

              Puts “Back annotation failed”

              # Handle Failure

} else {

              Puts “Back annotation successful”

              # Proceed with other operations

}

You can catch exceptions and respond based on the success of backannotate operation

See Also

Tcl command documentation conventions