Xilinx Answer #5631 : Foundation Express v3.1 available in F1.5i Service Pack 1 via Web

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Foundation Express v3.1 available in F1.5i Service Pack 1 via Web

Record #5631
Product Family: Software

Product Line: Synopsys

Product Part: FPGA Express

Product Version: 3.0

Problem Title:
Foundation Express v3.1 available in F1.5i Service Pack 1 via Web

Problem Description:
Date: 2/99
Urgency: standard

General Description:

Foundation Express v3.1 is now available via the Software Updates page
at http://support.xilinx.com/support/techsup/sw_updates/index.htm. Express v3.1
provides enhancements and new features including Schematic Viewer (Vista),
FST Scripting Tool, attribute passing, and Virtex MuxF5 support.

From the Software Updates page, select Foundation 1.5i as your Xilinx Software version, and then select Generate List to see the Service Pack Update files available for download.

The Foundation Express Synthesis Update provides an upgrade to the Express
v3.1 synthesis tools.

For more information on upgrading the Foundation 1.5i Design Entry, Design
Implementation, Data Files and CORE Generator software, see
(Xilinx Solution 5604).

Solution 1:

The following installation instructions apply to the Foundation Express Synthesis Update.

File Name: FEXP_SP1A.ZIP

Express synthesis tools. This update will install Express v3.1.

FEXP_SP1A.ZIP is an incremental release to FEXP_SP1.ZIP which adds new
.PTS files to support additional speed grades in the XC4000XLA, XC4000XV,
Virtex and SpartanXL families. If you have already installed FEXP_SP1.ZIP,
you only need to rerun the license_upd.bat from this newer FEXP_SP1A.ZIP
to gain access to the newer speed grades.

Platform: Win95/WinNT

Installation/Use:

Unzip the contents of FEXP_SP1A.ZIP into a Temp directory,
maintaining subdirectory structure.
The ZIP file will extract a subdirectory called FEXP_SP1 which
contains the Service Pack update files as follows:

<TEMP>\fexp_sp1\express_31.exe
<TEMP>\fexp_sp1\license_upd.bat
<TEMP>\fexp_sp1\files\
<TEMP>\readme.txt

To install Express v3.1:

      1. Double-click on express_31.exe.
           -The InstallShield should automatically fill in the
            installation directory with the correct location of
            your current Express software (typically C:\fndtn\synth).
           -You should allow the Program Group 'Synopsys' to be
            created for this installation of Express (this is the
            default).

      2. Double-click on license_upd.bat.

   ***If prompted to overwrite or delete existing files or directories,
      select Yes to overwrite/delete.***

Updating the Express license:

This service pack will install version 3.1.0 of the Synopsys FPGA
Express synthesis technology. There are no license file changes
required to take advantage of the new synthesis engine.

However, to access the new Schematic Viewer capabilites included with
this version of Express, Foundation Express users will need to update
the existing PACKAGE entry of their current license.dat file.
The new PACKAGE statement can be found at %XILINX%\data\license_update.txt.
Please refer to this file for instructions on modifying your LICENSE.DAT file.

Please note that the Schematic Viewer feature is only available for
Foundation Express configurations. Foundation Base configurations will not
have access to the Schematic Viewer, and therefore there is no need to update
the LICENSE.DAT file for Foundation Base systems.

Note: The Schematic Viewer is currently available only from Foundation
Express in stand-alone mode.

Installation Troubleshooting:

1. Readme file does not come up at end of installation on Win95.
      You may open this file from the Synopsys Program Group at
      Start -> Programs -> Synopsys -> Readme File.

2. Invoking FPGA Express from Synopsys Program Group gives license error.
      Open the Express tool from the Foundation Series Program
      Group at Start -> Programs -> Xilinx Foundation Series ->
      Accessories -> Foundation Express rather than the Synopsys
       Program Group so that Express sees the correct license file.

3. Error regarding missing DLL files when attempting to open Foundation
     Express stand-alone.
      This is a symptom of not having run the license_upd.bat file during
      installation of the Service Pack. Return to the Service Pack files
      and run license_upd.bat.

End of Record #5631 - Last Modified: 02/21/99 15:58

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