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Installation

To install Impulse:

1. Unpack the compressed nxdesignsuite-VERSION.tar.gz file to the installation directory of your choice
   (e.g. /opt/NanoXplore) using the following command:

   Code Block
   $> tar xzf nxdesignsuite-VERSION.tar.gz -C /opt/NanoXplore

2. Set the licence by exporting the following shell variable*:

   Code Block
   $> export LM_licence_FILE=27000@servername

*Where servername is the hostname of the server running the licence daemon and 27000 is the port the daemon listens to.

Run Impulse

To run Impulse, use the following command:

$> /opt/NanoXplore/impulse/VERSION/bin/impulse

Run nxpython

To run nxpython, use the following command:

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Project Creation

Creating a new project starts “from scratch”, which involves defining a project directory, adding sources and configuring settings which can be compulsory or optional.

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Static Timing Analysis can be performed by Impulse (see section Static Timing Analysis) and nxpython (see section Static Timing Analysis related methods).

Welcome Screen

When you launch Impulse, a welcome screen opens offering quick access to startup tools.

The page is divided into the following areas:

• ToolbarMenu bar
  The main toolbar at top of the page displays the menus with a selection of available tools and options

• Start
  The Start area at left gives you quick access to create or open projects:

  • Create New Project
    Opens the Project Creation Wizard which guides you through the steps to create a new project

  • Open Project
    Opens the File Manager to import your desired project into Impulse

  • Open Example Project
    Opens an example project with prefilled sample data and information to help become familiar with the tools and features in Impulse such as the Project Creation Wizard and Design Flow funtionalities

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Create New Project (Wizard)

To create your project and configure the environment of your choice:

• Click Create New Project in the Start Panel at left, or

• In the main toolbar Menu bar at top, click File > New > Project

The resulting window is a Project Creation Wizard which guides you through the steps to create your project:

Step 1: Set Project Information

Define a project name and project location where files, logs, reports and data during the flow execution will be written:

1. Type your desired name in the Project name field

2. Type the path of your choice in the Project location field or the click the Browse button at right to define a location for your project
   Tick the Use as Default Project Location checkbox to set as default for all New Projects

3. You can add an optional description

4. Click the Next button at bottom-right to move on to step 2
   

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Step 2: Add Sources

Specify the Sources for your project (RTL files, netlist, Block Design, IP files, library, script):

1. Click on the Add Files button under the Name and Location area, or
   Click on the Add Directories button to add directories containing your sources
   Note: You may need to use the scrollbar at right to navigate down to the buttons

2. Tick the Copy Source Files to Project checkbox to create a duplicate copy of the selected sources in the project directory
   Note: Only the following file extensions are supported: sv, .vhdl, .vhd, .v, .vh, .svh and .py
   Note: The Name is the directory name of the folder where scripts, files and reports will be written

3. Click Next at bottom-right to move to step 3 or, if you wish, you can also set Top Cell information at this point (see Optional sub-steps below)

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(Optional

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) Set Top Cell Information

To enter the Top Cell Name or Library:

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(Optional

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) Set Parameters of the Top Design Entity

You can also declare generic HDL parameters for selected top-level project design sources at this step:

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Step 3: Add Constraints

You can specify physical or timing constraints associated with the project if you have an existing constraints file in .sdc, .xdc or .py format.

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1. Click on the Add Files button (or Add Directory to add a folder)
   Note: You may need to use the scrollbar at right to navigate down to the buttons

2. Browse and select your desired File/Directory and click Add

3. Tick the Copy Constraints File to the Project checkbox to create a duplicate copy in the project directory

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Step 4: Select Devices

To select a device and associated package:

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Step 5: Project Summary

Check all the information is as you wish for your new project in the Project Summary screen.

• If any of the settings need modification, click the Back button to return to the appropriate step and follow the instructions described in the previous sections

• If all is as desired, click the Finish button to confirm the creation of your project and close the Project Creation Wizard

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Open Project

You can load projects at any step or sub-step phase of the design flow, as long as the project has been saved in .NYM format during execution of the corresponding step.

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1. Click on Open Projectin the welcome screen, or

   • Scroll through the Recent history at right and click to open your desired project, or

   • Click File > Open > Project

2. Navigate to the .nym file of your choice

3. Double-click the file or click to select your project and click the Open button

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Open an Example Project (Wizard)

Impulse also enables you to create new projects based on existing test cases which are bundled with the tool.

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Either option opens a simplified 4-step wizard which will guide you through the steps to create an example project:

Step 1: Select a Project Template

1. Use your mouse wheel or cursor to select a Template from the available list and

2. Click the Next button at bottom-right to move to Step 2
   

   

Step 2: Select a Device

1. Use the drop-down menus to select your device and associated package then

2. Click the Next button at bottom-right to move to step 3
   

   

Step 3: Set Project Information

1. Type your desired name in the Project name field

2. Type the path of yoour choice in the Project location field or the click the Browse button at right to define the location for your project
   Tick the Use as Default Project Location checkbox to set your choice as default for all New Projects

3. Click the Next button at bottom-right to move to step 4

   

Step 4: Project Summary

1. Check the details in the Project Summary screen and and

2. Click the Finish button at bottom to confirm creation of your Example Project, or

3. Click the Back button to go back to any previous step and modify the details as desired

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Help Menu

The Help menu at far right of the main menu toolbar at top contains the following options:

• Open Help and Documentation
  The Help and Documentation page gives screen provides access to NX FPGA range datasheets, Impulse User Guide and beginner-level troubleshooting articles and FAQ’s

• Find Technical Support
  Access to our Support Team for any questions about our products or licences

• Report Issue
  Opens the NanoXplore Support Portal with access to Ticket Creation, Knowledge Base Articles, Release Notes, etc.)

• Licence Manager
  Displays list of all features enabled by the NanoXplore licence file management tool

• About Impulse
  Displays the current software version with the associated distribution informattion

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Help

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and Documentation Screen

The Help and Documentation screen provides access to helpful resources laid out in 3 main areas:

• DataSheet (top-left):

  • Datasheets for NanoXplore’s range of FPGA devices

    • Documents providing technical descriptions of the electronic components and features included as well as instructions to use or configure them

• Impulse User Guide (top-right)

• Help & Troubleshooting

  • Simple troubleshooting, knowledge articles and FAQ’s for beginner-level users

Help & Troubleshooting

When you click on the Help > Open Help and Documentation option, the Help & Troubleshooting section at bottom of the page provides basic help and troubleshooting tips for beginners. These describe key concepts of the software, or provided step by step instructions to perform basic operations or resolve known issues.

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Edit Project

Once When a project is created or a .nym database is loaded, you have access to the the project management tools to edit, run, rerun any step of the NanoXplore Impulse design flow. anchorFigure21Figure21

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The Impulse interface is organised around a horizontal scrolling menu and a vertical icon list.

1. Icons list

a. Project

Project icon serves to configure project settings, option editing related to each flow laid out as follows:

• Main menu bar at top

• Editor bar at left with the main editing and configuration tools:

  • Project Settings

  • STA Manager

  • IP Catalogue

  • I/O Attribute Editor

  • Floorplan

• Project Sources Editor at centre-top of the screen

• Design Flow Navigator at centre-bottom of the screen

• The main area at top-right to configure the Editors

  • Click on a tool in the Editor bar to access the configuration settings in this area

• The Python Console at bottom-right

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Editing Tools

The main Editors in the bar at left enable you to configure your project and device. Click okn an editor to invoke the tool’s setting panel in the area at top-right.

Project Settings

The Project Settings editor enables you to configure project settings and edit parameters related to each step of the NanoXplore Design Flow:

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This section also allows Project Settings also enable you to change the default settings of for the Synthesis, Place, Route and Bitstream step options steps:

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Constraints Editor

The Constraints Editor identifies existing timing constraints which have been previously declared - either by via python script or graphical execution through python console - and saved in the database.

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The Constraints Editorhas several iincludes the followin categories for timing constraints classifications:

• Resources section gathers clock Clock related constraints like such as:

  • CreateClock(), CreateGeneratedClock() and SetClockGroup()

• InputsInput lists

  • Lists SetInputDelay() constraints

• Output lists Outputs

  • Lists SetOutputDelay() constraints

• Exceptions section regroups

  • Regroups SetMulticyclePath(), SetFalsePath(), SetMaxDelay(), SetMinDelay() and SetCaseAnalysis() constraints

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The Constraint Editor respects the following syntax for declaration, requiring several mandatory arguments - specified by red asterisk - and optional ones available for some :

• Mandatory arguments, which are marked with a red asterisk (“*”), and

• Optional arguments, which are available for certain constraints by clicking on Add Parameters:

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STA manager

The STA Manager gives the possibility enables you to schedule - after or to directly launch a Static Timing Analysis after the Synthesis, Place or Route steps - or directly launch a Static Timing Analysis regarding certain , depending on parameters such as the requested ;

• Requested condition case scenario

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• Maximum number of violating paths or

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• Maximum slack upon

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• analysis

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IP Catalogue Configuration

The IP icon gives Editor provides graphical access to the IP Catalog NXcore Catalogue NxCore Generator provided with Impulse , for IP configuration and generation concerning the provided list:

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I/O Attribute Editor

The I/O icon opens the panel for input/output for potential Editor opens enables manual attribution or modification of I/O placement into placement of Inputs and Outputs in the selected variant device up until to launch of the first step of Place is launched; once Place .. Once Place step 1/5 is launched, the I/O locations will be location of Inputs and Outputs are defined either by user-defined constraints provided by user or automatically placed by the software.

The I/O configConfig section describes how inputsthe input/outputs output ports of the current design are mapped on specific pads with associated features (locationsuch as:

• Location, standard, drive, weak termination, slew rate, termination, input delay line, output delay line, differential, termination reference, turbo, signal slope, output capacity & register type

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Pad features are described in addPad(name, parameters) command section.

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