ISE software using commands

ISE is a grraphical tool to synthesize vhdl into bit-files, to download into a Xilinx device. A much easier way is to use scripts! On this page you can find how to program GODIL modules with Xilinx FPGA using Xilinx ISE. Using Linux, commands instead of gui. (Scripts for Windows will follow.)

Note vhdl

  • Procedures containing inout are not always synthesized correctly by ISE.

    From vhdl to bit-file

  • Define module 
    entity=abc
xcf_file=$entity.xcf
src=abc.vhd
fpga=xc3s500E-VQ100
  • Run synthesis 
    echo "run -ifn $src -ifmt vhdl -uc $xcf_file -ofn $entity -p $fpga -top $entity" > cmd.xst
xst -ifn cmd.xst
  • Run Place And Route etc. 
    ngdbuild $entity $entity.ngd
map  $entity.ngd
par $entity.ncd -w $entity
  • Generate bitfile. 
    bitgen $entity -w

    Program FPGA directly (program lost after powerdown)

  • Generate IMPACT commandfile 
    echo setMode -bscan > impact_fpga.cmd
echo setCable -p auto >> impact_fpga.cmd
echo Identify -inferir >> impact_fpga.cmd
echo identifyMPM >> impact_fpga.cmd
echo assignFile -p 1 -file $entity.bit >> impact_fpga.cmd
echo program  -p 1 >> impact_fpga.cmd
echo quit >> impact_fpga.cmd
  • Run: Program the FPGA (first connect module to PC) 
    impact -batch impact_fpga.cmd

    Prepare program flash: Generate mcs file

  • Generate IMPACT commandfile 
    echo setMode -pff > impact_mcs.cmd
echo addConfigDevice  -name $entity -path "." >> impact_mcs.cmd
echo setSubmode -pffspi >> impact_mcs.cmd
echo setAttribute -configdevice -attr multibootBpiType -value "" >> impact_mcs.cmd
echo addDesign -version 0 -name "0" >> impact_mcs.cmd
echo addDeviceChain -index 0 >> impact_mcs.cmd
echo setAttribute -configdevice -attr compressed -value "FALSE" >> impact_mcs.cmd
echo setAttribute -configdevice -attr compressed -value "FALSE" >> impact_mcs.cmd
echo setAttribute -configdevice -attr autoSize -value "FALSE" >> impact_mcs.cmd
echo setAttribute -configdevice -attr fileFormat -value "mcs" >> impact_mcs.cmd
echo setAttribute -configdevice -attr fillValue -value "FF" >> impact_mcs.cmd
echo setAttribute -configdevice -attr swapBit -value "FALSE" >> impact_mcs.cmd
echo setAttribute -configdevice -attr dir -value "UP" >> impact_mcs.cmd
echo setAttribute -configdevice -attr multiboot -value "FALSE" >> impact_mcs.cmd
echo setAttribute -configdevice -attr multiboot -value "FALSE" >> impact_mcs.cmd
echo setAttribute -configdevice -attr spiSelected -value "TRUE" >> impact_mcs.cmd
echo setAttribute -configdevice -attr spiSelected -value "TRUE" >> impact_mcs.cmd
echo addPromDevice -p 1 -size 2048 >> impact_mcs.cmd
echo setAttribute -design -attr name -value "0000" >> impact_mcs.cmd
echo addDevice -p 1 -file $entity.bit >> impact_mcs.cmd
echo generate >> impact_mcs.cmd
echo quit >> impact_mcs.cmd
  • Run: Generate mcs 
    impact -batch impact_mcs.cmd

    Load into flash

  • Generate IMPACT commandfile 
    echo setMode -bscan  > impact_flsh.cmd
echo setCable -p auto >> impact_flsh.cmd
echo Identify -inferir  >> impact_flsh.cmd
echo identifyMPM  >> impact_flsh.cmd
echo attachflash -position 1 -spi "M25P32" >> impact_flsh.cmd
echo assignfiletoattachedflash -position 1 -file $entity.mcs >> impact_flsh.cmd
echo Program -p 1 -dataWidth 1 -spionly -e -v -loadfpga  >> impact_flsh.cmd
echo quit >> impact_flsh.cmd
  • Run: Load flash (first connect module to PC) 
    impact -batch impact_flsh.cmd