Procedures

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You can generate the following passive programming files for use in configuring ARM^®-based Excalibur^™ devices using the Passive Parallel Asynchronous (PPA), Passive Parallel Synchronous (PPS), or Passive Serial (PS) configuration schemes:

• Hexadecimal (Intel-Format) Output Files (.hexout)
• Programmer Object Files (.pof)
• Raw Binary Files (.rbf)
• SRAM Object Files (.sof)
• Tabular Text Files (.ttf)

You can generate passive programming files using one of the following methods:

• Performing a software build with the Software Builder, which uses the makeprogfile utility.

  The Software Builder generates Programmer Object Files (.pof) for EPC2 configuration devices only. If you want to generate POFs for other configuration devices, use the Convert Programming Files command (File menu) to convert one or more SRAM Object Files (.sof) into a POF.

• Using the makeprogfile utility outside of the Software Builder.

• Using the Compiler. You can use the Device & Pin Options dialog box or use the Configuration Device Options dialog box to specify the passive programming files you want the Compiler to generate.

The Compiler, or the makeprogfile utility that you or the Software Builder uses, generates passive programming files from the following required files:

• A Hexadecimal (Intel-Format) File that contains Excalibur embedded processor stripe memory initialization data for the ARM-based Excalibur device you are targeting. You or the Software Builder can use an assembler, C/C++ compiler, linker, and code converter to generate this file from software source files.

• A System Build Descriptor File (.sbd) that contains stripe configuration information for the ARM-based Excalibur device. You generate an SBD File using the ARM-based Excalibur MegaWizard^® Plug-In, which is available from the MegaWizard Plug-In Manager (Tools menu).

• A programmable logic Partial SRAM Object File (.psof) that contains the configuration data for the programmable logic device (PLD) portion of the ARM-based Excalibur device. You generate a PSOF using the Compiler.

  If you are using the Software Builder to generate the passive programming files, you used the Compiler settings for the current design to generate the PSOF for the software build, and you made changes to the design since the last compilation that would cause changes in the PSOF, the Quartus^® II software automatically recompiles the design to update the PSOF prior to using the PSOF in the software build.

When you use the Software Builder to generate passive programming files for an ARM-based Excalibur device, the Software Builder automatically generates Simulator initialization files for the device using the makeprogfile utility. You can also manually generate Simulator initialization files using the makeprogfile utility.

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