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Chapter 2: The PlanAhead Tool Flow
Design Flow
The PlanAhead design flow depends on the type of input file that you start with. This
section describes the design flow and design tasks. Figure 2-1 shows the common design
flows, and the input and outputs of the PlanAhead tool.
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Figure 2-1:
PlanAhead Design Flows
Project Creation and Management of Project Sources
The PlanAhead tool provides a wizard flow to facilitate project creation and the creation or
addition of source files to the project. You can:
•
Create projects specific to the type of flow and sources you are using
•
Create new source files or add existing source files to the project
•
Reference remote, write-protected files, or copy files into the local project folder
•
Disable or enable source files within a project
•
Create constraint sets to experiment with various constraints options or devices
•
Create simulation source sets for behavioral and timing simulation
•
Archive projects to create a backup or make a portable copy of the design
The PlanAhead tool project environment lets you create and store multiple variations of
the design constraints within a single project. This allows for the creation of multiple RTL
source versions, constraints sets, target devices, synthesized netlists, and implementation
run results using various implementation strategies. As you modify the source files or
launch design tools, the software monitors and displays design flow status.
RTL Development and Analysis
The PlanAhead tool includes an integrated text editor to create or modify source files. You
can copy example logic constructs directly from the supplied Xilinx template library. The
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PlanAhead User Guide
UG632 (v13.4) January 18, 2012