FCD File

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A task is described by a Firmware Component Description file (FCD) that gathers all the information about the task into one place; it is equivalent to a .tsk file for CPU tasks and is used in the same way in task definitions. This text file contains statements identifying the files that define the task and other properties it may have. It is convenient and conventional to give the FCD file the same name as the task it represents.

 

As the Diamond IDE automatically creates FCD files for your tasks, the following information is needed only if you wish to drive the application-building process yourself from a command prompt or makefile.

 

Each statement starts with a keyword that identifies the information being presented.

 

PACKAGE filename

required

Every FCD file must contain one PACKAGE statement. It defines the package file for the task. The filename must be in double quotes.

FILE filename

required

One or more of these statements is used to define the other files that make up the task. The filename must be in double quotes and is typically of type .VHD, .UCF, .NGC, .EDN, .EDIF, or .XCF.

 

The timing specification and eventual pinout may be provided in a .UCF or .XCF file.

 

Constraints in any .XCF or .UCF file are merged with the master .XCF or .UCF file that Diamond uses to describe the whole FPGA. The constraints must apply to elements in the task without any level of hierarchy.

INPUT index NoSync

optional

The input channel identified by the value of index is marked as not requiring synchronization. This prevents the system from adding extra logic to perform synchronisation.

OUTPUT index NoSync

optional

The output channel identified by the value of index is marked as not requiring synchronization. This prevents the system from adding extra logic to perform synchronisation.

 

The minimum FCD file identifies the package file and one VHDL file for the task.

 

The following is an example of a simple FCD file:

 

PACKAGE "FPGA\correlator\correlator_pkg.vhd"

FILE "FPGA\correlator\correlator.ncf"

FILE "FPGA\correlator\correlator.edf"

 

All characters on a line following an exclamation mark, '!' are ignored (including the exclamation mark, but not including the newline). This allows you to insert comments into the FCD file.