MAX+PLUS II ACCESS Key Guidelines
List by VendorList by ToolList by FunctionViewlogic Topics

Creating VHDL Designs for Use with MAX+PLUS II Software

You can create VHDL design files with the MAX+PLUS® II Text Editor or another standard text editor and save them in the appropriate directory for your project. The MAX+PLUS II Text Editor offers the following advantages:

  • VHDL templates are available with the VHDL Templates command (Templates menu). These templates are also available in the ASCII vhdl.tmp file, which is located in the /usr/maxplus2 directory.

  • If you use the MAX+PLUS II Text Editor to create your VHDL design, you can use the Syntax Coloring command (Options menu). The Syntax Coloring feature displays keywords and other elements in text files in different colors to distinguish them from other forms of syntax.

To create a VHDL design that can be synthesized and optimized with ViewSynthesis software, follow these steps:

  1. You can instantiate the following Altera-provided logic functions in your VHDL design:

    • The alt_mf library contains the Altera® VHDL logic function library, which includes MAX+PLUS II-specific primitives and the a_8count, a_8mcomp, a_8fadd, and a_81mux macrofunctions. If you wish to instantiate alt_mf logic functions in your VHDL design, you must first analyze all functions in the alt_mf/src directory. See Analyzing VHDL Files with the Vantage VHDL Analyzer Software for details.

    • The clklock megafunction, which enables the phase-locked loop, or ClockLock, circuitry available on selected Altera FLEX® 10K devices. Go to Instantiating the clklock Megafunction in VHDL or Verilog HDL for information.

    • MegaCore™ functions offered by Altera or by members of the Altera Megafunction Partners Program (AMPP™). The OpenCore™ feature in the MAX+PLUS II software allows you to instantiate, compile, and simulate MegaCore functions before deciding whether to purchase a license for full device programming and post-compilation simulation support.

  2. (Optional) To enter resource assignments in your VHDL design, go to Entering Resource Assignments. You can also enter resource assignments from within the MAX+PLUS II software.

Once you have created a VHDL design, you can analyze it, synthesize it, and generate an EDIF netlist file that can be imported into the MAX+PLUS II software with either of the following methods:

Installing the Altera-provided MAX+PLUS II/Viewlogic Powerview interface on your computer automatically creates the following sample VHDL files:

  • /usr/maxplus2/examples/Viewlogic/example5/count4.vhd
  • /usr/maxplus2/examples/Viewlogic/example5/count8.vhd

Go to: Go to FLEX 10K Device Family, which is available on the web, for additional information.

Last Updated: August 28, 2000 for MAX+PLUS II version 10.0
border line
| Home | List by Vendor | List by Tool | List by Function | Viewlogic Topics |
Documentation Conventions

Copyright © 2000 Altera Corporation, 101 Innovation Drive, San Jose, California 95134, USA. All rights reserved. By accessing any information on this CD-ROM, you agree to be bound by the terms of Altera's Legal Notice.