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HDL Companion Frequently Asked Questions
Introduction
| Q: |
Which platforms does HDL Companion support?
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| A: |
Currently, HDL Companion supports Windows 2000/XP, RedHat Linux 9
or later and Solaris 2.7 or later.
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| Q: |
Where can I get an evaluation license?
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| A: |
If you start HDL Companion without a valid license, the license
wizard window will automatically pop-up asking to specify a license
file (or license server) or to create a license request.
Select the option Create an evaluation license request
and press the Next button. On page 2 of the license wizard fill
in your details and press the Finish button. A window will appear
that contains all information needed for your license request.
Copy this information to your email program and send it to
HDL Works's web-based license generator:
.
This license generator will send you an evaluation license per
email. You should receive an answer within half an hour.
If the procedure above does not work, then you can send an email to
with an evaluation license request and
the hostid of your system. Or you can contact your local distributor.
NOTE: Every hostid can get an evaluation license only once.
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| Q: |
How can I setup my license environment?
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| A: |
When HDL Companion can not find a license, it will start with a license wizard window. In this wizard select Specify license file/server and press the Next button. On the second page of this wizard specify the license file or license server and press the Finish button.
You can also start the license wizard by selecting the Options > License Wizard menu.
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| Q: |
Where should I start after the installation of the software?
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| A: |
If you are a new user we recommend you to read either the VHDL Tutorial
or the Verilog Tutorial,
both included in the installation package.
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| Q: |
Where can I find a tutorial?
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| A: |
There are 2 tutorials available, one for VHDL and one for Verilog,
both included in the installation package.
You can also access them from the Help menu.
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| Q: |
Where can I find the user documentation?
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| A: |
After starting the tool choose the Help menu.
The file is also available from the installation directory.
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General
| Q: |
Can I use my existing design in HDL Companion?
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| A: |
Yes, you can read your existing designs into HDL Companion. Just drap and drop a directory containing your
design into the global view of HDL Companion.
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| Q: |
Can I share the HDL Companion database between different OS?
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| A: |
Yes, HDL Companion does not generate a tool specific database.
The HDL code is your source.
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| Q: |
Does HDL Companion support mixed VHDL and Verilog for a single project?
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| A: |
Yes, you can load a mixed VHDL and Verilog design into HDL Companion.
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| Q: |
I lost one of the button bars. How can I get it back?
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| A: |
Click with the right mouse button in the button bar area. A window will
pop-up with the button bars listed. Click on the name of the bar you lost.
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| Q: |
I closed one of the four windows. How can I get it back?
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| A: |
All windows have a button in the window button bar.
Click on the button of the window you have closed.
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| Q: |
How do I place a component declaration or instantiation in the editor?
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| A: |
Click with the right mouse button on the appropriate entity in the Global Window.
Select from the pop-up menu Copy declaration or Copy instance. Go
to the editor and do a paste where you want to place the declaration or
instantiation.
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Project Management
| Q: |
How can I create a new project?
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| A: |
Click the Start a new HDL Companion project button. This will close the
current project.
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| Q: |
How can I add a file or directory to the project?
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| A: |
Click the Add files to the project button. In the dialog you can drag the
directories and files you want to add to the Selected Objects area.
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| Q: |
I added a directory to the project but one file is not used in this project,
can I remove this file from the project?
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| A: |
You can set this file to unused. Right click the file and select Properties from the pop-up menu. In the properties dialog select Unused. A red cross across the file symbol indicates the unused status of this file. Unused files will not be parsed and you can not view details of these files.
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| Q: |
The parser generates errors that are VHDL language version related.
Can I set the correct VHDL language version?
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| A: |
Yes, default the VHDL version is set to VHDL-93. You can change this in the
Options > Project menu. Switch to page VHDL and enable the correct
version either VHDL-87 or VHDL-93.
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| Q: |
I use synthesis pragma's in my design. The statements between the pragma's are not
listed in the Detailed Window. I would like to see these details. Can I change this?
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| A: |
Yes, HDL Companion has an option to ignore synthesis pragma's. This option can be
found in the Options > Project menu. Switch to page VHDL and select
Ignore synthesis pragma's check box. Run Compile all HDL files and
the statements between pragma's will become visible in the Detailed Window.
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| Q: |
I changed an HDL file but the Detailed Window shows the old contents.
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| A: |
When you change an HDL file you have to run the Process Modified HDL Files
button or Process All HDL Files button. The files will be re-parsed and
updates the details shown in the Detailed Window.
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| Q: |
Can I create a new library?
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| A: |
Yes, click with the right mouse button on the project name in the Object View
and select New Library from the pop-up menu. Type a library name in the
dialog and press the OK button.
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HDL Editor
| Q: |
Can I configure HDL Companion to use my favorite text-editor?
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| A: |
Yes, choose the Options > User menu, switch to page Editor and
enter the details of your favorite text-editor.
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| Q: |
Can I change the color settings used in Scriptum?
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| A: |
Yes, open from the Options > Languages menu the language you want to change
and select Color. Select the Syntax Item for which you want to change
the color and click Color. A window will pop-up with pre-defined colors. Select the
color you like.
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| Q: |
The syntax coloring does not work for the opened file in Scriptum.
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| A: |
The syntax coloring does not work when Scriptum does not recognize the file. Scriptum
recognizes a file by the file extension. Open from the Options > Language
menu the language you use in the opened file and select File. Append the
extension into the field Recognition without spaces, and re-open the file
in Scriptum.
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| Q: |
Does Scriptum support identifier expanding?
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| A: |
Yes, you can expand an identifier by pressing CTRL+I.
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| Q: |
Does Scriptum support language templates?
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| A: |
Yes, Scriptum supports language templates for VHDL and Verilog. Press ALT+T
and the Language Templates dialog will appear.
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Interface to 3rd party tools
| Q: |
I can not find buttons for the 3rd party tools.
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| A: |
You have to configure the interface before 3rd party tool buttons will appear
in the button bar.
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| Q: |
How can I configure the 3rd party interface?
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| A: |
Click the Configure Project HDL Flow button, or the HDL > Configure
Tool Flow menu. The HDL Flow Dialog will appear. In this dialog you can
configure the interface for the tools you are using.
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| Q: |
I have enabled all buttons, but no buttons will appear in the button bar.
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| A: |
You have not only to enable all buttons separately, but also enable the tool
before the buttons will appear in the button bar. Select in the HDL Flow Dialog
the tool and select Enable in the Project HDL Flow check box.
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| Q: |
How can I set a tool command, for example to compile with VHDL-93 option?
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| A: |
In the HDL Flow Dialog select the command for which you want to add
an option and type in the Options field the command options you want to use.
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Version Management
| Q: |
Does HDL Companion support version management systems?
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| A: |
Yes, HDL Companion supports the version management systems CVS and RCS.
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| Q: |
How can I configure the version management tool?
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| A: |
Choose the Options > Project menu. Switch to page Versioning and enable the tool you want to use.
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| Q: |
Can I use version management for non-HDL files?
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| A: |
Yes, you can use version management for all project files, HDL files and non-HDL files.
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Advanced
| Q: |
The VHDL objects are put in a wrong library. Can I move them to the correct
library?
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| A: |
The Fuzzy Parser investigates in which library an object has to be placed.
However you can drag an object to another library in the Object View. When
the object has been dropped in the other library all HDL files will be re-parsed.
This re-parse can lead to new errors or warnings when you place the object in a
wrong library.
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| Q: |
Can I change the name of a library?
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| A: |
Yes, click with the right mouse button on the library name in the Object View
and select Properties from the pop-up menu. Rename the library and press
the OK button. All HDL files will be re-parsed. This library renaming can lead
to new errors or warnings.
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| Q: |
No external tool is configured for a file. Can I configure this?
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| A: |
Yes, select Options > File Registration. The File Registration dialog
will pop up. Select the Files or Extensions page and press the
button New. Fill in the details and the new registration will be added
to the list.
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| Q: |
Can I change the language templates to satisfy my needs?
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| A: |
Yes, the templates are pre-defined in xml files. You can change the xml file to
satisfy your needs. You will find them in <install.dir.>/Scriptum/templates.
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| Q: |
Can I change the keyboard accelerators?
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| A: |
Yes, you can change the accelerators in the file
<install.dir.>/scriptum/etc/scriptum_gui.xml.
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