FPGA Tools Training Course Information Resources

1. FPGA Tools Training CourseInformation Resources

2. In this Chapter, you will learn... • Available sources of information • Information Locations • Available training classes

3. Outline • Starting Out • On-Line Help • On-Line (Dynatext) Browser • Xilinx WEB sites • Applinx CD • Xilinx Customer Education • How to obtain Xilinx books (hard copy) • Customer Support • Summary

4. Learning More About Xilinx • When starting to implement a design, consider Xilinx Tutorials • Xilinx recommends the following flow for answering questions: • Read On-Line help • Read On-Line documents • Use the Xilinx web site • Use the Xilinx AppLINX CD (available in class) • Call the Xilinx Applications Hotline

5. Xilinx Tutorials • Easy-to-use, in-depth directions on Xilinx and Alliance tools Foundation Synplicity Exemplar Design Manager Synopsys • Schematic, Verilog, and VHDL versions of the Watch design • Most up-to-date offering is on line at www.xilinx.com -> Service and Support -> A1.5/F1.5 Tutorials

6. On-Line Help • On-Line Help is available from the Help button • Available in Design Manager and Foundation Project Manager • Available from the Help menu • For Alliance and Foundation software, third party interfaces, and libraries

7. Solutions to known software problems How to use the browser Software and hardware documentation Find selection in book or books On-Line Documentation • Collection of Xilinx Guides on all aspects of implementation software • Invoke with Documentation Viewer command • In Alliance software, select Start -> Programs -> Xilinx Alliance -> Documentation Viewer • In Foundation software, select Start -> Programs -> Xilinx Foundation Series -> Accessories -> Documentation Viewer • Search all books in seconds for words or phrases

8. GUI usage Command line usage Graphical Design Editor Xilinx component description Alliance On-Line Collection LogiBLOX usage On-Line Documents (2) • Xilinx Books contains all development tool books • Glossary of common terms is located at the back of the Design Manager Reference/User Guide • Alliance and Foundation collections are different

9. On-Line Search Keywords • Use the search field available at the bottom of each form • Common search keywords: • Wildcards include “*” for a string, and “?” for a single character • BEFORE, AFTER, AND and OR are used for proximity searches • Examples: Jack within 3 words before Jill Humpty and Dumpty

10. Xilinx home page Xilinx Web Site (1) • If you want to find out more about Xilinx and Xilinx products, browse www.xilinx.com • The most up-to-date guide to Xilinx products • Data books, product status, and application notes • Current questions and answers, known bug listing • Company and stock profiles

11. WebLINX internet site at http://support.xilinx.com Xilinx Web Site (2) • If you need service/support after checking the On-Line Docs, browse the site at http://support.xilinx.com/

12. Xilinx Web Site (3) • Select the Smart Search icon from www.xilinx.com to search for: • Xilinx company questions • Technical questions on Xilinx products • Information on other programmable logic vendors • EDA companies

13. AppLinx CD • Contains data books, snap shot of Web Site, FTP site: • Data books for FPGAs, CPLDs, and Cores • Application notes • Snapshot of Xilinx WEB site • Use when you cannot access the internet • Available on PC (Windows or NT) AppLINX CD Home Page

14. Xilinx Education • Catalog is available on the WEB • www.xilinx.com -> Service and Support -> Training and Seminars: Brochure/Schedule • Catalog contents includes • Outline for each class • Including latest schedule of classes • Location of classes • On-Line Registration • Current offerings include: • Introduction to VHDL or Verilog • Foundation training for schematic capture and simulation • Foundation training for synthesis (Foundation Express) • FPGA Tools Course (this class!)

15. How to Obtain Xilinx Books • Hard copies are available on many topics, including • Xilinx Design Manager • Xilinx FPGA and CPLD data sheets • Core data sheets • Hardwire • Libraries Guide • Verilog Tutorial CD • To order hard copies, see www.xilinx.com -> Products -> Literature Request Form

16. Customer Support • Customer support should be used after trying the on-line help and/or Xilinx Web site • North American factory technical support hotline • Access after using WEB and documents • (800) 255-7778 (outside 408) or (408) 879-5199 • E-mail = hotline@xilinx.com • Outside the United States, see Service and Support -> Xilinx Hotline -> How to reach us • Phone number, email, hours of operation are listed for various regions

17. Summary / Topic Cross Reference Guide Topic Available in: Look At: FPGA and CPLD Specifications Data Book AppLINX, WEB Component Status XCELL Quarterly Newsletter WEB, hardcopy Guide to logical components Libraries Guide On-Line Docs Guides to Design Manager Users and Reference Guides On-Line Docs and Foundation and Des. Mgr. Help Guide to CoreGEN CoreGEN www.xilinx.com -> Products Guide to Core Components WEB, hardcopy www.xilinx.com -> Products Guides to 3rd Party (Alliance) Interface Guides On-Line Docs Software Ideas for increasing speed Design Manager Reference On-Line Docs and Users Guides, Constraints Application Notes GUI Guide Application Notes Expert Journal www.xilinx.com -> Service and Support