[Fpga-synth] ISE 10.1

[Scott Gravenhorst]

Due to a computer malfunction that lead to an OS reinstall, I was forced to download and install the latest version of WebPACK ISE 10.1.

It's functional, that is, it works.  There are some improvements and there is also some added obfuscation.

The DSP48 warnings on devices that don't support it don't appear anymore, no need to filter them.

I see no speed increase, or other serious advantage in terms of the bit file generated, XST, MAP, P&R etc.

The process of sending the bit file is a bit obfuscated, however, and has so far been frustrating until I tripped over doing what it wanted me to do.  (see more below in "one stupid thing")

iMPACT can now remember the target device in the chain by setting it when iMPACT runs from a right click menu (Set Target Device when the correct device is selected).  This will cause iMPACT to run and send the bit file without forcing additional user clicks.  This is a nice feature, except that if you walk away, you might not know that your FPGA was updated.  I've had to power cycle the board so that the LCD display is different to make sure that it happened.  A bit unsettling, but I can get used to it.

One stupid thing happened today, when I ran Configure Target Device (I had already defined the target device as described above and had already programmed the FPGA at least once), a popup message appeared claiming I needed to configure a PROM or SYSTEM ACE something or other (it never said _what_ to configure or set).  I tried again, same thing happened.  Then out of frustration, before starting another compile, I right clicked Configure Target Device and noticed that no project file path/name appeared.  I
 set it it to the .ipf file I had saved and the problem ceased.

So it works, doesn't seem any worse than 9.2i...

Oh and it seems confused when I create a new project after using an already created one.  The new project creation wants to grab source files from the old directory instead of using the one I just created as was the case with 9.2i.  [sigh]

-- ScottG

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-- Scott Gravenhorst
-- GateMan-III - FPGA Based Monophonic MIDI Synthesizer with SVF
-- PolyDaWG/8 - FPGA Based 8 Voice Polyphonic MIDI Synthesizer
-- FatMan: home1.gte.net/res0658s/fatman/
-- NonFatMan: home1.gte.net/res0658s/electronics/
-- When the going gets tough, the tough use the command line.