What’s new in SmartGen?

The SmartGen software generates a large variety of
commonly used functions. You can create a workspace and generate structural
netlists in EDIF, VHDL, and Verilog. Furthermore, you can generate VHDL
and Verilog behavioral models for most parameterized functions (the behavioral
models may be used in a simulation environment).

SmartGen incorporates the new Analog
System and Flash
Memory System Builders.

This help provides descriptions of cores that you can
generate using the SmartGen software. For more information about instantiating
specific cores refer to the Actel HDL
Coding Style Guide.

The SmartGen environment enables you to create
a workspace, and then import
existing cores and create new ones.

SmartGen includes several new features.

You must open a workspace in SmartGen before you can
create or modify a core. Workspaces enable you to create, modify, and
import existing SmartGen cores. The workspace is a logical grouping for
your cores; each workspace contains cores for a specific product family.

Cores

When you generate an SmartGen core, SmartGen creates
a core file that includes a structural netlist, an optional VHDL or Verilog
behavioral netlist, a log file that summarizes your core parameters, and
a GEN file that includes all the parameters you selected when you generated
the core. Do not manually edit any of the core files. Use SmartGen to
edit your cores.

Fusion, with the Analog System and Flash Memory System
Builders, creates special directories for each core. Your cores can only
be saved in the workspace directory. Do not save other files in your workspace
directory, or in sub-directories created by SmartGen; the files are over-written
when you re-save the core.

Varieties

Varieties list different implementations of similar
functions. For example, when you click Arithmetic in the Category tab,
SmartGen displays the complete list of varieties available for Arithmetic.
Click a column header to sort the list of varieties. Click the Adder function
to display the list of core varieties for Adder.  

Core Catalog

The Categories tab in the Core Catalog window displays
the device family for your workspace at the top. Categories vary according
to your device family; select the latest families to see and test the
newest cores available. Click a core category to expand the list and display
the functions.  

The Alphabetic tab displays an alphabetical list of
all the functions available for your device family. Click a function to
display a list of varieties. Click the column headers to sort your core
varieties.

IP Core Catalog

The IP Core Catalog lists IP cores available from Actel
and our solution partners. You can browse the list, double-click an IP
core for more information, and download datasheets and application notes
for any core if you are connected to the web. Contact Actel
if you are interested in purchasing any of the cores listed in the catalog.

Core Variety View

The Core Variety View window displays the list of cores
available for your device family. Click core categories and functions
to narrow your list of core varieties. For example, click your device
family for a complete list of all the core varieties for your family.
Click the Arithmetic category to view a list of only Arithmetic core varieties,
and click a specific function to narrow your list even further and view
core varieties for the function.  

Log Window

The log window displays tips and instructions on the
SmartGen flow. It may list errors and warnings that occur during core
generation, as well as core parameters after you generate a core.

See Also

SmartGen
user interface

Create a workspace

Import a legacy
core

Create a new core
in SmartGen