FPGA (ncd and pcf files)

[SunJab]

Hi,

I am using labview FPGA 2011. I want to know where can i find the ncd and pcf files that are generated after FPGA compilation? for labview FPGA 8.6 these files are located at NIFPGA\srvrTmp\localhost\.... but in labview FPGA 2011, i could find these files anywhere.

Thanks

[Allison_M]

Hi sandee,

I was able to find those file under C:\NIFPGA\jobs. 

Hope this helps,

[SunJab]

Hi Allison M,

My C:\NIFPGA\jobs folder contains nothing. It remains empty. I'm using evaluation version of the FPGA module. I hope it doesn't have anything to do with this.

Thanks

[Allison_M]

Hi Sandee,

Do you have the Xilinx tools installed? If so, what versions?

Thanks,

[SunJab]

Yup. I have ISE12.4. I have reinstalled the FPGA module. It now generates all the necessary files (including ncd and pcf) during the compilation process. These files remain in the folder as long as the compilation is in progress but as soon as the compilation finishes, these files are removed from the folder automatically. Any idea why is this so?

Thanks

[Allison_M]

Hi Sandee,

I believe the Xilinx compiler deletes these files as part of the 'clean-up' process after compilation. Is there a particular reason why you need these files?

[SunJab]

I am unable to achieve the desired clock rate for my FPGA code. I have tried pipelining the design but it always generates timing violation error and i am not able to figure out the reason. I want to use these design files as an input to the 'timing analyzer' tool and see which path has the longest delay and how can i improve it.

Thanks

[Allison_M]

Hi Sandee,

Could you clarify what you mean by the 'timing analyzer tool' and does it require these files? Could you stop mid-compilation before the files are deleted by Xilinx?

[SunJab]

It's a Xilinx tool used to perform timing analysis on FPGA designs. Refer to the link below

http://www.xilinx.com/itp/xilinx10/isehelp/pta_c_overview.htm

I found its exe at C:\NIFPGA\Programs\Xilinx12_4\ISE\bin\nt\timingan.exe. I am copying these files immediately after the 'Final Timing (Place and Route)' report is generated. For this i have to constantly monitor the compilation status. But for compilations that require several hours to finish, i wouldn't be able to do that. 

Thanks