Setting Up Modular Design Directories

Before the team starts designing, it is essential that the team leader sets up an organized directory structure that works for the team. These directories are used for synthesis of the top-level design and during the Initial Budgeting and Final Assembly phases. Following is the recommended directory structure for the standard Modular Design flow:

“Synthesis” directory

This directory must contain a directory for the top-level design. The team leader synthesizes the top-level design in the top-level design directory. The top-level design directory must include the appropriate HDL file, the project file, and project directories.

Note: Synthesis of individual modules can take place in the team members’ local directories. Xilinx recommends setting up a directory to synthesize your module that is separate from the directory used to implement your module. The synthesis directory must include the appropriate HDL file, the project file, and the project directories.

“Implementation” directory

This directory must contain the following:

Directory for the top-level design

The team leader sets up initial budgeting for the design in this directory. After team members publish the implemented modules to the PIMs directory, the team leader also assembles the top-level design and PIMs into the final design in this directory.

PIMS directory

The PIMs directory stores the implemented module files. When a team member runs the pimcreate utility during the Active Module Implementation phase, pimcreate creates the appropriate module directory in the PIMs directory and copies the implemented module files to the module directory.

Note: Implementation of individual modules can take place in the team members’ local directories. However, each implemented module must be published to the PIMs directory using the pimcreate command line tool.