Sources Tab

The Sources tab, located in the Sources window, is the area in the Project Navigator main window in which the project and source files are displayed.

Design View

In the Sources tab, you can view and edit your project and source files according to different views of the design. Select a Design View from the "Sources for" drop-down list:

Synthesis/Implementation - In this view of the design, the project and all design source files that are associated to the Synthesis/Implementation view are displayed. From this view, you can perform design entry, synthesis, implementation and device configuration.
Simulation Views - Various simulation views are available, each representing a view of the design for simulation at a different phase of the flow. Files that are appropriate to simulation and appropriate for the selected phase of the flow are displayed in the simulation view. For example, in the Behavioral Simulation view, you may have HDL source files, HDL behavioral simulation models, test benches and/or test bench waveforms. In the Post-Place & Route Simulation view, you may have test benches and/or test bench waveform and post-place & route simulation model netlists.

For more information about the Design Views, see Using the Design Views.

Number of

Available for Partitions only, this drop-down list contains a list of resource types. For the resource type selected in this drop-down list, the number of the resources in each Partition displays in the XST and Map resources columns in the Sources tab.

You can hide/show this drop-down list by disabling or enabling the Display XST resource usage and Display Map usage preferences. To do this, click Edit > Preferences, expand ISE General and click Sources View.

Hierarchy

After you create a project, the Sources tab displays the hierarchy of files in your project of the following types:

Project name - the name given when the project was created.
User Documents - any file included in the project that is not part of the design.
Project device entry - defines the target device, package, speed grade, synthesis tool and simulation tool for the design. This information is entered when you create your project, and can be changed at any time. For more information, see Changing Project, Source and Snapshot Properties.
Source files - defines part of the design. Some source files display module information, such as for HDL files, in the Sources tab. For details about source files, see Source Files Types.
Top Module - defines which module is the root of your design hierarchy for the purpose of implementation. The Implement Design process always runs on the module that has been designated as Top. Any module in the hierarchy can be assigned as the top module. When you create a new project, the highest level module is automatically selected as the top module. To change the assigned top module, select a source file and select Source > Set as Top Module. For more information, see Setting the Top Module.

Partitions - defines a source module that is marked for reuse. Partitions can be HDL, Schematic or EDIF source modules at any level of the hierarchy. When a lower-level module is defined as a Partition, the top module is automatically defined as a Partition as well. For more information about Partition icons, see Instance Partition Icons. For more information about top module Partition icons, see Top Module Partition Icons.

Note If your design uses Partitions, see Using Partitions.

XST

Available for Partitions only, this column displays an estimate of the number of resources that will be used in each Partition, determined when the design is synthesized by XST. The resource type is specified in the "Number of" drop-down list. This column is updated each time the design is synthesized.

You can hide or show this column by disabling or enabling the Display XST resource usage preference. To do this, click Edit > Preferences, expand ISE General and click Sources View.

Map

Available for Partitions only, this column displays the number of resources in each Partition, calculated when the design is mapped. The resource type is specified in the "Number of" drop-down list. This column is updated each time the design is mapped .

You can hide or show this column by disabling or enabling the Display Map resource usage preference. To do this, click Edit > Preferences, expand ISE General and click Sources View.

Preserve

Available for Partitions only, this column displays the level of preservation associated with each Partition. The preservation level is determined by the Partition Properties. For information about setting the preservation level, see Using Partitions.

You can hide or show this column by disabling the Display preserve property value preference. To do this, click Edit > Preferences, expand ISE General and click Sources View.