Description

If I attempt to launch the 13.x PlanAhead tool, I see a dos box open and it appears that the PlanAhead tool is running. However, after the "start_gui" command is issued, nothing further happens.

If the PlanAhead tool is launched from a Command shell, information similar to the following is written to the screen, but then the prompt returns and the PlanAhead tool does not open.

C:\Xilinx\13.4\ISE_DS>planAhead

***** PlanAhead v13.4 (64-bit)

**** Build 155338 by hd build on Tues Nov 29 20:49:23 MST 2011

** Copyright 1986-1999, 2001-2011 Xilinx, Inc. All Rights reserved.

INFO: [Device-36] Loading parts and site information from C:/xilinx/13.4/ISE_DS/PlanAhead/data/parts/arch.xml
Parsing RTL primitives file [C:/xilinx/13.4/ISE_DS/PlanAhead/data/parts/xilinx/rtl/prims/rtl_prims.xml]
Finished parsing RTL primitives file [C:/xilinx/13.4/ISE_DS/PlanAhead/data/parts/xilinx/rtl/prims/rtl_prims.xml]
Loading realTime.tcl: log utils config sdc cli commands dir
Loading C:/xilinx/13.4/ISE_DS/PlanAhead/scripts/rt/base_tcl/tcl/internal/realTime.tcl: commands
realtime tcl init completed.
Loading FPGA commands
start_gui

C:\Xilinx\13.4\ISE_DS>planAhead

This issue occurs most often on Windows 64-bit platforms (e.g., Windows 7 64-bit and Windows Server 2008).

The 32-bit version of the PlanAhead tool (run "planAhead -m32") often works even though the 64-bit version will not launch.

Solution

The following options have been used successfully to get the PlanAhead tool to launch:

• Try running PlanAhead as Administrator.
• Try launching PlanAhead via TCL mode first:

1. Start -> All Programs -> "Xilinx ISE Design Suite 13.4" -> Accessories -> ISE Design Suite 32/64 bit Command Prompt
2. Type "planAhead -mode tcl"
3. In the prompt type "start_gui"
   

• Remove corrupt PlanAhead.ini file:

1. Navigate to C:\Users\(Username)\AppData\Roaming\Xilinx\PlanAhead\13.4 ("13.4" should be replaced by the software version being used).
2. Rename (or backup) the planAhead.ini file. Re-launch PlanAhead and the tools will make a new .ini with default settings.
   

• Make sure that the Microsoft Redistributable runtime library has been properly installed:
  Note: If the redistributable library is missing, the failed launch is usually accompanied with an application error pop-up window that states; " The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0150002). Click on OK to terminate the application."

1. Run both the Visual C++ redistribution exes located at:

   • <installpath>\ISE_DS\common\bin\nt\vcredist_x86.exe
   • <installpath>\ISE_DS\common\bin\nt64\ vcredist_x86.exe
2. Reboot the operating system
   See (Xilinx Answer 45411) for more information
   

• Replace the installed version of Java with Java 1.7.0:
  On some Windows 2008 servers with SP2, the JAVA 1.6 JRE installed with PlanAhead has been found to silently fail leading to the failed PlanAhead launch.

1. You should first backup the existing JRE (e.g., C:\xilinx\13.4\ISE_DS\PlanAhead\tps\win64\jre).
2. Then download and install Java 1.7.0 to that location. This should create an new bin and lib directory under C:\xilinx\13.4\ISE_DS\PlanAhead\tps\win64\jre.
3. Launch the PlanAhead tool.

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