4.2i ABEL2EDIF - "Internal Error 18897: pop_cell not connected."
Description
Keywords: ABEL, BLIF2NET, ISE, pop_cell, 18897, ABEL2EDIF
Urgency: Standard
General Description: As I compile an ABEL design, the following error message is reported:
"Internal Error 18897: pop_cell not connected."
Solution
A problem with the ABEL-BLIF flow in ISE triggers this error for certain designs that have combinatorial feedback. If the feedback is in a combinatorial loop, you can work around the issue by:
1. Using the ABEL-XST flow, or;
2. Breaking the combinatorial loop by synchronizing one or more of the signals in the loop. (We recommend that combinatorial loops be avoided as a general design practice.)
If the feedback is not from a combinatorial loop, it may be possible to work around it by editing the ABEL file to remove the feedback. For example:
a=c&d&e; b=!a;
could be changed to:
a=c&d&e; b=!(c&d&e);
Use of the ABEL-XST flow should work in any case; this will be the preferred flow going forward.