ISE
Working with VHDL Libraries
VHDL libraries allow you to store commonly used packages and entities that you can use in your VHDL files. A VHDL package file contains common design elements that you can use in the VHDL file source files that make up your design.
In Project Navigator, a VHDL library is a container, which holds files that define entities, architectures, or packages. You can view and manage VHDL libraries in the Libraries panel.
Following are the basic steps for creating and using VHDL libraries in Project Navigator:
  1.  Create a VHDL library.
  2.  Add VHDL files to the VHDL library.
  3.  Reference the VHDL library and associated package or entities in a VHDL source file in your project.
A VHDL library is not stored as a separate file on disk. VHDL libraries and their corresponding sources are referenced in the ISE® project file and are passed to the synthesis or simulation tool to be compiled.
Note For information on creating and managing VHDL libraries using Tcl commands, see the “Tcl Reference” chapter of the Command Line Tools User Guide.
To Create a VHDL Library
Use any of the following methods to create a VHDL library:
  •  Select Project > New VHDL Library. In the New VHDL Library dialog box, enter the names of the new VHDL libraries to create. Using this method allows you to create multiple new VHDL libraries at one time.
  •  Select Project > New Source. In the New Source Wizard, select VHDL Library as your source type, and enter the name of the VHDL library to create. For more information, see Creating a Source File.
  •  Select Project > Add Source to add source files that will be part of a VHDL library. In the Adding Source Files dialog box, select New VHDL Library from the Library drop-down list. In the New VHDL Library dialog box, enter the names of the new VHDL libraries to create. For more information, see Adding a Source File to a Project.
To Add Files to a VHDL Library
Use any of the following methods to add files to a VHDL library:
  •  Select the file in the Design, Files, or Libraries panel, and select Source > Move to Library. In the Move to Library dialog box, select a library. You can use the Shift or Ctrl key to select and move multiple files at one time.
    Note Alternatively, you can right-click a file in the Libraries panel, and select Move to Library or select the Move to Library toolbar button Image.
  •  Select Project > Add Source to add source files that will be part of a VHDL library. In the Adding Source Files dialog box, select a library from the Library drop-down list. By default, all source files are placed in the work library.
To Reference a VHDL Library or Package in a VHDL File
To reference a VHDL library or package file in your VHDL file, use standard VHDL language constructs, such as library and use.

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