Creating a New Template

An option template is a group of option settings. Templates provide a convenient way to have several groups of option settings that you can select from when you implement a design. For example, you can have a template for quick place and route and another one for maximum placement effort.

The three types of option templates are implementation, simulation, and configuration templates. The implementation templates control how the software maps, places, routes, and optimizes an FPGA design and how it fits a CPLD design. The simulation templates control the creation of netlists in terms of Xilinx primitives, allowing you to perform simulation and back-annotation. The configuration templates set options which define the initial configuration parameters of a device, the startup sequence, and readback capabilities. You can create additional implementation, simulation, and configuration templates with the Template Manager utility.

To Create a New Template

1. In the Design Manager, select Utilities Template Manager.
   
   The Template Manager dialog box appears, as shown in the “Template Manager Dialog Box” figure of the “Menu Commands” chapter.
   
   
2. Select the device family in the Family drop-down list.
   
   
3. Select either Implementation Templates, Simulation Templates, or Configuration Templates to specify the type of template you want to create.
   
   

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   NOTE

   Configuration options are supported for the FPGA device families only. There are no configuration options for the CPLD family.

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4. Click New.
   
   The New dialog box appears, as shown in the following figure.
   
   

   Figure 3.1 New Dialog Box

5. Type a name for the new template.
   
   
6. Click OK.
   
   The name of the new template is added to the option templates list in the Template Manager dialog box.
   
   

To Edit a Template

After you create an option template, you can edit the template using the following procedure.

1. In the Template List of the Template Manager dialog box, click the name of the template you want to edit.
   
   
2. Click Edit.
   
   The Implementation, Simulation, or Configuration Template dialog box opens, depending on which type of template you are working with.
   
   
3. Select the desired settings.
   
   The available settings depend on the device family and the template type. See the “Implementation Options” chapter for information on the options in the Implementation, Simulation, and Configuration Template dialog boxes.
   
   
4. Click OK.
   
   The Template Manager saves the options settings and closes the Implementation, Simulation, or Configuration Template dialog box.