FPGA Central

Has anyone else here used the "Universal File Writer" to merge
bitstreams?

I have a project that loads two ECP2 devices from one SPI flash, so I
need
to create the merged file. The problem is that the UFW GUI has no
option
to save my settings, so each time I change either project I need to re-
browse
to my bitstreams, and output file, as well as change all the required
settings (bitstream output type, CCLK frequency, etc.). Needless to
say this is a bit of a pain, and it could become more so if someone
else
ever needs to update the project (including me if it is long enough
from now that I don't remember all the settings).

So my thought was to look up how to run the UFW from the command
line and make a batch file. The problem is that my command line
causes the UFW to crash (an error has occurred, do you want to
tell Microsoft about it, etc.). Here's my command line:

<tools_path>\ispUFW.exe -if "<fpga1>.bit" "<fpga2>.bit" -oft -merge -
of "<merged>.mcs" -format intel -frequency 34 -merge_format
intelligent

Filenames have been changed to protect the innocent

When I attempt to run it I get a log file before the crash, but it
only seems
to get as far as loading the first bitstream, or perhaps only reading
the
command line parameters:

Lattice Semiconductor Corporation
Universal File Writer V2.44

Tue Jun 23 08:48:11 2009 Generating Bitstream.....
Tue Jun 23 08:48:11 2009 Reading Input File: <fpga1>.bit
Tue Jun 23 08:48:11 2009 Merge Format: Intelligent

I'm using ispLever 7.0

I tried using complete paths and relative paths to the files with no
change in the outcome

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards,
Gabor

On Jun 26, 10:49*pm, Gabor <ga...@alacron.com> wrote:
> Has anyone else here used the "Universal File Writer" to merge
> bitstreams?
>
> I have a project that loads two ECP2 devices from one SPI flash, so I
> need
> to create the merged file. *The problem is that the UFW GUI has no
> option
> to save my settings, so each time I change either project I need to re-
> browse
> to my bitstreams, and output file, as well as change all the required
> settings (bitstream output type, CCLK frequency, etc.). *Needless to
> say this is a bit of a pain, and it could become more so if someone
> else
> ever needs to update the project (including me if it is long enough
> from now that I don't remember all the settings).
>
> So my thought was to look up how to run the UFW from the command
> line and make a batch file. *The problem is that my command line
> causes the UFW to crash (an error has occurred, do you want to
> tell Microsoft about it, etc.). *Here's my command line:
>
> <tools_path>\ispUFW.exe -if "<fpga1>.bit" "<fpga2>.bit" -oft -merge -
> of "<merged>.mcs" -format intel -frequency 34 -merge_format
> intelligent
>
> Filenames have been changed to protect the innocent
>
> When I attempt to run it I get a log file before the crash, but it
> only seems
> to get as far as loading the first bitstream, or perhaps only reading
> the
> command line parameters:
>
> * * * * * * * * * * * * Lattice Semiconductor Corporation
> * * * * * * * * * * * * Universal File Writer V2.44
>
> Tue Jun 23 08:48:11 2009 *Generating Bitstream.....
> Tue Jun 23 08:48:11 2009 *Reading Input File: <fpga1>.bit
> Tue Jun 23 08:48:11 2009 *Merge Format: Intelligent
>
> I'm using ispLever 7.0
>
> I tried using complete paths and relative paths to the files with no
> change in the outcome
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Regards,
> Gabor

write your own merge tool, its less time than troubleshooting vendor
tools that crash

Antti