Answers to Top FAQs
1. System Debugging Tools Overview
2. Design Debugging with the Signal Tap Logic Analyzer
3. Quick Design Verification with Signal Probe
4. In-System Debugging Using External Logic Analyzers
5. In-System Modification of Memory and Constants
6. Design Debugging Using In-System Sources and Probes
7. Analyzing and Debugging Designs with System Console
8. Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide Debug Tools Archives
A. Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guides
1.1. System Debugging Tools Portfolio
1.2. Tools for Monitoring RTL Nodes
1.3. Stimulus-Capable Tools
1.4. Virtual JTAG Interface Altera IP
1.5. System-Level Debug Fabric
1.6. SLD JTAG Bridge
1.7. Partial Reconfiguration Design Debugging
1.8. Preserving Signals for Debugging
1.9. System Debugging Tools Overview Revision History
2.1. Signal Tap Logic Analyzer Introduction
2.2. Signal Tap Debugging Flow
2.3. Step 1: Add the Signal Tap Logic Analyzer to the Project
2.4. Step 2: Configure the Signal Tap Logic Analyzer
2.5. Step 3: Compile the Design and Signal Tap Instances
2.6. Step 4: Program the Target Hardware
2.7. Step 5: Run the Signal Tap Logic Analyzer
2.8. Step 6: Analyze Signal Tap Captured Data
2.9. Simulation-Aware Signal Tap
2.10. Other Signal Tap Debugging Flows
2.11. Signal Tap Logic Analyzer Design Examples
2.12. Custom State-Based Triggering Flow Examples
2.13. Signal Tap File Templates
2.14. Running the Standalone Version of Signal Tap
2.15. Signal Tap Scripting Support
2.16. Merge Multiple Signal Tap files
2.17. Signal Tap File Version Compatibility
2.18. Design Debugging with the Signal Tap Logic Analyzer Revision History
2.4.1. Preserving Signals for Monitoring and Debugging
2.4.2. Preventing Changes that Require Full Recompilation
2.4.3. Specifying the Clock, Sample Depth, and RAM Type
2.4.4. Specifying the Buffer Acquisition Mode
2.4.5. Adding Signals to the Signal Tap Logic Analyzer
2.4.6. Defining Trigger Conditions
2.4.7. Specifying Pipeline Settings
2.4.8. Filtering Relevant Samples
2.4.6.1. Basic Trigger Conditions
2.4.6.2. Nested Trigger Conditions
2.4.6.3. Comparison Trigger Conditions
2.4.6.4. Advanced Trigger Conditions
2.4.6.5. Custom Trigger HDL Object
2.4.6.6. Specify Trigger Position
2.4.6.7. Power-Up Triggers
2.4.6.8. External Triggers
2.4.6.9. Trigger Condition Flow Control
2.4.6.10. Sequential Triggering
2.4.6.11. State-Based Triggering
2.4.6.12. Trigger Lock Mode
2.4.6.11.5.1. <state_label>
2.4.6.11.5.2. <boolean_expression>
2.4.6.11.5.3. <action_list>
2.4.6.11.5.4. Trigger that Skips Clock Cycles after Hitting Condition
2.4.6.11.5.5. Storage Qualification with Post-Fill Count Value Less than m
2.4.6.11.5.6. Resource Manipulation Action
2.4.6.11.5.7. Buffer Control Actions
2.4.6.11.5.8. State Transition Action
2.8.1. Viewing Capture Data Using Segmented Buffers
2.8.2. Viewing Data with Different Acquisition Modes
2.8.3. Creating Mnemonics for Bit Patterns
2.8.4. Locating a Node in the Design
2.8.5. Saving Captured Signal Tap Data
2.8.6. Exporting Captured Signal Tap Data
2.8.7. Creating a Signal Tap List File
2.8.8. Setting Floating-Point Bus Formats
2.10.1. Managing Multiple Signal Tap Configurations
2.10.2. Debugging Partial Reconfiguration Designs with Signal Tap
2.10.3. Debugging Block-Based Designs with Signal Tap
2.10.4. Debugging Devices that use Configuration Bitstream Security
2.10.5. Signal Tap Data Capture with the MATLAB* MEX Function
2.10.3.1.1. Partition Boundary Ports Method
2.10.3.1.2. Debug a Core Partition through Partition Boundary Ports
2.10.3.1.3. Export a Core Partition with Partition Boundary Ports
2.10.3.1.4. Signal Tap HDL Instance Method
2.10.3.1.5. Export a Core Partition with Signal Tap HDL Instances
2.10.3.1.6. Debug a Core Partition Exported with Signal Tap HDL Instances
3.1.1. Step 1: Reserve Signal Probe Pins
3.1.2. Step 2: Assign Nodes to Signal Probe Pins
3.1.3. Step 3: Connect the Signal Probe Pin to an Output Pin
3.1.4. Step 4: Compile the Design
3.1.5. (Optional) Step 5: Modify the Signal Probe Pins Assignments
3.1.6. Step 6: Run Fitter-Only Compilation
3.1.7. Step 7: Check Connection Table in Fitter Report
5.1. IP Cores Supporting In System Memory Content Editor
5.2. Debug Flow with the In-System Memory Content Editor
5.3. Enabling Runtime Modification of Instances in the Design
5.4. Programming the Device with the In-System Memory Content Editor
5.5. Loading Memory Instances to the ISMCE
5.6. Monitoring Locations in Memory
5.7. Editing Memory Contents with the Hex Editor Pane
5.8. Importing and Exporting Memory Files
5.9. Access Two or More Devices
5.10. Scripting Support
5.11. In-System Modification of Memory and Constants Revision History
6.1. Hardware and Software Requirements
6.2. Design Flow Using the In-System Sources and Probes Editor
6.3. Compiling the Design
6.4. Running the In-System Sources and Probes Editor
6.5. Tcl interface for the In-System Sources and Probes Editor
6.6. Design Example: Dynamic PLL Reconfiguration
6.7. Design Debugging Using In-System Sources and Probes Revision History
7.1. Introduction to System Console
7.2. Starting System Console
7.3. System Console GUI
7.4. Launching a Toolkit in System Console
7.5. Using System Console Services
7.6. On-Board Intel® FPGA Download Cable II Support
7.7. MATLAB* and Simulink* in a System Verification Flow
7.8. Running System Console in Command-Line Mode
7.9. Using System Console Commands
7.10. Using Toolkit Tcl Commands
7.11. Analyzing and Debugging Designs with the System Console Revision History
7.5.1. Locating Available Services
7.5.2. Opening and Closing Services
7.5.3. Using the SLD Service
7.5.4. Using the In-System Sources and Probes Service
7.5.5. Using the Monitor Service
7.5.6. Using the Device Service
7.5.7. Using the Design Service
7.5.8. Using the Bytestream Service
7.5.9. Using the JTAG Debug Service
2.4.6.11.6.1. Storage Qualification Feature for the State-Based Trigger Flow
This trigger flow description contains three trigger conditions that occur at different times after you click Start Analysis:
State 1: ST1: if ( condition1 ) start_store; else if ( condition2 ) trigger value; else if ( condition3 ) stop_store;
Figure 60. Capture Scenario for Storage Qualification with the State-Based Trigger Flow
When you apply the trigger flow to the scenario in the figure:
- The Signal Tap logic analyzer does not write into the acquisition buffer until Condition 1 occurs (sample a).
- When Condition 2 occurs (sample b), the logic analyzer evaluates the trigger value command, and continues to write into the buffer to finish the acquisition.
- The trigger flow specifies a stop_store command at sample c, which occurs m samples after the trigger point.
- If the data acquisition finishes the post-fill acquisition samples before Condition 3 occurs, the logic analyzer finishes the acquisition and displays the contents of the waveform. In this case, the capture ends if the post-fill count value is < m.
- If the post-fill count value in the Trigger Flow description 1 is > m samples, the buffer pauses acquisition indefinitely, provided there is no recurrence of Condition 1 to trigger the logic analyzer to start capturing data again.
The Signal Tap logic analyzer continues to evaluate the stop_store and start_store commands even after evaluating the trigger. If the acquisition paused, click Stop Analysis to manually stop and force the acquisition to trigger. You can use counter values, flags, and the State diagram to help you perform the trigger flow. The counter values, flags, and the current state update in real-time during a data acquisition.