Specifications

CHAPTER 2: DESIGN ENTRY
CREATING A DESIGN
44 ■ INTRODUCTION TO QUARTUS II ALTERA CORPORATION
Using the Quartus II Block Editor
The Block Editor allows you to enter and edit graphic design information in
the form of schematics and block diagrams. The Quartus II Block Editor
reads and edits Block Design Files and MAX+PLUS II Graphic Design Files.
You can open Graphic Design Files in the Quartus II software and save them
as Block Design Files. The Block Editor is similar to the Graphic Editor from
the MAX+PLUS II software.
Each Block Design File contains blocks and symbols that represent logic in
the design. The Block Editor incorporates the design logic represented by
each block diagram, schematic, or symbol into the project.
You can create new design files from blocks in a Block Design File, update
the design files when you modify the blocks and the symbols, and generate
Block Symbol Files (.bsf), AHDL Include Files (.inc), and HDL files from
Block Design Files. You can also analyze the Block Design Files for errors
before compilation. The Block Editor also provides a set of tools that help
you connect blocks and primitives in a Block Design File, including bus and
node connections and signal name mapping.
You can change the Block Editor to display options, such as guidelines and
grid spacing, rubberbanding, colors and screen elements, zoom, and
different block and primitive properties to suit your preferences.
You can use the following features of the Block Editor to assist in creating a
Block Design File in the Quartus II software:
■ Instantiate Altera-provided megafunctions: The MegaWizard Plug-
In Manager (Tools menu) allows you to create or modify design files
that contain custom variations of megafunctions. These custom
megafunction variations are based on Altera-provided megafunctions,
including LPM functions. Megafunctions are represented by blocks in
Block Design Files. See “Using the MegaWizard Plug-In Manager” on
page 49.
■ Insert block and primitive symbols: Block diagrams use rectangular-
shaped symbols, called blocks, to represent design entities and the
corresponding assigned signals, and are useful in top-down design.
Blocks are connected by conduits that represent the flow of the
corresponding signals. You can use block diagrams exclusively to
represent your design, or you can combine them with schematic
elements.