Active-HDL 7.

1 User Guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS .........................................................................................................3
INSTALLATION ............................................................................................................................4
USING THE ON-LINE DOCUMENTATION ................................................................................12
AUTOMATED FPGA DESIGN FLOW MANAGER .....................................................................17
LICENSING INFORMATION ......................................................................................................21
IMPORTANT NETWORK LICENSING INFORMATION .............................................................24
EXPORT/IMPORT OF ACTIVE-HDL PREFERENCES ..............................................................29
ACTIVE-HDL PREFERENCES MANAGER OPTIONS ..............................................................30
HOW TO REACH TECHNICAL SUPPORT ................................................................................30

INTRODUCTION
Active-HDL offers a completely integrated design entry and verification environment for HDL, C
and C++ designs. The product supports C/C++, SystemC, VHDL, Verilog and SystemVerilog
designs, as well as mixed SystemC/VHDL/Verilog and EDIF simulation. This Quick Start Guide
was created to better acquaint users with the softwares installation process, using the on-line
help files and the toolbars that are included within the product.

NOTES:
1. In order to use Active-HDL version 7.1, you will need to request the license update. The
license update is provided to you free-of-charge under your valid maintenance contract and
can be obtained at http://www.aldec.com/registration/licenseupdate.htm
2. If you are using the software for evaluation purposes, it does not require a license. It can be
immediately used for the 20-day evaluation period. Please see the Licensing Section for
more details.
The on-line help and tutorials are valuable resources for users at all stages of HDL and C
design experience. In the beginning stages of using the tool, the online help will explain the
functionality and features of the product. As your familiarity with the product grows, the help files
can be used as a source of information on utilizing Active-HDLs advanced features in your
designs.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Active-HDL requires:
A Pentium PC or Higher/Compatible
256 MB Physical Memory (512 MB Recommended)
Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 6, Windows 2000 with Service Pack 3
(recommended) or Windows XP with Service Pack 1 (recommended)
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4.0 or higher (see notes)
Hard disk drive with at least 376MB of free space for minimal installation including only
standard VHDL and Verilog libraries (2.35GB for full installation including all available
libraries)
Monitor resolution 1280x1024 (recommended)

NOTES:

The hard disk drive requirements calculated by the installation program are approximate
and depend on both your operating system and chosen file system.
The amount of available physical memory limits the maximum size of the design that can
be simulated in Active-HDL. By default, the Windows operating systems allow allocating
up to 2GB of operating memory. The latest improvements made to the entire environment
and the simulator in particular allow handling a 3GB flat virtual address space and the
simulation of designs that require up to 3GB of memory to run. The following Microsoft
Windows operating systems provide applications with a 3GB flat virtual address space:
- Windows XP Professional
- Windows Server 2003
- Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
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- Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition

- Windows 2000 Advanced Server
- Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
- Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition
The additional information on how to enable the operating system capability and use the
extended memory resources is available on the following Microsoft web page:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/PAE/PAEmem.mspx
For full functionality, it is recommended to install the Microsoft Internet Explorer version
5.0 or higher. Active-HDL 7.1 requires the Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4.0 or
higher to be installed on your system. If not, the following system components will not be
available:
Dataflow window
Query window in Block Diagram Editor
On-line documentation
If you have a different Internet browser (other than Internet Explorer) installed on your
system, you can continue to use it without any problems. Internet Explorer can be
installed as a non-default browser and be used only by Active-HDL.
If you want to install Active-HDL 7.1 on Windows NT with Service Pack 6, Internet
Explorer ver. 4.0 or higher is required. Otherwise, Active-HDL will not be installed.

INSTALLATION
When you receive your copy of Active-HDL, insert the CD-ROM into your machines CD-ROM
drive. Active-HDL is equipped with an Auto-Run feature that will start the set-up process
without having to locate the setup.exe file. At this point you have the option to read the release
notes on the product or begin the installation process.

After reading the release notes or selecting the Next button, you will be asked to read the
softwares licensing agreement. Read this section carefully and when finished, choose the
Accept button.
Note: The release notes may be accessed at any time once the software is installed by opening
the on-line documentation.

Next, you will need to fill in the user information for the software and choose whether or not
anyone else will be allowed to access the software from the machine it is installed on. Select
Next to continue.

The installation program of Active-HDL allows you to choose whether to install both VHDL and
Verilog or mixed-language libraries. The selection results in the installation of different system
and vendor libraries that are copied during the installation. The edition can be selected in the
Active-HDL Setup Program - Setup Type dialog box is shown below:

This dialog provides the following options:

MIX
This option allows installing a dual-language set of simulation libraries.
VERILOG
If this option is selected, only Verilog simulation/schematic libraries will be installed.
VHDL
If this option is selected, only VHDL simulation/schematic libraries will be installed.

Regardless of the selected set of simulation libraries, the functionality and supported features
depend ultimately on the purchased license only. Active-HDL 7.1 delivers the updated on-line
documentation that is not limited and it provides the help system for all features.

Manual Installation of Vendor Libraries

The installation program of Active-HDL provides additional programs that allow users to
(re)install individual vendor-specific libraries after the installation of Active-HDL. The libraries are
stored in the \Verilog and \VHDL subfolders (\Install). The \Sch subfolder contains the
installation program of the Xilinx Schematic Libraries. To install a library, start the setup.exe
program in an appropriate language and vendor subfolder and follow on-screen instructions.

In the next stage of the installation process, you will need to choose which pre-installed IC
vendor libraries you will require for your designs. All libraries are based on the latest files
provided to Aldec at the time the software was produced. Please check with the appropriate IC
vendor for the latest library resources.

NOTE: If you chose to install Xilinx schematic libraries, there will be a subsequent screen
prompting you to select which library you wish to install.

After you designate the necessary libraries and click the Next button, you should choose the
destination path for the Active-HDL software to be installed on your machine. By default, ActiveHDL already has a path selected and will create the required folders on your systems C drive.
If you wish to select a new destination, choose the Browse button and locate space for both the
softwares program files as well as any projects you will create with Active-HDL.

The next step is to specify the license environment for Active-HDL. During the installation
procedure of Active-HDL 7.1, you can select the license environment that will be used to protect
the program. The license environment settings should be related to the type of the license you
have purchased. The following settings are available in the Choose License Environment
window:

Evaluation license
This option allows you to use Active-HDL 7.1 in the evaluation mode for 20 days without any
additional license. The evaluation version features the full functionality of a registered copy with
some limitations.
You can switch from the evaluation license to the full functional product by applying a license
file. The license file will use the Ethernet card number as the license hostid. During the
installation procedure, the ALDEC_LICENSE_FILE variable is set. This variable should point to
the location of the license.dat file. By default, ALDEC_LICENSE_FILE is set to C:\Program
Files\Aldec\Active-HDL 7.1\DAT\license.dat.
FLEXid keylock (USB) based license

This license method uses the FLEXid keylock attached to the USB port of your computer.
Before you choose this type of licensing, make sure if your workstation supports the USB
standard and that the USB keylock is disconnected from the USB port of your computer while
installing Active-HDL. The installation program will automatically copy and install all required
drivers in your computer. This type of the license also requires the license file. The license file
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will use the FLEXid keylock number as the license hostid.

The ALDEC_LICENSE_FILE variable is set during the installation and it points to the default
location of the license.dat file.
This option is unavailable when you are installing Active-HDL on Windows NT 4.0 and requires
manual installation (change) of USB keylock drivers (FLEXid=9) after Active-HDL is installed.
The installation program that installs files required for Windows NT 4.0 (FLEXidInstaller.exe)
can be found in the \License\Drivers\ subdirectory of the Active-HDL installation CD.

Network floating license

This option allows you to start Active-HDL 7.1 that is protected by the network license server
manager. The floating license also requires the license file. During the installation of ActiveHDL, the ALDEC_LICENSE_FILE variable is set. This variable should point to the location of
the license.dat file or the license server. If you specify the license server, you can use either of
notation:
<TCP-port>@<host_computer_name>
or
<TCP-port>@<host_computer_address>

The next step is to select the file types you wish to register to Active-HDL. For each file
selected, Active-HDL will be the default program associated when working with these files.
By default, each file is checked for use with Active-HDL.
Click Next to continue with the installation.

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You may wish to check the information listed in this screen to verify that all paths and
associations are correct. If not, you may click the Back button to return to the appropriate stage
of the installation setup and make any changes. Choose Install when you are ready to begin
copying files to your system.

You are able to watch as files are transferred to your system. Setup is complete when all files
are copied to your designated location.
When the installation is complete, you have the option to immediately register your copy with
Aldec to ensure you receive the latest updates and product information. Choose Register Now
and fill out the simple form or click Finish to conclude the installation process.

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On-line Resources Access

Active-HDL 7.1 enables a new option in the Help menu. The Aldec on the Web option
provides links to the Aldec web site that gives users access to the Active-HDL-related online resources such as:
- Active-HDL Home Page;
- On-Line Support Request Page;
- Download Active-HDL Updates Page;
- Knowledge Base;
- Aldec Home Page.
The Active-HDL check for updates option has been implemented. The option allows
Active-HDL to automatically check the Aldec web site for available updates. Users can
set the check intervals to be done once a month, week, day, or disabled. If checking for
updates is enabled, the Download Active-HDL Updates window is displayed when
Active-HDL starts. The window allows changing the default time interval. If the automatic
check is disabled, it can always be run manually by choosing the Download Active-HDL
Updates option from the Help | Aldec on the Web menu.

USING THE ON-LINE DOCUMENTATION

As you begin to familiarize yourself with the software, there are some useful resources available
to help use the tool effectively. Aldec has developed the in-depth on-line documentation and
tutorials for those who are new to HDL design or just new to Active-HDL.
Locating the On-line Help
From the Help menu on the tool bar of Active-HDL, select the On-line Documentation option.
This will open a new window with the complete on-line resources. It is highly recommended that
you spend some time exploring the on-line resources, as they can be very valuable tools.

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Tutorials and Reference Guides

The Tutorials located in Active-HDLs on-line documentation include a variety of information.
From the main menu of the on-line Help, highlight the Tutorials section by left clicking once on
the appropriate button.

Tutorial Topics Include:

VHDL Entry and Simulation Tutorial
Verilog Entry and Simulation Tutorial
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Mixed VHDL/Verilog Entry and Simulation

HDL Design Entry and Simulation Tutorial
State Machine Entry and Debugging Tutorial
Mixed VHDL/Verilog / EDIF Entry and Simulation
VHDL Testbench Tutorial
Code Coverage Tutorial
Post Simulation Debug Tutorial
Server Farm Installation Tutorial
Using Server Farm Tutorial
VHDL Configurations Tutorial

The Reference Guides are educational resources that can be accessed and used in the same
manner as the tutorials covering the following topics:

Reference Guide Topics Include:

Active-HDL Interfaces Defines interfaces with Debussy, Denali, SWIFT, VHPI, DVM,
CoVer, Simulink, SystemC and SWIFT SmartModels Library Interface
VHDL Language Reference Guide Defines terminology and gives examples of the
topics contained within the language
Verilog Language Reference Guide Defines terminology and gives examples of the
topics contained within the language
PLI Reference Guide Defines all components of PLI
VHPI Reference Guide Defines all components of VHPI
Handel-C Reference Guide Defines all components of Handel-C
VSIMSA Defines internal and external commands
Tcl/Tk Reference Manual Provides the Tool Command Language definition and
variables.
Perl for Win32 Describes the Perl language and OLE and Win32 extensions
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Searching for Help on a Specific Topic

Searching for help on a specific topic is easy and can be important for saving time spent
contacting Aldec support. There are multiple ways to search the on-line help:
Locate Help from the Contents Hierarchy
Find Help by Titles in the Index
Search for Help with Keywords
Search from Contents Hierarchy
Select the Contents tab on the left side of this window. Click on the hierarchy on the left of this
window; find the topic you are looking for. Click the topic to display the information in the window
on the right side.

Index Search

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By typing in a few letters of a topic in the field below the Index tab, the search displays all help
titles starting with those letters.
Double click a topic to display the information in the window on the right-hand side.

Search for Help by Keyword Phrase

Select the Search tab and type in the subject of the information you are seeking in the field
below the tabs. The on-line help will locate the titles matching your description by the keywords
you enter.

Sample Designs
Active-HDL comes with a series of sample designs that allow users to open a small design and
practice using the software on real world applications. Users are encouraged to load a sample
design and experiment with all of the tools features before beginning a new project.
These designs can be accessed by clicking File on the main tool bar and selecting Open
Workspace/Design Explorer.
The Workspace/Design Explorer window will then open and you can select Schematic,
Verilog, VHDL, Celoxca, Matlab, SystemC and mixed language designs.
When you select a folder in the left window, all sample designs in that folder will be displayed in
the window on the right.

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Double clicking on the design will automatically open the design files in the design browser.
NOTE:
It is recommended that you refer to the On-line Help after you have opened a design for
Tutorials and Documentation on some of the features of Active-HDL.
AUTOMATED FPGA DESIGN FLOW MANAGER
Active-HDL offers complete design flow integration for all leading EDA vendors with its Tclbased flow selection. The Design Flow Manager supports designs regardless of vendor tools or
type of chip. This independence is of most benefit to system designers because third party EDA
tools can all be invoked from a single location and designers can have one common tool to use
in all designs.

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Synthesis Vendors Supported:

Altera Quartus II 3.x, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 5.0 Synthesis & Implementation
Celoxica DK DK 3.x, DK 4.x
Magma PALACE 2.4, 2.5 for Altera and Xilinx
Magma PALACE 1.2, 2.0, 3.0 for Actel
Cypress Warp 6.3 SP1 Synthesis & Implementation
Mentor Graphics LeonardoSpectrum 2004, 2005
Mentor Graphics LeonardoSpectrum for Chip Express
Mentor Graphics LeonardoSpectrum for Atmel
Mentor Graphics Precision RTL 2004, 2005
Synopsys FPGA Express 3.6
Synopsys FPGA Express Xilinx, Innnoveda, Viewlogic OEM editions
Synopsys FPGA Compiler II 3.8.2
Synplicity Synplify 7.x, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2
Synplicity Synplify Premier 8.2
Synplicity Synplify Premier 8.2 with Design Planner
Synplicity Synplify Pro 7.x, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2
Synplicity Synplify Pro with Amplify
Synplicity Synplify lite editions for Actel, Lattice, QuickLogic
Synplicity Synplify Pro lite edition for Actel
ISE 5.x XST VHDL
ISE 5.x XST Verilog
ISE 6.1 XST VHDL/Verilog
ISE 6.2, 6.3, 7.1 XST VHDL/Verilog

Implementation Tools Supported:

Actel Designer R 5.0, 6.0, 6.1, 6.2
Altera MAX+plusII 10.2
Altera Quartus II 3.x, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 5.0 (incl. Web Edition)
Atmel Figaro IDS 7.5, 7.6
Cypress Warp 6.3 SP1
Lattice ispLever v.4.1, 4.2, 5.0
QuickLogic Quickworks 9.6, 9.7
Xilinx Triscend FastChip 3.0
Xilinx Alliance 3.3, 4.x
Xilinx Foundation 3.3, 4.x
Xilinx ISE 4.x/5.x
Xilinx ISE 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7.1 (incl. Web Edition)
Xilinx Web Pack 3.3, 4.x, 5.x, 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7.1
All trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.
If using a vendor-specific edition of Active-HDL, only those tools that support the specific silicon
will be supported in the Design Flow Manager.
NOTE:
If you are seeking an alternate vendor flow or an updated version, check the Aldec website at
www.aldec.com or submit your support request via the Aldec Technical Support web site at
http://support.aldec.com/ContactSupport/
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Setting up the Design Flow Manager

The Design Flow Manager supports all industry-leading synthesis and implementation tools. The
Design Flow Manager is fully configurable and can be adjusted to all FPGA vendor-supplied
synthesis and implementation tools so that users can freely switch between Actel, Altera,
Cypress, Xilinx, Lattice, QuickLogic and other vendor tools.
Global flowchart settings
The configuration of the Design Flow Manager has changed in Active-HDL 7.1. The global
settings for the Design Flow Manager are now specified in the Preferences dialog box (Flows
category). The flowchart configuration is also enabled while creating a new design in the New
Design Wizard. If the Design Flow Manager is disabled in Active-HDL, it is still possible to
specify the default target technology and family used e.g. in a design targeted to the Xilinx
technology (based on schematic block diagrams). The settings for the active design can be
customized in the Design Settings dialog box (General category).

Design flowchart settings

Once the Flow Settings feature is invoked, users can specify the synthesis and implementation
tools that they will be using for this design. With the Tcl based flows, designers can customize
the flows and add additional tools that may be required during the verification process. This
adds flexibility to the design process and allows the instant addition of user-approved tools.

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The Design Flow Manager will now invoke specified tools and complete automation of the FPGA
design flow is now available.

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Specifics of the Design Flow Manager

The Design Flow Manager simplifies the network configuration process for IT departments
because the end user's machine can be customized to support only those licenses and systems
that are available to that specific PC. This licensing customization feature prevents restricted
licenses of synthesis and implementation tools to be mistakenly called upon during the design
process.
The flow was made to provide maximum flexibility for the entire design process. It enables
designers to disable certain parts of the design flow so that they can concentrate on the specific
areas of the design cycle that they are currently working on. The flow also permits designers to
edit the list of tools supported so that only those that a designer uses most frequently will be
invoked.
Project Control
When synthesis and implementation are running in batch mode, the FPGA
Design Flow Manager back-annotates the results directly into the Active-HDL environment so
that system designers do not have to manually transfer the results. This allows tracking the
design progress from one centralized location. Since all files are managed through a single
project manager, the users are able to quickly run gate level and timing simulations with the
same stimuli files.

LICENSING INFORMATION
Evaluation Version20 Day without License
The evaluation version provides full functionality of a registered copy with the following
limitations
Expires 20 days after installation
Export of design and workspace resources to the HTML and PDF format is disabled
Printing is disabled
The maximum simulation time is 10 us
The maximum amount of memory allocated per VHDL, Verilog or mixed VHDL-Verilog
design is 5MB. This limitation decreases to 2 MB for any designs employing EDIF-based
design units
Block diagrams containing more than 15 fubs and/or symbols cannot be saved
Apart from Active-HDL, you can also run VSimSA in the 20-days evaluation mode. The
evaluation limitations of VSimSA are as follows:

The number of processes in the simulated model is limited to 1000

Simulation time is limited to 10us
Code Coverage and Design Profiler are disabled

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Full Evaluation Version20 Day along with License

If you feel that the evaluation version is too restrictive and you have an Ethernet adapter on your
computer, you may apply for a 20-day unlimited license. You can fill out a request form by
visiting:
http://www.aldec.com/registration/evals.htm
or by contacting Aldec or an authorized distributor at:
http://www.aldec.com/contact/

Your 20-day fully functioning license will be sent to you within 24 hours, via e-mail, and will
expire 20 days from creation, not installation.

Full version
In order to continue working with an unlimited version of Active-HDL 7.1, the software requires
a license file. Active-HDL can be protected by using either a local or network floating license
configuration, which means that the license file can use hostid of your machine or on a remote
computer (license server) running on the Windows, Linux, or UNIX platform.
License Hostid
The FLEXnet License hostid can be either the number of the Ethernet card or the FLEXid
number of the USB keylock/dongle.
Local License (Node-locked)
The local license (also referred to as a single-user configuration) is tied to a specific machine
and requires a license file. In this type of licensing, the hostid form the Ethernet card or
connected USB keylock must match the hostid specified in the license file.
Keylock drivers are installed on your computer during the installation of Active-HDL. If you need
to reinstall the keylock drivers, you can use the setup programs available in the \Drivers
subfolder of the Active-HDL installation folder or the \License\Drivers\ subdirectory of the ActiveHDL installation CD.
NOTE:
You must plug the keylock into the USB port of your computer before you start Active-HDL.

Network Floating License

The network floating configuration (multiple users) is based on a license started on a remote
machine (license server) running on the Windows, Linux or UNIX platform.
The floating license also requires the license file. The license contained in the license file can
use the hostid of server's Ethernet card number or the FLEXid number of the USB keylock
connected to the USB port of the remote computer (except for UNIX machines).
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Active-HDL supports multiple configurations of the network license. If you have purchased the
multiple user installation with network licensing that contains several license types, you will be
able to switch among them each time you start Active-HDL. If you have purchased a network
license with several products enabled in the license file, you can choose your working
configuration while starting Active-HDL in the License Configuration window.

Otherwise, when you have the possibility to use only one given configuration, the License
Configuration window can be omitted during the Active-HDL start-up. To do so, clear the Show
License Configuration dialog box on Active-HDL startup check box in the Diagnose License
window. The Diagnose License program is a tool that allows you to check Active-HDL
options/features available in your license regardless of the purchased licensing configuration.
You can run the tool from the Help menu by selecting the License Information option or by
executing the diagnose.exe program in the \Bin subfolder of the Active-HDL installation
directory, e.g. if you want to check the available features in the license for VSimSA.
If you have purchased a multiple-user installation with network licensing, you will need to:
Install Active-HDL on all workstations (also called license clients)
Install a license server on your network server (or any other computer permanently connected to
the network). Re-configure workstations to use network licensing.
All products enabled in your license file can be seen in the last dialog box after you scan your
license with Diagnose License. All program files required for setting up a license server are
available in the \License directory of the Active-HDL installation CD.
NOTES:

Active-HDL 7.1 does not support license files generated for older versions of the ActiveHDL and Active-VHDL software. The users upgrading from previous versions should
apply to Aldec for an updated license file.
Active-HDL 7.1 no longer supports Sentinel hardware keylocks connected to the parallel
port (Aldec keylock). Only hardware keylocks attached to the USB port can be used
(FLEXid=9).
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You must plug the keylock into the USB port of your license server before you start the
Active-HDL network license server manager.
Active-HDL 7.1 provides an additional program that users can use to setup the license
server on the Windows platform. The Aldec FLEXnet License Server (setup.exe)
program can be run from the \License\Windows\Aldec_License_Server subfolder of
the installation CD. The \License folder also provides files required to run the license
server on other platforms. For more information on setting up the Active-HDL license
server, refer to the readme_first.txt and setup_license_server.txt files.
Active-HDL 7.1 requires FLEXnet ver. 10.8.

NOTE:
Active-HDL 7.1 does not allow the use of license files generated for older versions of ActiveHDL and Active-VHDL software. The users upgrading from previous versions should apply to
Aldec for an updated license file.

Modification of previous installs

With Active-HDL already installed in your computer you cannot add previously omitted
components at any time. To do this you need to run the installation software again.
NOTE:
User projects are not removed during uninstall and will be visible in the new version of
Active-HDL.

IMPORTANT NETWORK LICENSING INFORMATION

Setting up the license server gives you the benefit of being able to run the software on any
platform. This provides design teams the ability to utilize different platforms without having
to purchase multiple versions of the same software. Licenses are available anywhere on the
network, instead of being tied to specific machines.
For more information on setting up the Active-HDL license server, refer to the readme_first.txt
and setup_license_server.txt files.

How to Configure License Clients

Active-HDL 7.1 stores its settings in the Windows registry. The default setting for the license file
location is the DAT subfolder of your Active-HDL installation (C:\Program Files\Aldec\ActiveHDL 7.1\Dat), if you accepted the defaults during the installation.
If you change the default location of the LICENSE.DAT file, you need to update the system
environment settings. As it is mentioned above, the system variable pointing to the location of
the LICENSE.DAT file must be specified to run Active-HDL. The Diagnose.exe application
located in the BIN subfolder of the Active-HDL installation may be helpful to verify the current
settings. To start the application:
Double click its name in Windows Explorer. The Diagnose License window should be
displayed.
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Click the Next button:

The Aldec License Environment Variable fields display the current license environment
settings. The path to the license file displayed in the Value field should be the same as the one
specified in the system environment settings window (System Properties | Advanced (Windows
2000, XP) or System Properties | Environment (Windows NT)).

Click the Next button:

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This dialog is used to check the validity of the license. If you encounter problems you will see
an error message.

NOTE:
The ALDEC_LICENSE_FILE variable, by default set during the Active-HDL installation,
points to the same location that is displayed by the Diagnose License program.
To run Active-HDL 7.1 on your workstation you must set a system variable pointing to the
location of the LICENSE.DAT file. There are two predefined system variables used for
checking licensed features:
o ALDEC_LICENSE_FILE
o LM_LICENSE_FILE
If the first one, considered as the default variable set during the Active-HDL installation,
cannot be found in your system, the standard LM_LICENSE_FILE variable is searched
for. In case when neither ALDEC_LICENSE_FILE nor the LM_LICENSE_FILE variable is
accessible, Active-HDL starts in the evaluation mode if the evaluation license is not
expired. If your LICENSE.DAT file is stored in a different location, the path to it can be
specified only by changing the ALDEC_LICENSE_FILE or LM_LICENSE_FILE variables.

Active-HDL provides a new tool that allows users to check the license. The Diagnose
License program (\Bin\diagnose.exe) can be also started after clicking the License
Information option in the License Configuration dialog or from the Help menu.

Checking Communication between License Client and License Server

If your Active-HDL network license server is running without problems (no errors reported, all
features from the LICENSE.DAT file listed as available in the log file) but Active-HDL reports
that you do not have valid license, it is possible that you are experiencing problems with
communication between license client and license server.
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In this case, you should try LMTOOLS diagnostic program, located in the \Bin subfolder of the
Active-HDL installation directory folder.
The latest version of LMTOOLS is available at the Macrovision Corporation website:
http://www.macrovision.com/

Please follow these steps to diagnose problem:

Start lmtools.exe on the machine where Active-HDL cannot start.

Select the Configuration using License File button, then click Browse and select the
same license.dat file Active-HDL is using.
The selected license file path should be displayed in the text box next to the Browse
button as it is shown in the figure.
Click Server Diagnostics tab in the LMTOOLS window, then click Perform
Diagnostics.

List of all features listed in the license file and available on the license server should be
displayed in the LMTOOLS window. If there are any problems with checking out the features,
they will be listed in the LMTOOLS window.

If diagnostics did not clarify the situation, click the Server Status tab in the LMTOOLS
window, then click Perform Status Enquiry.

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A list of all license servers running on the server specified in the license file will be listed, sorted
by the TCP/IP port number. Active-HDL license server should have correct license file path
listed and ALDEC vendor daemon status UP.

Network Client Installation

Active-HDL 7.1 supports network client installation. In the client-server configuration, ActiveHDL 7.1 is installed on a network server and network users run the program directly from the
server. Each user must have the Active-HDL Network Client installed locally on the computer.
The Active-HDL Network Client Setup copies the minimum set of files required locally on the
user's computer and remotely registers the files from the server. The performance of Active-HDL
clients depends strictly on the network performance as well as the number of clients running at
the same time. The Active-HDL copy installed on the server must have a network license for the
appropriate number of users.
The procedure for installing Active-HDL 7.1 on a network server is the same as installing the full
version on a workstation. The only limitation is that the path to the installation folder on the
server cannot contain spaces. Once Active-HDL has been installed on a server, client versions
can be installed on workstations.
The procedure of installing Active-HDL 7.1 Network Client is as follows:
1. Check whether the folder, where the Active-HDL 7.1 Network. Server is installed, is
visible and shared (in read-only mode) for all users.
2. Map the server drive on which Active-HDL 7.1 has been installed. It is very important that
you do not remove or modify this mapping because Active-HDL files residing on the
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server are registered remotely on each user's computer. Any change to the mapped
network drive will make the client installation unusable.
3. Using the Windows Explorer, find the \Netsetup folder on the mapped network drive
which is a subfolder of the Active-HDL 7.1 installation folder. The \Netsetup folder
contains the setup.exe file. Run this file.
4. Follow the Active-HDL 7.1 Network Client Setup Wizard's instructions.
NOTES:
1. The user account on which a network client is installed must have administrative
privileges. Also, the setup program requires restarting the machine to complete the
installation. After the restart, you must log on the same user account from which you
have started the installation.
2. The system libraries are stored on the server.
The minimum set of executable files required locally for Active-HDL 7.1 to work.
Language Assistant templates.
3. If you want to use any sample designs, you must copy them manually from the server
onto your workstation.
4. The Active-HDL 7.1 copy installed on the server must have a network license that meets
the required number of client users intended to operate simultaneously.

EXPORT/IMPORT OF ACTIVE-HDL PREFERENCES

Active-HDL enables you to export the current preferences to an external file. The preferences
stored in such a file may be applied to any copy of Active-HDL that supports the import feature.
The export function as well as the import function of preferences is performed by the Active-HDL
Preferences Manager. To invoke this tool, execute the prefman.exe file located in the \Bin subdirectory of Active-HDL installation folder. The tool may run in two modes: the command line
mode or the GUI mode.
NOTES:
The Active-HDL Preferences Manager cannot be used as long as any copy of ActiveHDL is running. If the tool detects a copy of Active-HDL running, it displays an error
message and shuts itself down.
The following settings are treated as user-specific and do not take a part in the
export/import process:
o User name, e-mail address, company name (Tools | Preferences | Environment)
o My Designs folder (Tools | Preferences | Environment)
o Recent files/workspaces settings

GUI mode
To run the Active-HDL Preferences Manager in the GUI mode, execute the prefman.exe
program without any additional switches (only the v switch is allowed). As a result, the ActiveHDL Preferences Manager dialog box will start. The Active-HDL Preferences Manager running
in the GUI mode allows you to perform all the operations that are available in the command line
mode.

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ACTIVE-HDL PREFERENCES MANAGER OPTIONS

Available versions
Lists Active-HDL installations available on the current computer.
Export
Start the export of the preferences from the Active-HDL installation (specified in the Available
versions list box) by invoking the Save Active-HDL Preferences as dialog box. This dialog
box allows you to specify the Active-HDL preferences dump file (*.dmp) that will be used to store
the preferences.
Import
Starts the import of the preferences to the Active-HDL installation (specified in the Available
versions list box) by invoking the Import Active-HDL Preferences File dialog box. This dialog
box let you specify the Active-HDL preferences dump file from which the preferences will be
imported to the specified Active-HDL installation.
Set Defaults
Restores the default settings of the Active-HDL installation specified in the
Available versions list box.
Exit
Closes the Active-HDL Preferences Manager.

HOW TO REACH TECHNICAL SUPPORT

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Contacting Aldec's Support Team

Aldec's Support Team can be reached at:
Aldec Support
2260 Corporate Circle
Henderson, NV 89074
Tel: +1 702 990 4400
Fax: +1 702 990 4414
Toll free: +1 800 487 8743
website: http://support.aldec.com/ContactSupport/
email: support@aldec.com
Remember to include the following information:
* Your name, company name, phone/fax number, e-mail address
* The license server log file
* The license file
* Detailed description of the problem

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