Using VHDL Libraries

In the Efinity® software v2020.2 and higher, you can use VHDL libraries to organize and reference commonly used packages and entities.

Create a Library

To create a library for your project:
  1. Open the Project Editor.
  2. Click the Design tab.
  3. Add the design file(s) that have the packages you want to use. You can add multiple files.
  4. Double click the cell under Library.
  5. In the drop-down menu, choose Add New.
  6. Enter the library name and click OK.
    Note: In VHDL, the work library refers to the current library in the design. When assigning a library name to a VHDL design file, you are encouraged not to use the word work as the library name only (instead use a variable like name, example: my_work). Doing so will cause an error in synthesis. Leave it blank (or default) if the file is part of the current library in the design project.
  7. (Optional) If you add more than one library file to your project, double-click in the Library cell for each file and either choose the library name or add a new one.

Library names are saved across projects.

Add a File to a Library

You add a file to a library in the Project Editor > Design tab. Double-click the Library cell for the file and choose the name from the drop-down list.

Reference a Library

You use the library and use VHDL language constructs to reference your new library. The following simple code example shows a new library file for the package mylibrary:

mylibrary.vhd

--! Use standard library
library ieee;
use ieee.std_logic_1164.all;
use ieee.numeric_std.all;

package mylibrary is
	--! factor width
	constant DF_WIDTH : integer := 12;
end package mylibrary;

After you add this file to your project and create a library for it, you can refer to the file in your code:

Referring to the Package

--! Use standard library
library ieee;
use ieee.std_logic_1164.all;
use ieee.numeric_std.all;

--! Use costum library
library mylibrary;
use mylibrary.mylibrary.all;

--! Multiplier entity brief description

--! Detailed description of this 
--! multiplier design element.
entity multiplier is
    port (
        a   	: in  signed (DF_WIDTH-1 downto 0);     --! Multiplier first factor
        b   	: in  signed (DF_WIDTH-1 downto 0);     --! Multiplier second factor
        result     : out signed (2*DF_WIDTH-1 downto 0)    --! Multiplier result
    );
end entity;

Reference Trion and Titanium Primitive Libraries

The Efinity® software includes VHDL libraries for Trion and Titanium primitives. You use the library and use VHDL language constructs to reference these libraries: 
library efxphysicallib;
use efxphysicallib.efxcomponents.all;
Notice: The following documents provide example code for these libraries:

Quantum® Titanium Primitives User Guide

Quantum® Trion Primitives User Guide