Changes

So you've got a project.  Now you need some files in your project.  Go to '''Project > New Source'''.  Select "VHDL Module", give your file a name (don't bother with the .vhd; ISE will add that for you) and a parent directory.  Click next.  Here's where you start to love ISE, as it will do some work for you.  If you read the previous pages of the tutorial, you read about entities, architectures, and ports.  ISE now gives you a GUI to define these; give your entity and architecture a name.  If you know what your ports will be, go ahead and define them: a name, in/out/inout, line/bus, indices if you're using a bus.  If you don't know what your ports will be (or want to change them later), you can just edit the code manually with no problems.  Click next.  You get a screen to verify all the details you just set up and if you're all set, click finish.  The new file will be added to the Sources box to the top left and will open up in the main window.  The file will have all sorts of predefined code for you; the library/use statements, some standard comments to describe the file, and the framework for your code.

So you've got a project.  Now you need some files in your project.  Go to '''Project > New Source'''.  Select "VHDL Module", give your file a name (don't bother with the .vhd; ISE will add that for you) and a parent directory.  Click next.  Here's where you start to love ISE, as it will do some work for you.  If you read the previous pages of the tutorial, you read about entities, architectures, and ports.  ISE now gives you a GUI to define these; give your entity and architecture a name.  If you know what your ports will be, go ahead and define them: a name, in/out/inout, line/bus, indices if you're using a bus.  If you don't know what your ports will be (or want to change them later), you can just edit the code manually with no problems.  Click next.  You get a screen to verify all the details you just set up and if you're all set, click finish.  The new file will be added to the Sources box to the top left and will open up in the main window.  The file will have all sorts of predefined code for you; the library/use statements, some standard comments to describe the file, and the framework for your code.

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[[Image:Sources Synthesis-Implementation.PNG|thumb|left|The Sources box in the Synthesis/Implementation view.]]

If you already had a file created and you just wanted to open it, take a look at the Sources box to the top left.  Make sure the pull-down menu above it is set for "Synthesis/Implementation" and the "Sources" tab is selected below it.  Double-click the file you want.  Depending on your code, ISE will sort your files into hierarchies at times, so you may need to click the little plus signs to find the desired file.  Take a look at the image to the left to see what the Sources box looks like.

If you already had a file created and you just wanted to open it, take a look at the Sources box to the top left.  Make sure the pull-down menu above it is set for "Synthesis/Implementation" and the "Sources" tab is selected below it.  Double-click the file you want.  Depending on your code, ISE will sort your files into hierarchies at times, so you may need to click the little plus signs to find the desired file.  Take a look at the image to the left to see what the Sources box looks like.