FlashPro v5.1 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Release Notes
(Mar 23, 2007)
FlashPro v5.1 SP1 is the newest major release of Actel's programming software tool for the entire Flash family of devices: ProASIC, ProASICPLUS, ProASIC3, ProASIC3E, and Fusion, as well as ARM-enabled ProASIC3, ProASIC3E, and Fusion. FlashPro v5.1 SP1 provides all the features of FlashPro v5.0 along with many other additional enhancements, such as generation of chain programming STAPL files for ARM-enabled ProASIC3 and Fusion devices.
Actel strongly recommends that you upgrade to this latest major release of the FlashPro software. This FlashPro v5.1 SP1 version has been produced to be compatible with the libraries used in the software build generated for the Libero v7.3 SP1 release.
Separate releases of ChainBuilder are no longer offered by Actel as its functionality is now integrated within the FlashPro software.
Microsoft Windows - U.S. Version
- Windows XP SP1 or later
- Windows 2000 with SP2 or later
- Pentium II 450 or higher processor with Microsoft Windows 2000 or
newer
- 256 MB available memory
- 50 MB available hard disk space
- VGA or higher-resolution video adapter (SVGA 256-color and 800x600
or higher resolution recommended)
- Administrative rights are required to your local workstation for
Windows 2000 and Windows XP systems for installation and for running
the software.
- Supports all Fusion, ProASIC3, ProASIC3E, and ARM-enabled ProASIC3/E and Fusion devices with FlashPro3. IGLOO support is planned for a future release of the FlashPro software with FlashPro3.
- Supports all ProASIC and all ProASICPLUS devices
with FlashPro
- Supports all ProASICPLUS devices with FlashPro
Lite
The FlashPro v5.1 SP1 software allows users to program JTAG chains of ARM-enabled ProASIC3 and Fusion devices, not only in a direct programming mode with individual STAPL files for each device, but also from a single STAPL file for all the Actel devices within the chain. This can make the management of programming complex boards easy as the technical user can, with FlashPro v5.1 SP1, create a single combined STAPL file for the entire board. Programming houses can then use this single STAPL file to program all the devices on additional boards. Although this capability was in the v5.0 version for ProaASIC3 parts, it did not exist for Fusion devices or ARM-enabled versions of Fusion and ProASIC3 devices. Full functionality is available in the FlashProv5.1 SP1 version with both direct chain programming and combined STAPL file programming.
- SARno48390: Enhancement to ping for Programmer
Allows the user to locate a programmer by forcing it to flash its lights for up to 5 seconds to help identify it when many programmers are connected to a system.
- SARno48781: Ability to specify log file name and serialization log file name
Use the menu File->Set Project Log File ("Main Log file..." and "Serialization Log file...") to set log locations. With a serialized STAPL file, the serialization log is now saved to the specified location.
- SARno50373: Add ARM-enabled Fusion (M7AFS) device support
ARM-enabled Fusion support is now provided.
- SARno52821: Chain STAPL file support: AFS, A3P/E device in same file
Chained STAPL files containing any combination of A3P, A3PE, AFS, M7A3P, M7A3PE, and M7AFS devices are now supported.
- SARno56241: In Chain Mode Delete button should delete a device in the chain
Pressing the Delete button now enables the device to be deleted.
- SARno58961: FP3 now works if a FlashPro is connected to the machine
When a FlashPro programmer is connected to a PC, it no longer prevents programming using a FlashPro3 programmer connected to the same machine.
- SARno60994: Added Exit Codes: -31, -32, -42, -43, and -44 to User's Guide
Many issues have been addressed in this release as well as new developments incorporating several usability improvements too numerous to mention in these release notes. Actel recommends that all users upgrade to this new major release immediately to take advantage of the many benefits offered.
- SARno50533: Setting TCK to 8 MHz no longer allowed when programming with FlashPro3 Programmer
The occasional instability observed has now been prevented by disallowing the setting of TCK to 8MHz and the software operates in a stable manner.
New FlashPro3 Driver and Resulting Installation Issues
The new FlashPro3 dedicated driver, introduced with FlashPro v5.0, provides a whole host of usability benefits compared to the previously used HID driver. However, as it is a completely new driver, older versions of the software will no longer work once the new version is installed. The following bullet points explain the additional steps necessary when the automatic software removal tool encounters older versions. The benefits of using the FlashPro v5.1 SP1 software far outweigh the minor issues in the set up process listed below. The steps below only apply when you have pre FlashPro v5.0 software installed, they do not apply if you have already upgraded to FlashPro v5.0.
- Registry cleanup occasionally does not work, although rare in FlashPro v5.1 and v5.1 SP1; if the FlashPro3 programmer is not recognized, you need to follow the instructions in FlashPro3 Programmer Installation Help.
- FlashPro v4.X will not work properly after installing FlashPro v5.1 SP1 — the FlashPro v5.1 SP1 installer will try to uninstall FlashPro v4.X to prevent you from encountering this.
- Libero IDE installations have links to their own installed FlashPro v4.X components which will not work after installing FlashPro v5.1 SP1 — FlashPro v5.1 SP1 will automatically change your Libero profile settings to link Libero with FlashPro v5.1 SP1 (you are informed via a popup message before the installation of FlashPro v5.1 SP1).
- When installing/using an FP3 programmer for the first time, the Windows device wizard cannot always find the driver automatically; the manual workaround is covered in SARno46033 below.
- When installing/using a FlashPro3 programmer for the first time, the Windows Device Wizard has to install the driver twice in a row before the FlashPro3 will work properly.
General Issues
- SARno64532: Programming time slow down compared with FlashPro v5.0
The programming time for ProASIC3 A3P250 parts with FlashPro v5.1 and FlashPro v5.1 SP1 has been observed to increase. It is suspected that this programming time increase will affect all ProASIC3 and Fusion parts (further tests are underway at the time of writing). The expected programming time has nearly doubled.
- SARno52280: Parallel FlashPro programming is not a supported
programming mode
Parallel programming via USB 1.1 with FlashPro programmers (not FlashPro3) is disabled. If you attempt to program using parallel FlashPro programmers, a message will alert the user that this is not possible. Use only one FlashPro programmer at a time for programming.
- SARno48103: Occasional connectivity issues while connecting
FlashPro3 programmers to a Dell D600 laptop
The workaround is to use the recommended PCMCIA to USB 2.0 card instead of directly connecting to the laptop. Follow the connection procedure outlined in the FlashPro v5.1 User's Guide.
- SARno46033: FlashPro3 driver may not be detected automatically by Windows
If you are asked for the location of the FlashPro3 driver, you can
find it in <FlashPro v5.1 SP1 software installation directory>/Drivers folder.
We have tested several PCI/PCMCIA to USB 2.0 cards along with different USB 1.1/2.0 hubs, and we have observed that the Belkin PCI/PCMCIA to USB 2.0 cards with Belkin USB 1.1/2.0 hubs have demonstrated the appropriate performance criteria for programming with the FlashPro v5.1 SP1 software.
