FlashPro v8.3 Release Notes
(Mar 31, 2008)
FlashPro v8.3 is the latest production release of Actel's programming software tool for the entire flash family of devices: IGLOO—the world's lowest power FPGA, Fusion, ProASIC3L, ProASIC3, ProASICPLUS, and ProASIC, as well as ARM-enabled versions of these devices.
Important Notice about FlashPro Version Numbers
With this release, the FlashPro software version number now matches the version number of the Libero IDE release that contains it.
FlashPoint, historically part of the Designer software tool suite, provides the interface to generate programming files for IGLOO, Fusion, ProASIC3L, and ProASIC3 devices. The FlashPoint functionality was integrated into the FlashPro software in FlashPro v6.0. The FlashROM, embedded flash memory, and security settings can be updated and reprogrammed using the FlashPro software without having to re-invoke the Designer software.
Actel strongly recommends that you upgrade to this latest major release of the FlashPro software. This FlashPro v8.3 version has been produced to be compatible with the libraries used in the software build generated for the Libero IDE v8.3 release.
Microsoft Windows - U.S. Version
- Windows Vista Business
- Windows XP Professional with SP1 or later
- Windows 2000 Professional 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
for installation and running the software.
- Added Chain STAPL export support with chain containing both PDB and STAPL files.
- SARno71954: Added IGLOO Chain STAPL file generation support
- SARno61025: Added detailed messages in the bathbatch mode log file
- SARno73583: In batch mode, the log file is not written when a failure is encountered.
- SARno73340: Chain configuration with M1A3P250 or M1A3P1000 device will export an incorrect STAPL file.
- SARno73016: Exporting Chain STAPL with A3PE1500 device crashes FlashPro.
- SARno72980: Chain configuration with A3P030 or AGL030 device will export an incorrect STAPL file.
- SARno71514: Chain configuration with PDB that has serialization will export an incorrect STAPL file.
- SARno67000: FlashPro3 drivers cannot be installed on Windows Vista
General Issues
- SARno75238: When using FlashPro programmer with Vista operating system, the Refresh/Rescan will remove the programmer from the programmer list.
- SARno75116: FlashPro terminates during a PDB audit if the PDB's ufc is referenced by a relative path.
This problem occurs when PDBs are generated from TCL scripts that contain relative paths for ufc files. Use qualified full paths when specifying ufc files in your TCL script.
- SARno75019: Exporting a Chain STAPL with serialization is not supported.
Use direct Chain programming.
- SARno74955: When exporting a Chain STAPL file, the export progress bar can appear much later in the export process.
- SARno74850: Exporting a Chain STAPL file with an M1/AFS that has Calibration IP setting overlap will generate an invalid STAPL file.
Make sure all M1/AFS programming files in the chain were generated by Designer v8.2 SP2 or later.
- SARno74848: Updating an M1/AFS PDB with a NVM block that has Calibration IP setting overlap is not supported.
Update the eNVM block in Designer v8.2 SP2 or later, then regenerate the PDB.
- SARno72786: Log File is not written in command mode when executing script
- SARno65110: Cannot load the same PDB for multiple devices or copy paste
Targeted to be fixed in FlashPro v8.4
- SARno58761: A saved project with serialization opens with an incorrect serial index.
Workaround is to open the Serial Settings dialog box and choose the desired index.
- 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 v8.3 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 v8.3 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 v6.0 software.
