FlashPro v8.5 Release Notes
(updated on Jul 16, 2009)
Modifying I/O Settings During Programming via PDB
Each I/O (user I/O and unused I/O) can now be set to a particular state (High, Low, Tri-State, Last Known State) during programming.
Auto Construction of Chain from Scan Chain
A new command, Construct Chain Automatically, has been added to the Configuration menu to automatically configure your chain when programming a device in a JTAG (IEEE 1149.1) chain.
FlashPro Installation Size Reduction
The FlashPro installation size has been reduced from 1 GB to 100 MB.
FlashPro Startup Time Reduction
The startup time when creating or opening a project has been reduced by 50%.
New Device Support
IGLOO Series Devices
- M1AGL1000V2
- M1AGL1000V5
- M1AGLE3000V2
- M1AGLE3000V5
- AGLN030V2Z
- AGLN030V5Z
ProASIC3 Series Devices
- M1A3P600L
- M1A3P1000L
- A3PN030Z
Supported Platforms
- Windows Vista Business
- Actel software may operate on other Vista editions. However, Actel only guarantees operation on the Business edition, which is used during software testing.
- FlashPro3 and USB-connected FlashPro programmers will not operate when connected to 64-bit Vista systems due to FlashPro USB driver incompatibilities. The workaround is to use a supported OS.
- Windows XP Professional with SP1 or later
- Windows 2000 Professional with SP2 or later
Minimum System Requirements
- Pentium II 450 or higher processor with Microsoft Windows 2000 or
newer
- 256 MB available memory
- 100 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 installation and running the software.
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 software.
- SAR 10523: Serialization STAPL fails when generating more than 1410 serial indices
You can now generate a STAPL file with more than 1410 serial indices. To achieve optimal programming file generation, it is recommended to limit the serial index to a maximum of 50,000 serial indexes per file.
- SAR 12470: Special Issues on Releasing I/Os
When the I/Os are held to a particular state during programming, STAPL and PDB files played through the FlashPro v8.4 SP2 software will not release the I/Os after programming. This issue has been resolved in this release.
General Issues
SAR 14309/19292: Scan chain will place device in HIGHZ for about 7 ms during scan chain on a blank device.
This affects all families except Fusion. Contact Technical Support for more information.- SAR 15097: When manually configuring non-Actel devices, the scan and check chain will fail.
Workaround:
- Import BSDL files for non-Actel devices
- Automatically construct the chain from a scan chain
- SAR 12396: FlashPro fails to export a chain SVF or STAPL file when the chain uses STAPL files as source
The workaround is to use PDB files as source files instead of STAPL file. You can also use FlashPro v8.4 or earlier versions.
- SAR 75472: Cannot load the same PDB for multiple devices or copy and paste
The workaround is to use STAPL files instead. You can generate the STAPL files from Designer or FlashPro.
- SAR 58761: A saved project with serialization opens with an incorrect serial index
The workaround is to open the Serial Settings dialog box and choose the desired index.
- SAR 75238: When using FlashPro programmer with Vista operating system, the Refresh/Rescan may remove the programmer from the programmer list
The workaround is to restart the FlashPro software. This action will refresh the list of programmers.
- SAR 52280: 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.
- SAR 48103: 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 user's guide.
- SAR 46033: 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>/Drivers folder.
