DWL File Format for DesignWorks™
The purpose of this design note is to provide some information on the DesignWorks Link (DWL, pronounced "Duh-Well") file format. This is the format outputted by the MacABEL software to allow for importing and simulation of PLDs in the DesignWorks environment via the FromABEL module. The DWL file format presented here is primarily to allow users to create a generic PLA in the DesignWorks 3.1 and newer software since other facilities are unavailable at the time of writing this. It is not intended for users to enter PLD descriptions with registers and other logic. The FromABEL PLD synthesis engine has very specific requirements which have not be all outlined in this document. The following topics are covered:
 | The DWL file format and description. |
| A example illustrating a simple PLA. |
| This note applies to: | Windows | Macintosh |
| DesignWorks Professional | 3.0 + (with Simulator) | 3.0 + (with Simulator) |
| DesignWorks Lite | N/A | N/A |
| LogicWorks | 3.0 + | 3.0 + |
| Notes: N/A - not applicable to this version. "3.0 +" indicates version 3.0 and later. Since this note may apply to multiple versions and platforms, there may be some variation in exact configuration of menu commands and screen layouts from that shown in this note, but the same principles apply. | ||
The DWL File Format (Version 3)
The DWL file format is a complex form that annotates the device symbol, AND-OR plane (PLA), ajoining input cells, and ajoining output cells with feedback structures.
DWL File Syntax
- (PLD dwlVersionNumber
- (NAME deviceName)
- (N_PINS numberOfDevicePins)
- (PORT 1 portType innodeNumber outnodeNumber
- [(NAME portName)]
- )
- (PORT 2 ...)
- .
- .
- .
- (PORT numberOfDevicePins ...)
- (STRUCT
- (PLASIZE numberOfPLAInputs numberOfPLAOutputs
- numberOfRoutes numberOfBlocks)
- (N_SIGS numberOfSignals)
- (ORNODE 0 orType bufType
- [ ORPINANDpinNumber1 ]
- | [ ORPINXORpinNumber1 ]
- | [ OR2ANDpinNumber1 OR2ANDpinNumber2 ]
- | [ OR2ORpinNumber1 OR2ORpinNumber2 ]
- (PT arrayNumber productTerm)
- (PT ...)
- .
- .
- .
- (PT ...)
- )
- (ORNODE 1 ...)
- .
- .
- .
- (ORNODE numberOfPLAOutputs-1 ...)
- (INNODE 0 arrayNumber
- plaInputNumber0 ... plaInputNumber numberOfBlocks-1)
- )
- (INNODE 1 ...)
- .
- .
- .
- (INNODE numberOfSignals-1 ...)
- (OUTNODE 0 outType bufType logicType
- regInput1OUTNumber
- regInput2OUTNumber
- mainInputORNumber
- outputEnableORNumber
- asyncResetORNumber
- asyncPresetORNumber
- asyncLoadORNumber
- syncResetORNumber
- syncPresetORNumber
- syncLoadORNumber
- clockORNumber
- clockEnableORNumber
- bypassFlag
- feedBackDataINNumber
- feedBackQNotINNumber
- feedBackQINNumber
- feedBackPinINNumber
- functionControlOUTNumber
- dynamicFlipFlopType
- )
- (OUTNODE 1 ...)
- .
- .
- .
- (OUTNODE numberOfSignals-1...)
- )
- )
NOTES:
- All levels of the DWL file are required except those denoted in square brackets ,e.g. [(NAME portName)] is optional. Order of keywords must be maintained.
- All round brackets are required and all spaces, newlines, tabs are field separators and skipped over. Keywords appear in all upper-case characters.
- PORT entries are number sequentially from 1 to the "numberOfDevicePins". ORNODE entries are number from 0 to the "numberOfPLAOutputs" less one. INNODE & OUTNODE entries are number sequentially from 0 to the "numberOfSignals" less one. All entries for each respective section must appear.
DWL File Values
Port Types
| 0 | UNUSED port. |
| 1 | POWER port. |
| 2 | GROUND port. |
| 3 | INPUT port. |
| 4 | OUTPUT port. |
| 5 | BIDIRECTIONAL port. |
Buffer Types
| 0 | UNUSED buffer, ORNODES & OUTNODES. |
| 1 | NORMAL buffer, ORNODES & OUTNODES |
| 2 | INVERTED buffer, ORNODES & OUTNODES. |
| 3 | XOR buffer, ORNODES only. |
| 4 | XNOR buffer, ORNODES only. |
Logic Types
| 0 | TTL logic OUTNODE. |
| 1 | ECL logic OUTNODE. |
| 2 | OC logic OUTNODE. |
OR Types
| 0 | UNUSED PLA output |
| 2, 3, 4, 13 | PAL, FPLA, SHARE, or LIST with 1 or more product terms assigned to output. |
| 5 | GROUND, always logic 0 output. |
| 6 | POWER, always logic 1 output. |
| 7 | PIN, special indirect connection to PORT |
| 8 | PINAND, special indirect input from PORT and PLA output ANDed together. |
| 9 | AND, special indirect ANDing of two PORTs. |
| 10 | OR, special indirect ORing of two PORTs. |
| 12 | PINXOR, special indirect input from PORT and PLA output XORed together. |
OUT Types
| 0 | COMBINATIONAL Required: mainInputORNumber; Optional: outputEnableORNumber. Miscellaneous: Bypass = 0, all unused ORNumbers & feedbacks = -1. |
| 1 | D FLIP FLOP Required: mainInputORNumber (D), clockORNumber; Optional: outputEnableORNumber, 1 of asyncResetORNumber or syncResetORNumber, 1 of asyncPresetORNumber or syncPresetORNumber, 1 of asyncLoadORNumber or syncLoadORNumber. Miscellaneous: Bypass = 0, all unused ORNumbers & feedbacks = -1. |
| 2 | T FLIP FLOP Required: mainInputORNumber (T), clockORNumber; Optional: outputEnableORNumber, 1 of asyncResetORNumber or syncResetORNumber, 1 of asyncPresetORNumber or syncPresetORNumber, 1 of asyncLoadORNumber or syncLoadORNumber. Miscellaneous: Bypass = 0, all unused ORNumbers & feedbacks = -1. |
| 3 | JK FLIP FLOP Required: mainInputORNumber (J), regInput2OUTNumber (K), clockORNumber; Optional: outputEnableORNumber, 1 of asyncResetORNumber or syncResetORNumber, 1 of asyncPresetORNumber or syncPresetORNumber, 1 of asyncLoadORNumber or syncLoadORNumber. Miscellaneous: Bypass = 0, all unused ORNumbers & feedbacks = -1. |
| 4 | JK-D FLIP FLOP Required: regInput1OUTNumber (J/D), regInput2OUTNumber (K), clockORNumber, functionControlOUTNumber; Optional: outputEnableORNumber, 1 of asyncResetORNumber or syncResetORNumber, 1 of asyncPresetORNumber or syncPresetORNumber, 1 of asyncLoadORNumber or syncLoadORNumber. Miscellaneous: Bypass = 0, all unused ORNumbers & feedbacks = -1. |
| 5 | RS FLIP FLOP Required: mainInputORNumber (Set), regInput2OUTNumber (Reset), clockORNumber; Optional: outputEnableORNumber, 1 of asyncResetORNumber or syncResetORNumber, 1 of asyncPresetORNumber or syncPresetORNumber, 1 of asyncLoadORNumber or syncLoadORNumber. Miscellaneous: Bypass = 0, all unused ORNumbers & feedbacks = -1. |
| 7 | LATCH (Transparent Low) Required: mainInputORNumber (L), clockORNumber; Optional: outputEnableORNumber, 1 of asyncResetORNumber or syncResetORNumber, 1 of asyncPresetORNumber or syncPresetORNumber, 1 of asyncLoadORNumber or syncLoadORNumber. Miscellaneous: Bypass = 0, all unused ORNumbers & feedbacks = -1. |
| 11 | D FLIP FLOP (Gated Clock) Required: mainInputORNumber (D), clockORNumber, clockEnableORNumber; Optional: outputEnableORNumber, 1 of asyncResetORNumber or syncResetORNumber, 1 of asyncPresetORNumber or syncPresetORNumber, 1 of asyncLoadORNumber or syncLoadORNumber. Miscellaneous: Bypass = 0, all unused ORNumbers & feedbacks = -1. |
| 12 | LATCH (Transparent High) Required: mainInputORNumber (L), clockORNumber; Optional: outputEnableORNumber, 1 of asyncResetORNumber or syncResetORNumber, 1 of asyncPresetORNumber or syncPresetORNumber, 1 of asyncLoadORNumber or syncLoadORNumber. Miscellaneous: Bypass = 0, all unused ORNumbers & feedbacks = -1. |
| 15, 16 | PROGRAMMABLE D/T/JK FLIP FLOP Required: mainInputORNumber (D/T), regInput1OUTNumber (J/D), regInput2OUTNumber (K), clockORNumber, functionControlOUTNumber, dynamicFlipFlopType; Optional: outputEnableORNumber, 1 of asyncResetORNumber or syncResetORNumber, 1 of asyncPresetORNumber or syncPresetORNumber, 1 of asyncLoadORNumber or syncLoadORNumber. Miscellaneous: Bypass = 0, all unused ORNumbers & feedbacks = -1. Dynamic Flip Flop Modes: 1 - D to JK, 2 - JK to D, 3 - D to T, 4 - T to D. |
Text Types
| deviceName | Name of top level device symbol & library name. Maximum length is 15 or 31 characters depending on your version of DesignWorks. |
| portName | Name to be used on top level device symbol for pin annotation & as port connector name. Maximum length is 15 characters. |
| productTerm | Product term is annotated using [0,1,X], with leftmost
character corresponding to the most significant PLA input bit and the rightmost
corresponding the least significant PLA input bit. Maximum length is 255 characters. The
length of the product term string must match the number of PLA input described in the
PLASIZE specifier (numberOfPLAInputs). An example is: X1X0 where inorder to make this product term true, PLA input bit 0 must be low and PLA input bit 2 must be high. The other input bits are ignore as signified by the 'X' which implies a don't care bit. |
A DWL File Example for a Simple PLA
The DWL file format is a complex form that annotates the device symbol,
(PLD 3
- (NAME SIMPLEPLA)
- (N_PINS 10)
- (PORT 1 3 0 -1 " Pin 1, Input, connect to INNODE 0
- (NAME A)
- )
- (PORT 2 3 1 -1 " Pin 2, Input, connect to INNODE 1
- (NAME B)
- )
- (PORT 3 3 2 -1 " Pin 3, Input, connect to INNODE 2
- (NAME C)
- )
- (PORT 4 3 3 -1 " Pin 4, Input, connect to INNODE 3
- (NAME D)
- )
- (PORT 5 3 4 -1 " Pin 5, Input, connect to INNODE 4
- (NAME E)
- )
- (PORT 6 3 5 -1 " Pin 6, Input, connect to INNODE 5
- (NAME F)
- )
- (PORT 7 4 -1 6 " Pin 7, Output, connect to OUTNODE 6
- (NAME W)
- )
- (PORT 8 4 -1 7 " Pin 8, Output, connect to OUTNODE 7
- (NAME X)
- )
- (PORT 9 4 -1 8 " Pin 9, Output, connect to OUTNODE 8
- (NAME Y)
- )
- (PORT 10 4 -1 9 " Pin 10, Output, connect to OUTNODE 9
- (NAME Z)
- )
- (STRUCT
- (PLASIZE 6 4 1 1)
- (N_SIGS 10)
- (ORNODE 0 13 1
- (PT 0 111111) " F & E & D & C & B & A
- )
- (ORNODE 1 13 1
- (PT 0 000000) " !(F # E # D # C # B # A)
- )
- (ORNODE 2 13 1 " F # E # D # C # B # A
- (PT 0 XXXXX1) " if A
- (PT 0 XXXX1X) " or if B
- (PT 0 XXX1XX) " or if C
- (PT 0 XX1XXX) " or if D
- (PT 0 X1XXXX) " or if E
- (PT 0 1XXXXX) " or if F
- )
- (ORNODE 3 13 2 " Note '2' implies INVERT result
- (PT 0 111111) " !(F & E & D & C & B & A)
- )
- (INNODE 0 0 0) " Connect to PLA input 0
- (INNODE 1 0 1) " Connect to PLA input 1
- (INNODE 2 0 2) " Connect to PLA input 2
- (INNODE 3 0 3) " Connect to PLA input 3
- (INNODE 4 0 4) " Connect to PLA input 4
- (INNODE 5 0 5) " Connect to PLA input 5
- (INNODE 6 -1 -1) " No connection to PLA
- (INNODE 7 -1 -1) " No connection to PLA
- (INNODE 8 -1 -1) " No connection to PLA
- (INNODE 9 -1 -1) " No connection to PLA
- (OUTNODE 0 0 0 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1)
- (OUTNODE 1 0 0 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1)
- (OUTNODE 2 0 0 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1)
- (OUTNODE 3 0 0 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1)
- (OUTNODE 4 0 0 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1)
- (OUTNODE 5 0 0 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1)
- (OUTNODE 6 0 1 0 -1 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1)
- (OUTNODE 7 0 1 0 -1 -1 1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1)
- (OUTNODE 8 0 1 0 -1 -1 2 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1)
- (OUTNODE 9 0 1 0 -1 -1 3 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1)
- )
)
