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Save Target Hardware Settings in Model

This example shows how to save your target hardware settings in a Simulink® model.

This example also shows different ways that you can export, modify, and import target hardware settings. This example uses the Xilinx Zynq platform, but in the same way, you can save target hardware settings in models that target the Intel SoC devices, and Simulink Real-Time FPGA I/O boards.

Open the Model

open_system('hdlcoder_led_blinking');

Configure the Target Hardware Settings

When you configure the target hardware settings, you modify the model. If you save the model, the target hardware settings are saved as part of the model.

You can configure the target hardware settings in three ways:

  • HDL Workflow Advisor

  • HDL Block Properties dialog box for Inport or Outport

  • hdlset_param

Since the HDL Workflow Advisor provides a dropdown menu for each target hardware option, it is best to use the HDL Workflow Advisor when you configure the target hardware settings for the first time. After you save the model with a valid configuration, you can view, modify, and apply settings from the command line.

Use HDL Workflow Advisor to configure model or port hardware settings

Open the HDL Workflow Advisor to generate an IP core from the subsystem hdlcoder_led_blinking/led_counter by using the Launch HDL Workflow Advisor button in hdlcoder_led_blinking. Specify your target hardware settings in task 1 Set Target.

In the Set Target > Set Target Device and Synthesis Tool task:

  • For Target workflow, select IP Core Generation.

  • For Target platform, select Xilinx Zynq ZC702 evaluation kit.

Right-click task 1.2 Set Target Reference Design and select Run to Selected Task.

In the Set Target > Set Target Interface task, map the ports to interfaces as follows:

  • For Blink_frequency and Blink_direction input ports, select the AXI4-Lite interface.

  • For the LED output port, select External Port.

  • For the Read_back output port, select the AXI4-Lite interface.

Specify the HDL IP core name and version in task 3.2 Generate RTL Code and IP Core. For details, see Getting Started with Targeting Xilinx Zynq Platform.

Use HDL Block Properties dialog box to map DUT ports to target interface

You can specify target interface settings for the DUT interface by using the HDL Block Properties dialog box for any Inport or Outport. You can also specify the HDL IP core settings by using the HDL Block Properties dialog box for the DUT subsystem. However, you can use the HDL Block Properties dialog box to configure only the DUT target interface and HDL IP core settings. Set other target hardware settings from the HDL Workflow Advisor, or by using hdlset_param at the command line.

For example, you can change the bit range of the Blink_frequency Inport to x"120" and remap the LED Outport to LEDs General Purpose [0:7]:

  1. From the subsystem hdlcoder_led_blinking/led_counter, right-click the Blink_frequency Inport, and select HDL Code > HDL Block Properties to open the HDL block properties dialog box. Click the Target Specification tab. For IOInterfaceMapping, enter x"120".

  2. Open the HDL block properties dialog for the LED Outport. Click the Target Specification tab. For IOInterface, enter LEDs General Purpose [0:7].

Navigate to the model level hdlcoder_led_blinking and right-click the subsystem hdlcoder_led_blinking/led_counter. Select HDL Code > HDL Block Properties. In the Target Specification tab, you can change IP core name and version by using the IPCoreName and IPCoreVersion parameters respectively.

The target interface and HDL IP core settings you specify using the HDL Block Properties dialog box are validated when you open the HDL Workflow Advisor.

Use hdlset_param to configure model or DUT port hardware settings

To configure target hardware settings for your model or DUT ports, you can use hdlset_param.

For example, to change the TargetPlatform to Xilinx Zynq ZC706 evaluation kit, enter:

hdlset_param('hdlcoder_led_blinking', 'TargetPlatform', 'Xilinx Zynq ZC706 evaluation kit');

To set the Bit Range of Blink_frequency Inport to x"120"; and set the LED Outport to LEDs General Purpose [0:7], enter:

hdlset_param('hdlcoder_led_blinking/led_counter/Blink_frequency', 'IOInterfaceMapping', 'x"120"');
hdlset_param('hdlcoder_led_blinking/led_counter/LED', 'IOInterface', 'LEDs General Purpose [0:7]');

To set the IP core name and version, enter:

hdlset_param('hdlcoder_led_blinking/led_counter', 'IPCoreName', 'my_ipcore');
hdlset_param('hdlcoder_led_blinking/led_counter', 'IPCoreVersion', '2.0');

Export and Import Target Hardware Settings

To export all non-default HDL code generation options in your model, including the target hardware settings, you can use hdlsaveparams and hdlrestoreparams. You can modify the model settings in the saved MATLAB file, and apply the settings to the same model or to a different model.

For example, to export the settings from the hdlcoder_led_blinking model to a MATLAB file, targetSetting.m, enter:

hdlsaveparams('hdlcoder_led_blinking/led_counter','targetSetting.m')

You can modify the settings in targetSetting.m as desired, then enter the following command to apply the settings to the model:

hdlrestoreparams('hdlcoder_led_blinking/led_counter','targetSetting.m')

Save and Reopen the Model

  1. Save the model hdlcoder_led_blinking as hdlcoder_led_blinking_saved.

  2. Open the saved model, hdlcoder_led_blinking_saved.

  3. Open the HDL Workflow Advisor by using the Launch HDL Workflow Advisor button in hdlcoder_led_blinking_saved.

Notice that the modified settings are automatically loaded to task 1 Set Target in the HDL Workflow Advisor.