Adding ELF and Associating it With an Embedded Processor - 2021.1 English

Vivado Design Suite User Guide: Designing IP Subsystems Using IP Integrator (UG994)

Document ID
UG994
Release Date
2021-06-16
Version
2021.1 English

To add an ELF to the project and associate it with an embedded processor, use the following steps:

  1. In Flow Navigator > Project Manager, select Add Sources.

    Add or create design sources is selected by default. This option lets you add an ELF file as a design and simulation source.

    Tip: If you are adding an ELF file for simulation purposes only, select Add or Create Simulation Sources.
  2. Click Next.

    The Add or Create Design Sources page opens as shown in the following figure.



  3. Click Add Files.

    The Add Source Files dialog box opens, as shown in the following figure.

  4. Navigate to the ELF file, select it, and click OK.

    In the Add or Create Design Sources page, you see the ELF file added to the project.

  5. Select Copy sources into project to copy the ELF file into the local project, or leave the option unchecked to work with the original ELF file.
  6. Click Finish.

    In the Sources window, you see the ELF file added under the ELF folder, as shown in the following figure.



    After adding the ELF file to the project, you must associate the ELF file with the microprocessor in the design.

  7. In the Sources window, right-click the block design, and select Associate ELF Files, as shown in the following figure.

    The Associate ELF File dialog box opens as shown in the following figure.



  8. To associate an ELF as a design source for including in the bitstream, or as a source for use during simulation, click the appropriate Browse button.

    The Select ELF Files dialog box opens.

  9. Highlight the ELF file that you added to the project earlier, as shown in the following figure.

    Tip: You can also click Add Files on the Select ELF Files dialog box to navigate to and add ELF files to the design at this time. In this case, the ELF file is referenced from its original location, and you do not have the option to copy it to the local project as you do if you add it using the Add Sources command.
  10. Ensure that the ELF file displays in the Associated ELF File column, as shown in the following figure, and click OK.

    With the ELF file added to the project, the Vivado tools automatically merge the Block RAM memory information (MMI file) and the ELF file contents with the device bitstream (BIT) when generating the bitstream to program the device.



    Tip: You can also merge the MMI, ELF, and BIT files after the bitstream has been generated by using the update_mem utility. See this link in the Vivado Design Suite User Guide: Embedded Processor Hardware Design (UG898) for more information.