Automated Hierarchical Source File Compilation and Management - Automated Hierarchical Source File Compilation and Management - 2026.1 English - UG892

Vivado Design Suite User Guide: Design Flows Overview (UG892)

Document ID
UG892
Release Date
2026-06-23
Version
2026.1 English

The Sources window in the Vivado IDE provides automated source file management. The window offers several views to display sources using different methods. When you open or modify a project, the Sources window updates the status of the project files. Vivado quickly compiles design sources and lists them in the Compile Order view in the order downstream tools processes them.

Any issues with RTL hierarchy compilation appear in the Sources window and are reported in the Message window. These messages help you identify and fix potential problems. For more details, refer to the Vivado Design Suite User Guide: System-Level Design Entry (UG895).

Tip: If you explicitly set a module as the top module, Vivado retains it and passes it to synthesis. If you do not set a top module, Vivado selects the best possible top module from available project sources. If a file contains syntax errors and fails elaboration, Vivado does not select it as the top module.

Vivado organizes constraints and simulation sources into sets. You can use constraint sets to experiment with and manage different constraint versions. You can launch separate simulation sessions using distinct simulation source sets. You can add, remove, disable, or update any source file.

For more details on constraints, refer to the Vivado Design Suite User Guide: Using Constraints (UG903). For more details on simulation, refer to the Vivado Design Suite User Guide: Logic Simulation (UG900).

Figure 1. Hierarchical Sources View Window