Engineering change orders (ECOs) are modifications to the post implementation netlist with the intent to implement the changes with minimal impact to the original design. Vivado provides an ECO flow, which allows you to do the following:
- Modify a design checkpoint
- Implement the changes
- Run reports on the changed netlist
- Generate programming files
Common use cases for the ECO flow are:
- Modifying debug probes of ILA and VIO cores in the design.
- Routing an internal net to a package pin for external probing.
- Evaluating what-if scenarios such as improving timing and fixing functional bugs.
The advantage of the ECO flow is fast turn-around time by taking advantage of the incremental place and route features of the Vivado tool.
The Vivado IDE provides a predefined layout to support the ECO flow. To access the ECO Layout, select .
Important: ECOs only work on
design checkpoints. The ECO Layout is only available after a design checkpoint is open
in the Vivado IDE.
ECO Navigator
The ECO Navigator provides access to the commands required to complete an ECO.
Scratch Pad
The scratch pad tracks netlist changes and place and route status for Cells, Pins, Ports, and Nets.
Figure 1. Vivado ECO Layout
