Using the Hierarchy Window - 2025.2 English - UG906

Vivado Design Suite User Guide: Design Analysis and Closure Techniques (UG906)

Document ID
UG906
Release Date
2025-12-10
Version
2025.2 English

Explore the hierarchy physically to understand resource usage. The Hierarchy window displays a hierarchy map for the selected hierarchy. The map shows leaf cells as yellow blocks nested within rectangles representing their parent hierarchy. Each level is sized relative to the flat number of instances at that level compared to the total number of instances in the design, or when a hierarchy is selected in the netlist window, the total number of instances below the selected hierarchy.

Use the following steps to view the hierarchy map.

  1. Select Tools > Show Hierarchy, or
  2. From the Netlist window, press F6.
Figure 1. Hierarchy Window

The figure shows that cpuEngine, usbEngine0, and usbEngine1 contain most of the logic in the design and use roughly the same amount of resources.

With default settings, all primitives are considered. To see the size of a specific resource, do the following:

  1. Click the cog
  2. Open the settings
  3. Select the resources you want to view
Figure 2. Hierarchy View Primitive Type Selection