In this tutorial, we configure the FrontPanel Subsystem Vivado IP Core to generate the Counters Example Design. Once generated, we build the bitstream and configure the target Opal Kelly board. Finally, follow step 4 for FrontPanel Application version 6.0 and later (Platform), or step 5 for version 5.x and earlier (Classic).

The instructions in this tutorial will apply to the other IP Core Example Designs.

On FrontPanel-AXI boards, these example designs are okHost-based AXI designs. The example-core set (Counters, DES, PerfTest) and the recommended core, CSR, and logic structure are covered under Structuring Your AXI Core in the FrontPanel AXI HDL documentation.

1. Basics
   1. Download and install the FrontPanel SDK for access to the FrontPanel Application.
   2. Add IP Cores’ Distribution to Vivado.
   3. Create an IP Core Compatible Vivado Project.
2. Configuring the IP Core
   1. Open the FrontPanel Subsystem IP Core wizard for configuration.
   2. On the Example Designs page, set Flow to RTL and Example Design to Counters.
   3. Click OK to finalize the configuration.
   4. Click Skip when prompted to Generate Output Products.
3. Building IP Core’s Example Design
   1. Right click on the IP in the Sources panel.
   2. Select Open IP Example Design.
   3. In the newly generated Vivado project, click Generate Bitstream.
4. Using FrontPanel Platform Application (v6.0 and later)
   1. Copy the Counters example Platform app from the SDK to a working directory. The SDK default install location on Windows is C:\Program Files\Opal Kelly\FrontPanel-Platform\Examples\Counters\FP-Platform. The SDK is available for download at pins.opalkelly.com/downloads.
   2. Copy your generated bitstream into the example app, replacing the existing one at assets\bitfiles\<board>\counters-bwmode-3.bit.
   3. Build the application following Building with npm create.
5. Using FrontPanel Classic Application (v5.x and earlier)
   1. Utilize the FrontPanel Application’s Drag and Drop configuration feature to configure the generated bitstream onto the target Opal Kelly board.
   2. Locate the Example Design’s generated Counters.xfp “Profile.”In Vivado, this is under the Unknown folder of Design Sources in the Sources panel. The Source File Properties panel will display the location of this file.
   3. Outside of Vivado, navigate to the imports folder where the Counters.xfp “Profile” is located.
   4. Utilize the FrontPanel Application’s Drag and Drop feature to load the Counters.xfp “Profile.”
   5. Follow the instructions at Sample: Counters to utilize the Counters.xfp “Profile.”