Downloading an FPGA VI to the Flash Memory of an FPGA Target

You can store FPGA VIs on the flash memory of certain FPGA targets. Refer to the specific FPGA target hardware documentation for information about flash memory on the FPGA target.

Complete the following steps to download a VI to flash memory on the FPGA target.

  1. Create a new project or open an existing project.
  2. Add an FPGA target to the project.
  3. Right-click the FPGA target in the Project Explorer window and select RIO Device Setup from the shortcut menu. The RIO Device Setup dialog box appears.
    Note   You can click the Help button in the RIO Device Setup dialog box to display the RIO Device Setup Help.
  4. Browse or type the path to the bitfile you want to download to flash memory in the Bitfile to Download path control.
  5. Click the Download Bitfile button.
  6. On the Device Settings tab, select Autoload VI on device power-up or Autoload VI on device reboot.
  7. Click the Apply Settings button.
  8. Click the Exit button.
Note   The FPGA VI you download to the flash memory automatically loads to the FPGA on the FPGA target even if you do not compile it with the Run when loaded to FPGA option. However, the VI does not run automatically. Verify that the FPGA VI is compiled with the Run when loaded to FPGA option if you want the VI to run automatically when it loads to the FPGA.

Alternative Ways to Download the VI to Flash Memory for CompactRIO Targets

You also can use the following methods to download an FPGA VI to the flash memory of CompactRIO targets.

  • Complete the following steps to download the VI to flash memory without using the RIO Device Setup dialog box.
    1. Right-click the VI you want to download to flash memory and select Download VI to Flash Memory from the shortcut menu. The Confirm Downloading VI to Flash dialog box appears.
    2. Click the Yes button to download the VI to flash memory.
  • Complete the following steps to download the VI to flash memory through the Start menu.
    1. Navigate to the NI-RIO\RIO Device Setup directory to display the RIO Device Setup dialog box.
    2. Select the FPGA target to which you want to download a bitfile from the Resource pull-down menu.
    3. Browse or type the path to the bitfile you want to download to the flash memory on the FPGA device in the Bitfile to Download path control.
    4. Click the Download Bitfile button.
    5. On the Device Settings tab, select Autoload VI on device power-up or Autoload VI on device reboot.
    6. Click the Apply Settings button.
    7. Click the Exit button.