Programmable Devices
CPLDs, FPGAs, SoC FPGAs, Configuration, and Transceivers
20641 Discussions

I want knowing POF file format structures.

Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
3,924 Views

hello, everyone. 

 

I want knowing POF file format structures. 

 

I can open a .pof file and program this to the EPCS16 device if i know  

the length of the header so i can remove it first. The header includes  

info about Quartus build date/version/device/comment e.t.c  

The .pof file also includes a signature, but since the useful data  

only exists until about 1/3 into the file, this signature is also  

removed when programming..  

 

 

Does anyone know the .pof file format? I really need to know this:  

 

1. Where is the header-length is specified?  

2. What does the different "unknown" bytes in the header (except for  

the obvious ascii coded strings) specify?  

 

My application can also read the contens of the flash and save it to a  

file. It would be really useful if this could be saved in a .pof valid  

format, and written back using the quartus programming tool, so:  

 

3. What does the Quartus programming tool look for to determine if  

the .pof is valid? (checksum? probably some of the info requested in  

1, 2?)  

 

4. What does the signature/footer describe?  

 

 

Thanks so much.
0 Kudos
15 Replies
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
2,217 Views

I don't think Altera publish the pof file format. You could try asking them via "My Support" though.

0 Kudos
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
2,217 Views

thank you, batfink.

0 Kudos
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
2,217 Views

Have you considered a different file format?  

 

rbf for example 

 

http://www.altera.com/support/kdb/solutions/rd01212004_4844.html 

 

Just contains the data
0 Kudos
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
2,217 Views

thank you, vernmid. 

 

I wish changing like that. 

 

But,the b/d developer does not want the rbf format.:o
0 Kudos
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
2,217 Views

i am researching those data,  

thanks very much
0 Kudos
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
2,217 Views

 

--- Quote Start ---  

Have you considered a different file format?  

 

rbf for example 

 

http://www.altera.com/support/kdb/solutions/rd01212004_4844.html 

 

Just contains the data 

--- Quote End ---  

 

 

does all rbf data need to load in the flash ,if i use the External flash device like EPCS4
0 Kudos
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
2,217 Views

 

--- Quote Start ---  

Have you considered a different file format?  

 

rbf for example 

 

http://www.altera.com/support/kdb/solutions/rd01212004_4844.html 

 

Just contains the data 

--- Quote End ---  

 

 

hi vernmid 

 

i want to download the rbf data in the EPCS4, does all the rbf data need to be download ? 

how? only the least significant bit (LSB) of each data byte is loaded first? 

 

i have read out all the EPCS4 data and found there are some different between RBF data and EPCS4 data
0 Kudos
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
2,217 Views

Yes. Altera is suggesting to program *.rpd data, which is essentially a *.rbf file padded with 0xff up to the flash size.

0 Kudos
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
2,217 Views

hi FVM ! 

thanks for your quick reply! 

 

but i always doubt that all rpd data was just only be simple reversed ? 

 

because i have read out all the EPCS4 data and compare with .rpd file data , there are not only simple reversed...
0 Kudos
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
2,217 Views

 

--- Quote Start ---  

Yes. Altera is suggesting to program *.rpd data, which is essentially a *.rbf file padded with 0xff up to the flash size. 

--- Quote End ---  

 

 

sorry i make a mistake! 

there are some different bettwen .rbf file data with EPCS4 stored data,(not only reversal) 

 

rpd file data are same with EPCS4 stored data after be reversed. 

 

i am curious why .rpd file was different with .rbf file
0 Kudos
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
2,217 Views

Compression setting may be different.

0 Kudos
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
2,217 Views

Suxilong, 

Would you mind posting the EPCS4 data & rbf file? I have some experience reversing this stuff & and I will help if I can... 

Larry
0 Kudos
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
2,217 Views

FWIW the crc is CRC-CCITT as used by hdlc. 

This means the the calculation can be reduced to: 

crc = 0xffff; while (p < lim) { crc ^= *p++; t = (crc ^ crc << 4) & 0xff; crc = crc >> 8 ^ t << 8 ^ t << 3 ^ t >> 4; crc ^= 0xffff;
0 Kudos
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
2,217 Views

 

--- Quote Start ---  

this should get you started... 

 

fmt_pof.pdf contains info on the .pof file format 

pofcrc_src_bin.zip contains a windows application(src is in C) I wrote to correct the .pof CRC. 

good luck. 

--- Quote End ---  

 

 

Thanks a lot. You greatest man ever. Go for beer if you visit Saint-Petersburg someday.
0 Kudos
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
2,217 Views

fmt_pof.pdf is an excerpt of DataIO UniFam Translation File Formats Page 10 @ http://ftp.dataio.com/main/manuals/unifam/translation%20formats.pdf

0 Kudos
Reply