15.2.1 Overview of Hierarchy Window

The Hierarchy window (as shown in the figure below) provides easy navigation through the Hierarchy. The Logical tab in this window provides a hierarchical overview of the design.

Click the tabs at the bottom of this window to view macros, instances, ports, nets, regions, and logical cones in your design. Additionally, a Block tab will appear in the Hierarchy window if the design contains Blocks.

You can use these tabs to explore each level of the hierarchy and to trace signals. You use the Hierarchy window tabs with ChipPlanner, NetlistViewer, PinEditor, and I/O Attribute Editor to help identify critical paths.

Right-click an object to use its context-sensitive menu.

In all Hierarchy views, you can right-click an object, and select Properties to display its properties.

Each view contains color-coded icons to indicate its logic type and state. These icons are explained in the following table.

Table 15-1. Icons in Hierarchy View

Icon	Color	What it Represents
	White	The logic or I/O is unassigned.
	Green	The logic or I/O is assigned.
	Hashed green	Some instances in the block of logic are assigned.
	Red and blue grid	The region is either inclusive or LocalClock.
	Blue grid	The region is exclusive.
	White	The region is empty.
	Black icon	The logic is handled as one unit and cannot be expanded. This icon appears next to the ARM core logic.
	Cone icon	The object is a Logical Cone.
	Blue checkmark	The logic is assigned to a region.
	Gray checkmark	Some instances in the block of logic are assigned to a region.
	Blue lock	The entire block of assigned logic is locked to a location.
	Gray lock	Some instances in the block of assigned logic are locked to a location.
	Yellow cube	Indicates a block flow.
	Blue	Indicates this macro, net, or port only exists in the pre-optimized view.

The Logical tab shown below illustrates that the selected logic is assigned to a region and locked. Only the Logical tab shows the logical hierarchy of the design. The Physical tab shows the physical hierarchy. The other tabs are not hierarchical.