The new features of VHDL'19 are listed below; topic references are given in brackets:
Vendors who aims to support the bleeding edge of VHDL revisions must incorporate a long list of new features and changes into their tools. So how can VHDL-2019 make your life better?
Here are some highlights of the upcoming VHDL-2019 revision:
Interfaces
Garbage collection
64-bit integers
Conditional analysis
Shared variables on entities
Generics on protected types
Generics on subprograms
Partially connected vectors in port maps
For a more detailed description of the changes and new features, continue reading the rest of this post.
APPROVED CHANGES
Each of the proposed changes can be identified by an Language Change Specifications (LCS) number on the format LCS-2016-NNN. The details can be viewed on the EDA wiki, but the rest of this section will explain the implications of each LCS using straightforward examples and uncomplicated language.
PARTIALLY CONNECTED VECTORS IN PORT MAPS
LCS-2016-001
This is a very welcome change which will serve to make module instantiation less annoying. Currently, whenever you assign an interface array of mode out to a signal, you have to assign every bit of the array. In VHDL-2019 you will be allowed to declare the subelements as unconnected by using the open keyword:
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i_MyModule : entity work.MyModule(rtl)
port map(
Port8(7 downto 4) => SlvNibble,
Port8(3 downto 0) => open
);
Similarly, you will be allowed to connect only selected bits of ports with mode in or generic ports. Of course, there will still have to be a default value set in the port declaration.
This change isn’t functionally important, but it fixes something that has been irritating. You’ve had to declare an intermediate signal to assign to a long port, only to leave half of the bits unused. Now we can assign the shorter signal directly to the port, and leave the unused bits disconnected. Overall, it’s a change that makes VHDL feel a bit more flexible.
ACCESS AND PROTECTED TYPES AS SUBPROGRAM PARAMETERS
LCS-2016-002, LCS-2016-004
These changes allow function or procedure parameters to be of access type or file type. Functions will also be allowed to have protected type parameters.
EXTENSIONS TO THE FILE TYPE
LCS-2016-006a
New subprograms for manipulating files have been added to the TEXTIO package.
New procedures:
FILE_REWIND: Move the position to the start of the file
FILE_SEEK: Move the position back or forth
FILE_TRUNCATE: Set the size of a file. Can be used for shrinking or growing files
New function:
FILE_STATE: Returns the state of a file, open or closed
FILE_MODE: Returns the mode of a file, read, write, etc.
FILE_POSITION: Returns the position of the file
FILE_SIZE: Returns the size of a file
FILE_CANSEEK: Returns true if seek is supported
Added read/write mode to file types. Previously, a file had to be opened either for reading or writing, now you can get both.
NEW DIRECTORY API
LCS-2016-006c
New functions, procedures, and types for handling directories have been added to the ENV package. The standard environmental package (ENV) which was introduced in VHDL-2008 has been extended with subprograms for reading and writing in directories on the native filesystem.
New subprograms include:
DIR_OPEN: Open dir and return a record containing the directory items
DIR_CLOSE: Deallocate directory object.
DIR_ITEMEXISTS: Check if file or dir exists
DIR_ITEMISDIR: Check if the dir exists
DIR_ITEMISFILE: Check if the file exists
DIR_WORKINGDIR: Sets the working dir
DIR_CREATEDIR: Create a new dir
DIR_DELETEDIR: Deletes an empty dir
DIR_DELETEFILE: Delete a file
READ ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
LCS2016_006e
Finally, this much wanted feature will been implemented in VHDL. The ability to read environment variables will be ensured by two new functions in the ENV package.
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impure function GETENV(Name : STRING) return STRING;
impure function GETENV(Name : STRING) return LINE;
STANDARD ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS
LCS2016_006f
These additions to the ENV package will reveal things like VHDL version, tool type and vendor. Definitely useful functions to have when you are developing code that needs to be aware of such specifics.
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impure function VHDL_VERSION return string ;
function TOOL_TYPE return string ;
function TOOL_VENDOR return string ;
function TOOL_NAME return string ;
function TOOL_EDITION return string ;
function TOOL_VERSION return string ;
SEQUENTIAL BLOCK STATEMENT
LCS2016_007, LCS2016_007a
The block statement is an old feature in VHDL. It is used for separating logic within an architecture, limiting the scope of signals to within the block. What is new in VHDL-2019 is that the block statement can be used in sequential logic, within a process or subprogram.
A trivial example to illustrate such usage:
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process is
variable MyVar : integer;
begin
InnerBlock : block
variable InnerVar : integer;
begin
-- InnerVar is only visible in here
end block ;
wait;
end process;
DATE AND TIME
LCS2016_011
A set of new types and functions in the ENV package will give access to the local date and time.
New types are:
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type DAYOFWEEK is (
SUNDAY, MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY,
FRIDAY, SATURDAY
);
--
type TIME_RECORD is record
microsecond : INTEGER range 0 to 999_999
second : INTEGER range 0 to 61;
minute : INTEGER range 0 to 59;
hour : INTEGER range 0 to 23;
day : INTEGER range 1 to 31;
month : INTEGER range 0 to 11;
year : INTEGER range 1 to 4095;
weekday : DAYOFWEEK;
dayofyear : INTEGER range 0 to 365;
end record TIME_RECORD;
New subprograms include:
LOCALTIME: Local time
GMTIME: UTC time
EPOCH: Epoch time
TIME_TO_SECONDS: Convert to seconds in real
SECONDS_TO_TIME: Opposite conversion
Additionally, there are TO_STRING functions which will come in handy for logging purposes. They generate string timestamps on the format “YYYY-MM-DDTHH:mm:ss”.
Event better, there exists overloaded + and - operators for incrementing or decrementing the TIME_RECORD.
STRING REPRESENTATION OF COMPOSITE TYPES
LCS2016_012
Through the T'image(X) attribute you will be able to get a string representation of composite types. Records will convert into comma separated strings within parentheses, such as ("1001000", '0', 0, 3.14).
Similarly, the T.value(X) attribute can be used to fill records with values stored in the string format. In this case, extra spaces will be ignored.
COMPOSITES OF PROTECTED TYPES
LCS2016_014
This change will allow the class-like objects of protected types to be stored in composite types. In other words, you can create arrays with them, or they can be members of a record.
When passing a protected type as a parameter to a function, it shall be passed by reference. This means that you can enjoy bouncing the class-like objects back and forth, just like you would do in any other object-oriented programming language.
ACCESS TYPES TO PROTECTED TYPES
LCS2016_014a
With this change, the designated type of an access types can be a protected type. Access types in VHDL are pointers to an object, and protected types are class-like constructs which you can create objects of. In more regular programming language terms, VHDL already had both pointers and classes.
In VHDL-2019 you will be allowed to create pointers to objects of protected types. You will also be able to create pointers to file types, as well as objects and file types that are composites of protected types.
GET CALLING PATH AND STACK INFO
LCS2016_015
This is an addition to the standard ENV package which lets you get call path information for the current stack frame. By calling the GET_CALL_PATH function from the ENV package, a pointer to a vector of records will be returned. The leftmost element in the record will be the current stack frame, while the rightmost element is the root of the call stack.
The vector contains a record of the following type:
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type CALL_PATH_ELEMENT is record
name : LINE;
file_name : LINE;
file_path : LINE;
file_line : POSITIVE;
end record;
The name element refers to the name of the current subprogram or construct. The other elements in the record contain information about the calling position in the VHDL file.
GET CURRENT LINE AND FILE
LCS2016_015a
Another addition to the ENV package. Six new functions that will get the name and path of the current VHDL file, as well as the line number which is executing:
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impure function FILE_NAME return LINE ;
impure function FILE_NAME return STRING ;
impure function FILE_PATH return LINE ;
impure function FILE_PATH return STRING ;
impure function FILE_LINE return POSITIVE ;
impure function FILE_LINE return STRING ;
ANONYMOUS TYPES IN PORT DECLARATIONS
LCS2016_016
This change allows anonymous types in interface list declarations. Instead of specifying std_logic_vector or bit_vector, you will be able to write <>, which covers all scalar types. The possible type categories are private, scalar, discrete, integer, physical and floating.
Example usage of this feature:
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Architecture A of E is
signal SigA : std_logic_vector(7 downto 0) ;
signal SigB : std_logic ;
component E is
port (
A : type is private ; -- any type
B : type is <> -- a scalar type
) ;
end component E ;
begin
E1 : E
port map (
A => SigA ;
B => SigB
) ;
...
ATTRIBUTES FOR ENUMERATED TYPES
LCS2016_018, LCS2016_018a, LCS2016_018d
A number of new attributes has been defined for enumerated types:
‘LENGTH
‘RANGE
‘REVERSE_RANGE
‘IMAGE
‘POS
‘SUCC
‘PRED
‘LEFTOF
‘RIGHTOF
‘INDEX[(N)]
‘DESIGNATED_SUBTYPE
Most of these attributes should be known to you already as they have existed for scalar types before. Now you can use them for enumerated types as well.
INFER SIGNAL AND VARIABLE SUBTYPE CONSTRAINTS FROM INITIAL VALUE
LCS-2016-019
When dealing with ports of unconstrained types, defining signals and variables with derived types has been cumbersome. This change is perhaps better explained with the example taken from here.
Currently, you must do this:
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entity
port (
a_port : sfixed;
b_port : sfixed;
...
-- don't care about actual value, just subtype
constant prod_proto : sfixed := a_port * b_port;
-- use constant just to get the appropriate subtype
variable prod : prod_proto'subtype;
...
prod := a_port * b_port;
In VHDL-2019 you will be allowed to do this:
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entity
port (
a_port : sfixed;
b_port : sfixed;
...
-- NO DUMMY CONSTANT NEEDED
variable prod : sfixed := a_port * b_port;
-- the initial value may not be meaningful, but the subtype of the
-- result is used to constrain the variable type.
...
prod := a_port * b_port;
ALLOW CONFIGURATION AND ENTITY LIBRARIES TO DIFFER
LCS-2016-023
Currently, entities must be defined in the same library as their configurations. This requirement has now been relaxed.
LONG INTEGERS
LCS-2016-026c
Finally, VHDL number types are catching up with the 21st century. The INTEGER type has been increased from 32 to 64 bits.
ACCESS EXTERNAL TYPES THROUGH THE LIBRARY PATH
LCS-2016-028
This added language feature allows you to hierarchically reference a type or subtype. Hierarchical signal access has been available since VHDL-2008 through the use of the << library_path >> construct. Now, you can also reference types and subtypes by using the following syntax:
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architecture_path_name ::= entity_simple_name ( architecture_simple_name)
This is useful in verification scenarios where the testbench needs to have access to a type that is declared in the module. Usually, this is solved by declaring the type in a package common both the testbench and the RTL module. Another way to solve this has been to redefine the type in the testbench.
With this change, it can be accomplished in the testbench by hierarchically referencing the type in the module where it is declared:
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alias extStateType is work.EntityName(ArchitectureName).StateType;
GARBAGE COLLECTION
LCS-2016-030
In the code below, there is a potential memory leak. In VHDL-2019 you won’t have to worry about that, because it has automatic garbage collection. As soon as the last reference to an object is lost, is shall be deallocated.
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function to_string (
value : in integer_vector
) return string is
variable L : line;
begin
write(L, value) ;
return L.all ;
end function to_string ;
MORE EXPLICIT ‘PATH_NAME AND ‘INSTANCE_NAME PATHS
LCS-2016-032
There are changes to the attributes for getting the hierarchy path of an object. They have been changed to include the full package name and instance path, even when the object resides within a protected type.
This is of use especially for algorithms that rely on having a unique string descriptor for an object. For example RandomPck’s InitSeed procedure.
PUBLIC VARIABLE DECLARATION IN PROTECTED TYPES AND THE PRIVATE KEYWORD
LCS-2016-033
The word private has been added to the list of reserved words in VHDL.
Currently, the declarative region of protected types cannot include variable declaration. This is usually solved by using getter and setter subprograms. Now, you can simply add the variable declarations to the protected type declaration to make them public.
Furthermore, you can make a variable private by using the new private keyword. Then, you can expose a member of the private variable by creating an alias to it:
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package MyPkg... is
type MyPkg is protected
private shared variable Name : MyType;
alias SetMessage is Name.SetMessage [String];
alias WriteMessage is Name.WriteMessage;
GENERICS ON PROTECTED TYPES
LCS-2016-034
This change allows generics to be mapped to an object of protected type when a variable is created of it. Kind of like the function template in C++, types can now be specified when creating the object. You can avoid hard coding types within the protected type, making them more versatile.
An example shared variable declaration using generics:
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shared variable MyVar : MyType generic map (
InternalType => integer
);
CONDITIONAL ASSIGNMENT OF INITIAL VALUES
LCS-2016-036a
Conditional assignments have previously been allowed for signals in the architecture of the VHDL file. Now, you can use the same shorthand format within the declarative region as well.
It will be allowed to assign to a constants conditionally like this:
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constant T : time := 1 ns when GenericBoolean else 10 ns;
NEW ‘REFLECT ATTRIBUTE
LCS-2016-41
This change introduces a new 'reflect attribute to VHDL. Calling this attribute function will return a new object of protected type which has a copy of the current state of of the object. The name of the new protected type is VALUE_MIRROR.
Example code from the LCS:
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The following complex data type shall be converted to a string:
process
type Rec is record
I : INTEGER_VECTOR(0 to 3);
R : REAL;
T : TIME;
end record;
constant test : Rec := (
I => (1, 3, 7, 9),
R => 3.14,
T => 25 ns
);
variable mirror : VALUE_MIRROR := test'reflect;
begin
report to_string(mirror);
wait;
end process;
-- result:
-- (I => (1, 3, 7, 9), R => 3.14, T => 25 ns)
NEW PSL ATTRIBUTES AND FUNCTIONS
LCS-2016-43
The following functions have been added to the ENV package to make Property Specification Language (PSL) more usable with VHDL:
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-- PSL Assert Failed
impure function PslAssertFailed return boolean ;
-- PSL Is Covered
impure function PslIsCovered return boolean ;
-- Psl Cover Asserts
procedure SetPslCoverAssert( Enable : boolean := TRUE) ;
impure function GetPslCoverAssert return boolean ;
-- Psl Is AssertCovered
impure function PslIsAssertCovered return boolean ;
-- Clear PSL State (Assert and Cover)
procedure ClearPslState ;
Additional 'signal and 'event attributes have been added to PSL objects.
SEPARATE MODES FOR COMPOSITE TYPE MEMBERS
LCS-2016-45a, LCS-2016-45b, LCS-2016-45c
Previously, we have been forced to give composite types in port declarations the same mode (in, out e.g.) for all of its data members. Now, we can give modes to each individual member of records or arrays. Thus, you can implement an interface using records without resorting to using the inout mode on every entity where it’s used.
Two new mode keywords have been introduced in VHDL; view and null. The view mode enables individual mode control of the composite type members. Example taken from the EDA wiki:
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port(
rst_i : in std_logic;
clk_i : in std_logic;
cpu_bus_rif : view cpu_bus_r(
element(
arbiter_al : view arbiter_a(
element(
others : view arbiter_r;
element(
master_rl : in master_r;
bus_req_l : in std_logic;
bus_grnt_l : buffer std_logic
The null mode can be used can be used to denote unconnected interface objects:
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port configuration SLAVE_pcfg is
generic(
SEL_jg : SEL_jst
);
port(
MASTER_rl : in;
SLAVE_al : composite(
SEL_jg : buffer;
others : null
)
);
end port configuration SLAVE_pcfg;
SHARED VARIABLES ON ENTITIES
LCS-2016-47
You will finally be allowed to send shared variables of protected type through entity ports. With this change you should be able to write some creative testing strategies, for instance by passing scoreboards passed between verification components.
GENERICS ON SUBPROGRAMS
LCS-2016-49
Subprograms can now have generics in addition to the normal parameter list. The advantage of this is that you can pass types through the generic parameters, eliminating the need for an overloaded version of the subprogram for each data type.
Example taken from EDA wiki:
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function Mux4
generic ( type DataType )
parameter (
MuxSel : in std_logic_vector(1 downto 0) ;
A, B, C, D : in DataType
) return DataType is
. . .
end procedure Mux4;
NEW ASSERT API UTILITY SUBPROGRAMS
LCS-2016-50
The following new subprograms have been added to the ENV package to help with assertion based verification in VHDL:
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-- VHDL Assert Failed
impure function IsVhdlAssertFailed return boolean ;
impure function IsVhdlAssertFailed (Level : SEVERITY_LEVEL ) return boolean ;
-- VHDL Assert Count
impure function GetVhdlAssertCount return natural ;
impure function GetVhdlAssertCount (Level : SEVERITY_LEVEL ) return natural ;
-- Clear VHDL Assert Errors
procedure ClearVhdlAssert;
-- Assert Enable, Disable/Ignore Asserts
procedure SetVhdlAssertEnable(Enable : boolean := TRUE) ;
procedure SetVhdlAssertEnable(Level : SEVERITY_LEVEL := NOTE; Enable : boolean := TRUE) ;
impure function GetVhdlAssertEnable(Level : SEVERITY_LEVEL := NOTE) return boolean ;
-- Assert statement formatting
procedure SetVhdlAssertFormat(Level : SEVERITY_LEVEL; format: string) ;
procedure SetVhdlAssertFormat(Level : SEVERITY_LEVEL; format: string; Valid : out boolean) ;
impure function GetVhdlAssertFormat(Level : SEVERITY_LEVEL) return string ;
-- VHDL Read Severity
procedure SetVhdlReadSeverity(Level: SEVERITY_LEVEL := FAILURE) ;
impure function GetVhdlReadSeverity return SEVERITY_LEVEL ;
RELAX COMPONENT END SYNTAX
LCS-2016-55a
This change makes the end component; optional. Now, you can write just end;. The syntax has previously been a bit inconsistent with the “entity” in end entity; being optional, while “component” was mandatory in end component;.
TYPE CLASS INSURANCE FOR GENERIC TYPES
LCS-2016-59
This change allows arrays of generic types to be constructed of a preceding type on the same generic port. Previously, types passed through a generic port could not be used as part of a subprogram or array in the same generic port. Now, the type class (scalar, array, e.g.) will be determined before elaboration time. Thus, attributes like 'length or 'range can also be used.
Example taken from the EDA wiki
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entity mux
generic (
type ELEM;
type ARR is array (integer) of ELEM);
port (
inputs : in ARR;
select : in integer;
muxed : out ELEM);
end entity;
USE RELATIONAL OPERATORS WITH ARRAYS OF SCALAR TYPES AS OPERANDS
LCS-2016-59a
In VHDL-2019 you will be allowed to use relational operators like = or < to compare arrays of scalar types, for example integer.
CONDITIONAL ANALYSIS
LCS-2016-61
Much like the beloved C preprocessor, VHDL-2019 has the ability to include or exclude blocks of code based on the value of a constant. Tools are required to support a syntax on the form:
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`if G_MY_GENERIC then
attribute my_attribute_typ : string;
attribute an_attribute of my_attribute_typ: signal is "value";
`else
--nothing is created
`end if
The possibilities are endless. You could set the constant in the VHDL code where the module is instantiated, or it could be set from the TCL script which starts the compile or synthesis. Either way, it enables you to drastically change the function of the module, making it more versatile.
Note that the “`” character is mandatory in front of all tool instructions. See Mr. Lehmann’s comment in the comment section.
OPTIONAL TRAILING SEMICOLON IN INTERFACE LISTS
LCS-2016-71a
This is an unimportant change, but it is one that will save you a lot of time in the long run!
You know when you do some changes to the entity of a module, perhaps you remove the last signal from the interface list. Then, when you try to compile you get the annoying near “)”: (vcom-1576) expecting IDENTIFIER.” error. Because you forgot to remove the trailing semicolon from the second last signal.
Now, a trailing semicolon after the last signal on the interface list has been made optional. You can do this:
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entity someEntity is
port
(
a : std_logic;
b : integer; -- This trailing semicolon is optional
);
end entity;
FUNCTIONS WILL HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE ARRAY BOUNDS OF THE RECEIVER OF THE RETURN VALUE
LCS-2016-72b
This change allows functions to access attributes belonging to the receiver of its return value. An annoying side effect of not knowing anything about the signal that its return value is to be assigned to is evident in the to_unsigned function:
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x <= to_unsigned(i, x'length);
You have to include the array length of the receiver of the return value as a parameter because the function has no way of knowing it. Now, you can simply do this:
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x <= to_unsigned(i);
This is possible because the receiving signal can optionally be referenced from within the function.
It is not only limited to standard functions like to_unsigned. You can use this in your own custom functions as well. The function specification has changed, the new optional handle of the receiver of the return value is denoted by red:
function_specification ::=
[ pure | impure ] function designator
subprogram_header
[ [ parameter ] ( param_list) ] return [ return_identifier of ] type_mark
IMPLICIT CONVERSION OF CLOSELY RELATED RECORD TYPES
LCS-2016-75
An automatic cast from one record type to another if each element of the source record can be implicitly converted to a matching element in the destination record.
An example of two closely related record types:
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type SourceRec is record
a : natural;
b : real;
c : boolean;
end record;
type DestRec is record
d : integer;
e : real;
f : boolean;
end record;
ALLOW EMPTY RECORDS
LCS-2016-82
Records with no data members will be allowed. Now you can kick off your design by specifying interfaces as empty records before completing them at a later stage.
An empty record:
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type MyRecord is record
end record;
USE INTERFACE OBJECTS LATER IN THE SAME INTERFACE LIST
LCS-2016-86
This allows you to use an object listed in an interface list, later in the same interface list to provide an initial value or to access an attribute.
An example taken from the LCS:
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entity E is
generic (G1: INTEGER; G2: INTEGER := G1; G3, G4, G5, G6: INTEGER);
port (P1: STRING(G3 to G4); P2: STRING(P1'RANGE); P3: P1'SUBTYPE);
procedure X (Y1, Y2: INTEGER; Y3: INTEGER range Y1 to Y2; Y4: Y1'SUBTYPE);
end E;
CONDITIONAL RETURN STATEMENT
LCS-2016-94a
In VHDL-2019 you will be able to write return statements on the When-Else form instead of wrapping them in If-Then-Elseif-Else statements. This is the new accepted format:
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return () when else
() when else
();
Return statements are still mandatory in functions.
RANGE RECORD
LCS-2016-99
Two new attributes have been defined which can be applied to ranges. The first one is R'RECORD which will get the range record type on the format:
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type is record
Left : ;
Right : ;
Direction : DIRECTION;
end record;
The second attribute is R'VALUE which will retrieve the values for the given range. This feature will come in handy for anyone who wishes to perform calculations on ranges of scalar types.