I got my ISE 7.1 update DHL'd to me this morning, here is my experience so far
A problem...
I tried to install 7.1 in the same place as 6.3 (after accepting the de-install option) c:\program files\xilinx, but it didn't work, the installer displayed cryptic error messages about the disk being full - it wasn't.
Okay so I'll try c:\programs\xilinx - this worked. Xilinx take note - if you no longer support spaces in file name THEN WHY DO YOU ALLOW ME TO ENTER THIS INTO IN THE FIRST PLACE?
Disapointment...
So now I've go it installed, and I'm hoping when I run it maybe they will have upgrade the UI since this is a major version upgrade. Whay do I find ? They've made the UI EVEN WORSE, THEY'VE ADDED EXTRA CLUNK! Yes ISE users, you know what I mean, the user interface looks like an application from the Window 3.1 era, but somehow they've made it look even worse!
One example, now we have lovely icons to remind us the meaning of 'Errors' and 'Warnings' on the tabs for the messages window - they weren't there in in 6.3.
Okay so looks aren't everything. So maybe this release they've updated the menu to show a function key shortcut for commonly used actions, such as process|re-run, it would be nice just to press F5 or something for this.
Have they done this? No. Maybe I'll check the help just in case. Select help from the menu, select search, okay so where do I type in my search word? This just looks like an index to me not a search facility ! ARGGGGG
Okay, I could go on and on about the lack of usability. Perhaps coming from a programming background I've just been spoilt by wonderful IDE's like IntelliJ IDEA that have been designed with the engineer in mind.
I use the ISE Web Version at the moment, but I really don't ever want to shell out $2,500 for the Foundation version given my opinion of this software.... are there other alternatives around the same price bracket?
Andy.