Description
You may see this error when importing a PowerPlay Early Power Estimation file generated by the Quartus® II software into the following Early Power Estimator (EPE) tools:
- MAX® II and MAX II Z PowerPlay Early Power Estimator
- MAX V PowerPlay Early Power Estimator
Both of these EPEs have a limit of 20 rows on the I/O tab. When using the Quartus II software to generate the power estimation file, it will create rows for each unique setting for the I/O usage of the design. In many cases toggle rates and operating frequency differences will lead to a number of required rows greater than 20. When this happens, the power estimation file with Comma-Separated Value File (.csv) extension, will result in errors when you import it into the EPE.
Resolution
Open the power estimation .csv file generated by the Quartus II software. Locate the rows with the I/O information. Manually combine rows that have similar characteristics, such as clock frequencies or toggle rates by increasing the count value for rows you keep, and then delete the rows you have accounted for until the total row I/O count is 20.