5i25+7i76 wired pendant help please

PCW wrote: freeby.mesanet.com/7i765a.zip

Contains firmware for a 5i25 with a 7I76 on P3 and a "Ebay special"
5 axis bob on P2 ( 5i25_7i76_5abob.bit )

The source file that defines the pinout is also included in the zip

I had the chance to mess with this last night and I managed to flash the firmware with the bit file but I don’t know what to do with the vhd file that’s included? Can you help me understand what it’s for please?
Many thanks

The VHD file is used by the compiler to create the bit file.
But it is also human-readable and can be used to work out what function is on what pin.
You don't need to do anything with it except possibly read it.

Got it, many thanks.
I’ve changed over the breakout boards so I’m now going to use the 5abob for the machine stepper outputs, home switch inputs and spindle control.
I’ve reserved the 7i76 for the pendant Interface, should allow me to add more buttons later

Today I changed all the wiring for my machine set up, I now have the 5abob on port p2 to drive the machine steppers, home switches estop home switches and spindle, and I have the 7i76 on port p3 of the 5i25 fpga card to Interface my override mpgs, start stop buttons and multi handwheel. I’ve put the custom hals in the custom Hal folders, but I’m at a point now I need to configure the Hal for my setup. Not sure at this point wether I should create a new setup or modify the original one as I’m not confident with it right now. Is it possible I will need to Change my firmware to suit my setup now or should I use the one kindly supplied in earlier in this thread?
I’m not certain how the firmware affects the pin designation?
Many thanks and sorry if I’m just not understanding it fully

Moving the 7i76 to a different header will (I think) change the names of the GPIO pins on the 7i76.

Open a terminal (with LinuxCNC running) and type "halcmd show pin" to get a list of all the HAL pins that you can use.

I would say that at this point it is time to write the HAL the way you want it, rather than try to second-guess what it takes to get the right results from the setup wizard.

Your opinion of my advice should be tempered by the knowledge that I don't tend to use the setup wizards to do much more than set up the folder structures and files for a new config.

Ok thanks for the info, having left it for 6 months or so I’ve forgotten almost everything I had previously learned. It may be time now to pull out the Mesa boards and try a different system. I’ll give it one more look and if I can get it working then great but if not it will go the journey
Many thanks