At this stage, our Synergy window should appear as shown in figure 1.13 (below).
 
 

FIGURE 1.13

 

Notice that all the constraints we specified appear in the constraints sub-window of the Synergy window.  We can save our constraints if we want to (which is a very good idea for the purpose of records, and something that i didn't do).

We will now proceed to synthesize our design.

5. Synthesis run
Click on the lightning bolt.  This will open the window shown in figure 1.14 (below).
 

FIGURE 1.14

We want to optimize for timing with minimum cost (as specified in the synthesis option) and so select this particular option.  We want Synergy to put in the most effort and so we select the Highest effort.  From the Run Alternative pull-down menu, select normal (it will be the default one) but at the same time look at the available options.  We are not able to, as of now, generate any schematic and so we will not select the "generate schematic" option.  Hit Apply.

Now click on the "more options" side-tab.  This will bring up the window shown in figure 1.15 (below).
 
 

FIGURE 1.15

Select the options as shown in figure 1.15 (please feel free to play around with other options as you get a grasp over Synergy!).  Most of the options are pretty self-explanatory, however if in doubt, hit the help button.  This will bring up Openbook with the appropriate chapter which has detailed explanation of the options.  Hit apply.

Now select the delay options side-tab.  Let the default values be as they are (please feel free to use Help on this topic).

Now select the report tab.  The window shown in figure 1.16 will appear.
 
 

FIGURE 1.16

 
The number of paths option is defaulted to 10.  Basically it is the number of critical paths that will be reported.  Path type options are long/short/both.  Select both as we want to get details on the long as well as the short paths.  The report type has two options: arrival and slack.  Slack reports indicate time constraints by providing the the difference between the required time and the signal's arrival time at the path end point.  End points include primary outputs, primary I/Os and inputs to flipflops.  Slack time can be more critical than a long path delay that still meets the required time.  Slack time can be negative.  Sorting by slack time is the default.  Arrival sorts according to arrival times at end points.  Feel free to experiment by generating reports based on the slack time and the arrival times.  The end meaning remains the same.

Hit apply button.

Ignore the trade-off curves tab. 

Hit Synthesize.  This will make Synergy to synthesize the design as per the constraints provided.  At the end, review the logs and the reports.  There are numerous reports which provide information about the synthesis.

Read part-IV to get an idea about some of the reports generated by Synergy.