Xilinx charges plenty for their programming cables, and the newer USB ones come with their own software headaches.

PCB Documentation

• ​PCB layout (color)
• ​PCB silkscreen
• ​Parts list
• ​Schematic

I propose to make an ExpressPCB design for our own version of the cable from the Xilinx published ​schematic ​local copy The board should have a male DB-25 connector on one edge to mate with a PC parallel port. It should have three JTAG connectors:

pinout (see page 15 of [​http://www.altera.com/literature/ug/ug_bbii.pdf ByteBlaster? datasheet]).

cable pinout (​datasheet

TMS, TDI, TDO, TCK, GND, VCC

Useful Links:

​http://alternatezone.com/electronics/files/PCBDesignTutorialRevA.pdf