Methods and systems for providing logic cores from third party logic core providers

This invention relates to logic cores and, more particularly, to methods and systems for providing logic cores. Methods and systems are provided in which logic cores from different third party core providers can be integrated for use with a single logic core generator. Core information from the various core providers is collected and formatted into a format that can be utilized by the single logic core generator. The information that is collected comprises at least one, and typically a number of different files. In some embodiments, the relevant core information is captured through the use of a graphical user interface (GUI) that guides particular core providers through a series of dialogs that capture the information. A formatting computer then takes the information and formats it into a form that can be utilized by the particular logic core generator. In the described embodiment, the information is formatted into at least one XCD file, which can then be utilized by the logic core generator. The newly-formatted cores can then be distributed to particular users for use with the core generator.