Both Passive Serial and JTAG programming modes allow you to program single or multiple devices with a Chain Description File and the download cable. (MasterBlaster, ByteBlasterMV, ByteBlaster II, EthernetBlaster, or USB-Blaster) You can change the download cable options by changing the hardware setup for each Chain Description File that you open in Passive Serial or JTAG mode in the Programmer.

You can edit multiple JTAG or Passive Serial chains at the same time in open Programmer windows, but you can program only one chain at a time. You can also edit multiple instances of single devices at the same time in open Programmer windows when using In-Socket Programming mode or Active Serial Programming mode, but you can program only one device at a time. You can program or configure a single device in a multidevice mode, but you must specify a single device and programming file as the contents of the chain.

You can add devices only while using JTAG, In-Socket, or Active Serial programming modes. You can add a device to a chain for one of the following reasons:

You can add a device to bypass it (that is, pass without performing any programming action on it). You are permitted to add any device from the Select Devices dialog box for bypassing purposes. When you add such a device to the chain, all programming options—Program/Configure, Verify, Blank-Check, Examine, and Security Bit—which are located in the programming list, are unavailable.

You can add a configuration device to blank-check, examine, or bypass it. When you add a configuration device to the chain, you can turn on the programming options Blank-Check or Examine. The remaining programming options are not available. If you do not turn on Blank-Check or Examine, the configuration device is bypassed. You can examine only one configuration device at a time, and turning on Examine disables all the options for the rest of the devices and configuration devices in the chain.

You can add a MAX II, MAX 3000, or MAX 7000 device to blank-check, examine, or bypass it, or to turn on the security bit for it. When you add a MAX II, MAX 3000, or MAX 7000 device to the chain, you can turn on the programming options, Blank-Check, Examine, or Security Bit. The remaining programming options are not available. If you do not turn on Blank-Check, Examine, or Security Bit, the MAX II, MAX 3000, or MAX 7000 device is bypassed. You can examine only one MAX II, MAX 3000, or MAX 7000 device at a time, and turning on Examine disables all the options for the rest of the devices and configuration devices in the chain.