A method of programming a programmable logic device (PLD), in accordance
with an embodiment, includes receiving trigger unit information of a
logic analyzer via a software interface for monitoring internal PLD
signals and providing trigger unit output signals based on the internal
PLD signals for the corresponding trigger units; and receiving trigger
expression information of the logic analyzer via the software interface
as a text string of logic operators and operands, wherein the operands
represent the trigger unit output signals. The method may further include
generating configuration data based on the trigger unit information and
the trigger expression information; and providing the configuration data
to the PLD, wherein a trigger expression based on the trigger expression
information is stored within memory of the PLD.