Leaving some bits in the port vector disconnected. Verilog module instantiation - verilog

Question

Lets say I have a Verilog module with bit vector ports. How do I
instantiate it with some bits left unconnected?
I tried something like this but it didn't work:
module sub (in,out)
input [3:0] in;
output [3:0] out;
endmodule
module top;
wire [1:0] a1;
wire [1:0] c1;
sub Sub1(
.in[2:1](a1[1:0]),
.out[2:1](c1[1:0])
);
endomdule

Answer 1

It would be much easier to just declare signals of the correct size and use a continuous assignment
module top;
wire [1:0] a1;
wire [1:0] c1;
wire [3:0] pin;
wire [3:0] pout;
assign pin[2:1] = a1;
assign c1 = pout[2:1];
sub Sub1(
.in(pin),
.out(pout)
);
endomdule
In general, it is not a good idea to leave input ports floating. You could use a concatenation in the assignment, or directly in the port connection.
sub Sub1(
.in({1'b0,a1,1'b0}),
.out({pout[3],c1,pout[0]})
);
SystemVerilog has a net aliasing construct that makes thing even simpler
module top;
wire [3:0] pin;
wire [3:0] pout;
alias pin[2:1] = a1;
alias pout[2:1] = c1;
sub Sub1(
.in(pin),
.out(pout)
);
endomdule

Answer 2

Found LRM reference on why you cannot connect parts of ports.
LRM 1800-2012 Section 23.3.2.2 Connecting module instance ports by name:
The port_name shall be the name specified in the module declaration. The port name cannot be a bit-select, a part-select, or a concatenation of ports.

Answer 3

you cannot connect/disconnect parts of a port. You can do it with the whole port though. so, in your case you nedd to split your port in several parts, something like the following:
module sub (in1, in2, out1, out2);
input [2:1] in1;
input [1:0] in2;
output [2:1] out1;
output [1:0] out2;
endmodule
module top;
wire [1:0] a1;
wire [1:0] c1;
sub Sub1(
.in1(a1[1:0]),
.in2(),
.out1(c1[1:0]),
.out2()
);
endmodule

Answer 4

My code connect 4-bits to module's 8-bit outputs, upper/lower even middle part.
It does work, but what the hell is the 's'(or anything)?
It works in both Quartus Prime 18.0pro and Lattice Diamond 3.10(Symplify Pro).
module dff8
(
input clk,
input [7:0] a,
output reg [7:0] b
);
always # (posedge clk) begin
b <= a;
end
endmodule
module top
(
input clk,
input [7:0] x,
output [3:0] y,
output [3:0] z
);
dff8 u0 (.clk(clk), .a(x), .b({y,s,s,s,s}));
dff8 u1 (.clk(clk), .a(x), .b({s,s,s,s,z}));
endmodule