Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide: Design Compilation

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ID 683236
Date 9/26/2022
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Document Table of Contents
Document Table of Contents x
1. Answers to Top FAQs 2. Design Compilation 3. Reducing Compilation Time 4. Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide Design Compilation Archives A. Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guides
2. Design Compilation x
2.1. Compilation Overview 2.2. Using the Compilation Dashboard 2.3. Design Netlist Infrastructure (Beta) 2.4. Design Synthesis 2.5. Design Place and Route 2.6. Incremental Optimization Flow 2.7. Fast Forward Compilation Flow 2.8. Full Compilation Flow 2.9. Exporting Compilation Results 2.10. Integrating Other EDA Tools 2.11. Synthesis Language Support 2.12. Compiler Optimization Techniques 2.13. Synthesis Settings Reference 2.14. Fitter Settings Reference 2.15. Design Compilation Revision History
2.1. Compilation Overview x
2.1.1. Compilation Flows 2.1.2. Compilation Hierarchy 2.1.3. Compilation Monitoring
2.3. Design Netlist Infrastructure (Beta) x
2.3.1. Exploring the RTL Analyzer (Beta) 2.3.2. Early Timing Analysis (Beta) 2.3.3. DNI Use Case Examples
2.3.1. Exploring the RTL Analyzer (Beta) x
2.3.1.1. Sweep Hints Viewer 2.3.1.2. Connectivity Tracer 2.3.1.3. Object Set Console 2.3.1.4. Module Interfaces 2.3.1.5. Bundled Instances 2.3.1.6. Auto-hide Unconnected Pins
2.3.2. Early Timing Analysis (Beta) x
2.3.2.1. Synopsys* Design Constraint (SDC) on RTL 2.3.2.2. Post-Synthesis Static Timing Analysis (STA) 2.3.2.3. Types of SDC Files Used in the Intel® Quartus® Prime Software
2.3.2.1. Synopsys* Design Constraint (SDC) on RTL x
2.3.2.1.1. Registering the SDC-on-RTL SDC File 2.3.2.1.2. Applying the SDC-on-RTL Constraints 2.3.2.1.3. Inspecting SDC-on-RTL Constraints 2.3.2.1.4. Creating Constraints in SDC-on-RTL SDC Files
2.3.3. DNI Use Case Examples x
2.3.3.1. Scripting Routine Tasks Using DNI Tcl Commands 2.3.3.2. Traversing the DNI Netlist Using Tcl Commands
2.4. Design Synthesis x
2.4.1. Running Synthesis 2.4.2. Viewing Synthesis Reports 2.4.3. Viewing Synthesis Dynamic Report
2.4.1. Running Synthesis x
2.4.1.1. Preserving Registers During Synthesis 2.4.1.2. Preserving Signals for Monitoring and Debugging
2.5. Design Place and Route x
2.5.1. Running the Fitter 2.5.2. Viewing Fitter Reports
2.5.1. Running the Fitter x
2.5.1.1. Fitter Commands 2.5.1.2. Disabling or Enabling Physical Synthesis Optimization
2.5.2. Viewing Fitter Reports x
2.5.2.1. Plan Stage Reports 2.5.2.2. Place Stage Reports 2.5.2.3. Route Stage Reports 2.5.2.4. Retime Stage Reports 2.5.2.5. Finalize Stage Reports
2.5.2.2. Place Stage Reports x
2.5.2.2.1. Global Signal Visualization Report
2.5.2.3. Route Stage Reports x
2.5.2.3.1. Global Router Congestion Hotspot Summary Report 2.5.2.3.2. Global Router Wire Utilization Map Report
2.6. Incremental Optimization Flow x
2.6.1. Concurrent Analysis During Synthesis or Fitting 2.6.2. Analyzing Compiler Snapshots 2.6.3. Validating Periphery (I/O) after the Plan Stage
2.6.2. Analyzing Compiler Snapshots x
2.6.2.1. Running Snapshot Viewer
2.6.2.1. Running Snapshot Viewer x
2.6.2.1.1. Analyzing Failing Paths with Snapshot Viewer 2.6.2.1.2. Analyzing Clocking with Snapshot Viewer 2.6.2.1.3. Analyzing High Fan-out Nets with Snapshot Viewer 2.6.2.1.4. Validating Timing Constraints with Snapshot Viewer 2.6.2.1.5. Analyzing Congestion with Snapshot Viewer
2.7. Fast Forward Compilation Flow x
2.7.1. Step 1: Run Register Retiming 2.7.2. Step 2: Review Retiming Results 2.7.3. Step 3: Run Fast Forward Compile 2.7.4. Step 4: Review Fast Forward Results 2.7.5. Step 5: Implement Fast Forward Recommendations 2.7.6. Retiming Restrictions and Workarounds
2.7.2. Step 2: Review Retiming Results x
2.7.2.1. Locate Critical Chains
2.7.3. Step 3: Run Fast Forward Compile x
2.7.3.1. Fast Forward Compile By Hierarchy 2.7.3.2. HyperFlex Settings
2.7.4. Step 4: Review Fast Forward Results x
2.7.4.1. Clock Fmax Summary Report 2.7.4.2. Fast Forward Details Report
2.8. Full Compilation Flow x
2.8.1. Full Compilation Flow with Temporary Optimization Mode
2.9. Exporting Compilation Results x
2.9.1. Exporting a Version-Compatible Compilation Database 2.9.2. Importing a Version-Compatible Compilation Database 2.9.3. Creating a Design Partition 2.9.4. Exporting a Design Partition 2.9.5. Reusing a Design Partition 2.9.6. Viewing Quartus Database File Information 2.9.7. Clearing Compilation Results
2.9.6. Viewing Quartus Database File Information x
2.9.6.1. QDB File Attribute Types
2.10. Integrating Other EDA Tools x
2.10.1. Generating a VQM Netlist for other EDA Tools
2.11. Synthesis Language Support x
2.11.1. Verilog and SystemVerilog Synthesis Support 2.11.2. VHDL Synthesis Support
2.11.1. Verilog and SystemVerilog Synthesis Support x
2.11.1.1. Verilog HDL Input Settings (Settings Dialog Box) 2.11.1.2. Design Libraries 2.11.1.3. Verilog HDL Configuration 2.11.1.4. Initial Constructs and Memory System Tasks 2.11.1.5. Verilog HDL Macros
2.11.1.3. Verilog HDL Configuration x
2.11.1.3.1. Hierarchical Design Configurations
2.11.2. VHDL Synthesis Support x
2.11.2.1. VHDL Input Settings (Settings Dialog Box) 2.11.2.2. VHDL Standard Libraries and Packages 2.11.2.3. VHDL wait Constructs 2.11.2.4. VHDL-2019 Conditional Analysis Tool Directives
2.12. Compiler Optimization Techniques x
2.12.1. Compiler Optimization Modes 2.12.2. Allow Register Retiming 2.12.3. Automatic Gated Clock Conversion 2.12.4. Enable Intermediate Fitter Snapshots 2.12.5. Fast Preserve Option 2.12.6. Fractal Synthesis Optimization
2.12.6. Fractal Synthesis Optimization x
2.12.6.1. Enabling or Disabling Fractal Synthesis
2.13. Synthesis Settings Reference x
2.13.1. Advanced Synthesis Settings
3. Reducing Compilation Time x
3.1. Factors Affecting Compilation Results 3.2. Strategies to Reduce the Overall Compilation Time 3.3. Reducing Synthesis Time and Synthesis Netlist Optimization Time 3.4. Reducing Placement Time 3.5. Reducing Routing Time 3.6. Reducing Static Timing Analysis Time 3.7. Setting Process Priority 3.8. Reducing Compilation Time Revision History
3.2. Strategies to Reduce the Overall Compilation Time x
3.2.1. Running the ECO Compilation Flow 3.2.2. Enabling Multi-Processor Compilation 3.2.3. Using Block-Based Compilation
3.3. Reducing Synthesis Time and Synthesis Netlist Optimization Time x
3.3.1. Settings to Reduce Synthesis Time and Synthesis Netlist Optimization Time 3.3.2. Use Appropriate Coding Style to Reduce Synthesis Time
3.4. Reducing Placement Time x
3.4.1. Placement Effort Multiplier Settings
3.5. Reducing Routing Time x
3.5.1. Identifying Routing Congestion with the Chip Planner
3.5.1. Identifying Routing Congestion with the Chip Planner x
3.5.1.1. Areas with Routing Congestion 3.5.1.2. Congestion due to HDL Coding style
1. Answers to Top FAQs
2. Design Compilation
3. Reducing Compilation Time
4. Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide Design Compilation Archives
A. Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guides

2.3.2.3. Types of SDC Files Used in the Intel® Quartus® Prime Software

This section provides a high-level summary of the differences between various SDC file types available for use.

The Intel® Quartus® Prime software uses conventional SDC files to target the timing netlist. These SDCs are not applied until the Fitter plan stage completes. However, for Early Timing Analysis, you can introduce SDC files to the Intel® Quartus® Prime software in one of the following ways:

The following table attempts to summarize the differences between the various SDC file types:

Table 5.  Types of SDC Files Used in the Intel® Quartus® Prime Software
  SDC-on-RTL Synthesis SDC SDC (Conventional)
Stage where constraints are read Analysis & Elaboration (DNI) Synthesis Fitter, Signoff

Stage where constraints are processed

Synthesis through Fitter

Synthesis only

 Fitter, Signoff

QSF assignment

RTL_SDC_FILE

SYN_SDC_FILE

SDC_FILE

Syntax supported

Tcl with SDC 2.1 commands

Tcl with Intel® Quartus® Prime SDC commands

Tcl with Intel® Quartus® Prime SDC commands

SDC 2.1-compliant

Yes No No

Target type

RTL

Intel® Quartus® Prime timing graph

Intel® Quartus® Prime timing graph

Hierarchical targets

Yes No No

Buried timing nodes (used by IP)

No
Yes
Note: Such nodes do not exist for the periphery in post-synthesis STA.
Yes

STA command to load constraints

Executes the read_sdc or import_sdc command in any snapshot.

Executes the read_sdc command only during static timing analysis on the synthesized snapshot.

Executes the read_sdc command during static timing analysis on any fitter snapshot (plan, place, route, retime).

Note: Not loaded during synthesis.

As shown in the table, the assignments allow different SDCs to be used during post-synthesis STA and post-fit STA. You must note that a single SDC file can be shared between the post-synthesis STA and post-fit STA. In this case, the SDC can check the current snapshot through is_post_syn_sta to determine the appropriate commands to use.

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