Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide: Design Compilation

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ID 683236
Date 7/07/2025
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Document Table of Contents
Document Table of Contents x
Answers to Top FAQs 1. Design Compilation 2. Reducing Compilation Time 3. Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide Design Compilation Archives A. Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guides
1. Design Compilation x
1.1. Compilation Overview 1.2. Design Analysis & Elaboration 1.3. Design Synthesis 1.4. Design Place and Route 1.5. Incremental Optimization Flow 1.6. Fast Forward Compilation Flow 1.7. Full Compilation Flow 1.8. HSSI Dual Simplex IP Generation Flow 1.9. Exporting Compilation Results 1.10. Clearing Compilation Results 1.11. Integrating Other EDA Tools 1.12. Compiler Optimization Techniques 1.13. Compilation Monitoring Mode 1.14. Viewing Quartus Database File Information 1.15. Understanding the Design Netlist Infrastructure 1.16. Using Synopsys* Design Constraint (SDC) on RTL Files 1.17. Using the Node Finder 1.18. Synthesis Language Support 1.19. Synthesis Settings Reference 1.20. Fitter Settings Reference 1.21. Design Compilation Revision History
1.1. Compilation Overview x
1.1.1. Compilation Flows 1.1.2. Compilation Hierarchy 1.1.3. Using the Compilation Dashboard
1.2. Design Analysis & Elaboration x
1.2.1. Locating Design Elements 1.2.2. Analyzing Design RTL
1.2.1. Locating Design Elements x
1.2.1.1. Copying Hierarchy Path Names
1.2.2. Analyzing Design RTL x
1.2.2.1. Sweep Hints Viewer 1.2.2.2. Object Set Console 1.2.2.3. Module Interfaces 1.2.2.4. Bundled Instances 1.2.2.5. Auto-hide Unconnected Pins 1.2.2.6. Filtering Ports and Nets 1.2.2.7. Expand Connections
1.3. Design Synthesis x
1.3.1. Preparing for Design Synthesis 1.3.2. Running Synthesis 1.3.3. Post-Synthesis Static Timing Analysis (STA) 1.3.4. Viewing Synthesis Reports
1.3.2. Running Synthesis x
1.3.2.1. Preserving Registers During Synthesis 1.3.2.2. Preserving Signals for Monitoring and Debugging
1.3.4. Viewing Synthesis Reports x
1.3.4.1. Viewing IP Core License Data 1.3.4.2. Viewing Synthesis Dynamic Report
1.4. Design Place and Route x
1.4.1. Running the Fitter 1.4.2. Viewing Fitter Reports
1.4.1. Running the Fitter x
1.4.1.1. Fitter Commands 1.4.1.2. Disabling or Enabling Physical Synthesis Optimization
1.4.2. Viewing Fitter Reports x
1.4.2.1. Plan Stage Reports 1.4.2.2. Place Stage Reports 1.4.2.3. Route Stage Reports 1.4.2.4. Retime Stage Reports 1.4.2.5. Finalize Stage Reports
1.4.2.2. Place Stage Reports x
1.4.2.2.1. Global Signal Visualization Report
1.4.2.3. Route Stage Reports x
1.4.2.3.1. Global Router Congestion Hotspot Summary Report 1.4.2.3.2. Global Router Wire Utilization Map Report
1.5. Incremental Optimization Flow x
1.5.1. Concurrent Analysis During Synthesis or Fitting 1.5.2. Analyzing Compiler Snapshots 1.5.3. Validating Periphery (I/O) after the Plan Stage
1.5.2. Analyzing Compiler Snapshots x
1.5.2.1. Running Snapshot Viewer
1.5.2.1. Running Snapshot Viewer x
1.5.2.1.1. Analyzing Failing Paths with Snapshot Viewer 1.5.2.1.2. Analyzing Clocking with Snapshot Viewer 1.5.2.1.3. Analyzing High Fan-out Nets with Snapshot Viewer 1.5.2.1.4. Validating Timing Constraints with Snapshot Viewer 1.5.2.1.5. Analyzing Congestion with Snapshot Viewer
1.6. Fast Forward Compilation Flow x
1.6.1. Step 1: Run Register Retiming 1.6.2. Step 2: Review Retiming Results 1.6.3. Step 3: Run Fast Forward Compile 1.6.4. Step 4: Review Fast Forward Results 1.6.5. Step 5: Implement Fast Forward Recommendations 1.6.6. Retiming Restrictions and Workarounds
1.6.2. Step 2: Review Retiming Results x
1.6.2.1. Locate Critical Chains
1.6.3. Step 3: Run Fast Forward Compile x
1.6.3.1. Fast Forward Compile By Hierarchy 1.6.3.2. HyperFlex Settings
1.6.4. Step 4: Review Fast Forward Results x
1.6.4.1. Clock Fmax Summary Report 1.6.4.2. Fast Forward Details Report
1.7. Full Compilation Flow x
1.7.1. Full Compilation Flow with Temporary Optimization Mode
1.9. Exporting Compilation Results x
1.9.1. Exporting a Version-Compatible Compilation Database 1.9.2. Importing a Version-Compatible Compilation Database 1.9.3. Creating a Design Partition 1.9.4. Exporting a Design Partition 1.9.5. Reusing a Design Partition
1.11. Integrating Other EDA Tools x
1.11.1. Generating a VQM Netlist for other EDA Tools
1.12. Compiler Optimization Techniques x
1.12.1. Compiler Optimization Modes 1.12.2. Allow Register Retiming 1.12.3. Automatic Gated Clock Conversion 1.12.4. Enable Intermediate Fitter Snapshots 1.12.5. Fast Preserve Option 1.12.6. Fractal Synthesis Optimization
1.12.6. Fractal Synthesis Optimization x
1.12.6.1. Enabling or Disabling Fractal Synthesis
1.14. Viewing Quartus Database File Information x
1.14.1. QDB File Attribute Types
1.15. Understanding the Design Netlist Infrastructure x
1.15.1. DNI Netlist Five-Box Data Model
1.15.1. DNI Netlist Five-Box Data Model x
1.15.1.1. Use Case Examples
1.15.1.1. Use Case Examples x
1.15.1.1.1. Scripting Routine Tasks Using Tcl Commands 1.15.1.1.2. Traversing the Design Netlist Using Tcl Commands
1.16. Using Synopsys* Design Constraint (SDC) on RTL Files x
1.16.1. Registering the SDC-on-RTL SDC File 1.16.2. Applying the SDC-on-RTL Constraints 1.16.3. Inspecting SDC-on-RTL Constraints 1.16.4. Creating Constraints in SDC-on-RTL SDC Files 1.16.5. Using Entity-Based SDC-on-RTL Constraints 1.16.6. Types of SDC Files Used in the Quartus® Prime Software
1.16.4. Creating Constraints in SDC-on-RTL SDC Files x
1.16.4.1. Example: Using SDC-on-RTL Features
1.16.4.1. Example: Using SDC-on-RTL Features x
1.16.4.1.1. SDC-on RTL Example: Targeting Pins of Top-level Instances 1.16.4.1.2. SDC-on RTL Example: Targeting Pins in Cells 1.16.4.1.3. SDC-on RTL Example: Targeting Pins Using Wildcards 1.16.4.1.4. SDC-on RTL Example: Applying Constraints at Deeper Hierarchies
1.16.5. Using Entity-Based SDC-on-RTL Constraints x
1.16.5.1. Entity-based SDC-on-RTL Constraints Example
1.17. Using the Node Finder x
1.17.1. Node Finder Settings Reference
1.18. Synthesis Language Support x
1.18.1. Verilog and SystemVerilog Synthesis Support 1.18.2. VHDL Synthesis Support
1.18.1. Verilog and SystemVerilog Synthesis Support x
1.18.1.1. Verilog HDL Input Settings (Settings Dialog Box) 1.18.1.2. Design Libraries 1.18.1.3. Verilog HDL Configuration 1.18.1.4. Initial Constructs and Memory System Tasks 1.18.1.5. Verilog HDL Macros
1.18.1.3. Verilog HDL Configuration x
1.18.1.3.1. Hierarchical Design Configurations
1.18.2. VHDL Synthesis Support x
1.18.2.1. VHDL Input Settings (Settings Dialog Box) 1.18.2.2. VHDL Standard Libraries and Packages 1.18.2.3. VHDL wait Constructs 1.18.2.4. VHDL-2019 Conditional Analysis Tool Directives
1.19. Synthesis Settings Reference x
1.19.1. Advanced Synthesis Settings
2. Reducing Compilation Time x
2.1. Factors Affecting Compilation Results 2.2. Strategies to Reduce the Overall Compilation Time 2.3. Reducing Synthesis Time 2.4. Reducing Placement Time 2.5. Reducing Routing Time 2.6. Reducing Static Timing Analysis Time 2.7. Setting Process Priority 2.8. Reducing Compilation Time Revision History
2.2. Strategies to Reduce the Overall Compilation Time x
2.2.1. Compilation on a Compute Farm 2.2.2. Enabling Multi-Processor Compilation 2.2.3. Running the ECO Compilation Flow 2.2.4. Using Block-Based Compilation
2.2.2. Enabling Multi-Processor Compilation x
2.2.2.1. Processor Base Clock Frequency 2.2.2.2. Random Access Memory (RAM) 2.2.2.3. Storage
2.3. Reducing Synthesis Time x
2.3.1. Using Precompiled Component Generation 2.3.2. Settings to Reduce Synthesis Time and Synthesis Netlist Optimization Time 2.3.3. Use Appropriate Coding Style to Reduce Synthesis Time
2.3.1. Using Precompiled Component Generation x
2.3.1.1. Enabling Precompiled Components Generation 2.3.1.2. Precompiled Component Generation Flow
2.4. Reducing Placement Time x
2.4.1. Placement Effort Multiplier Settings
2.5. Reducing Routing Time x
2.5.1. Identifying Routing Congestion 2.5.2. Changing Fitter Aggressive Routability Optimization Settings
2.5.1. Identifying Routing Congestion x
2.5.1.1. Identifying Congestion with the Global Router Congestion Hotspot Summary Report and the Global Router Wire Utilization Map 2.5.1.2. Identifying Routing Congestion with the Chip Planner
Answers to Top FAQs
1. Design Compilation
2. Reducing Compilation Time
3. Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide Design Compilation Archives
A. Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guides

2.2.4. Using Block-Based Compilation

During the design process, when making minor modifications to a design, recompiling the entire design can result in longer compilation times than anticipated.
This is because every time you recompile a design following a change, the compiler may apply global optimizations to enhance resource utilization and timing performance, thus extending the compilation time. By employing a block-based flow in the Quartus® Prime Pro Edition software, you can isolate functional blocks that meet placement and timing requirements from others still undergoing change and optimization. By isolating functional blocks into partitions, the results and performance of unaltered logic within a design are maintained so you can apply optimization techniques to selected areas and only compile those areas. This approach can significantly diminish design compilation time, enabling several iterations per day and facilitating more efficient achievement of timing closure.

When using block-based compilation, you can enable the Fast Preserve option, which masks the partition netlist during the fitter initialization to use only the logic that interfaces with the rest of the design present at the partition boundary during compilation. By implementing this approach, the time required for the compiler to perform synthesis, place, route, and partition is effectively reduced. Consequently, the overall compilation process becomes more efficient, enabling faster generation of the necessary configurations for the partition. This reduction in compilation time allows for quicker iterations and facilitates the timely completion of the design implementation phase.

To create partitions dividing functional blocks:
  1. In the Design Partition Planner, identify blocks of a size suitable for partitioning.
    A partition generally represents roughly 15 to 20% of the total design size. You should use the information area below the bar at the top of each entity.
    Figure 135. Entity representation in the Design Partition Planner
  2. Extract and collapse entities as necessary to achieve stand-alone blocks.
  3. For each entity of the desired size containing related blocks of logic, right-click the entity and click Create Design Partition to place that entity in its own partition.
    The goal is to achieve partitions containing related blocks of logic.
  4. To enable the Fast Preserve option that simplifies the logic of the preserved partition to only interface logic during compilation, click Assignments > Settings > Compiler Settings > Incremental Compile > Fast Preserve.
Intel® recommends consulting the Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide: Block-Based Design to gain in-depth knowledge about block-based designs. This guide serves as a comprehensive resource that provides detailed information, instructions, and explanations related to the Quartus® Prime Pro Edition software.
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