Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide: Getting Started

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ID 683463
Date 9/29/2025
Public
Document Table of Contents
Document Table of Contents x
Answers to Top FAQs 1. Introduction to Quartus® Prime Pro Edition 2. Quick Start Steps 3. Planning FPGA Design for RTL Flow 4. Working With Altera IP Cores 5. Creating a New FPGA Design Project 6. Migrate Your FPGA Design Project 7. Managing Quartus® Prime Projects 8. Next Steps After Getting Started A. Using the Design Space Explorer II B. Document Revision History for Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide Getting Started
1. Introduction to Quartus® Prime Pro Edition x
1.1. Prerequisite Knowledge and Training 1.2. Navigate Content Through Tasks 1.3. Acronyms 1.4. Specifying a Windows* Theme
3. Planning FPGA Design for RTL Flow x
3.1. Design Planning 3.2. Selecting the Design Methodology 3.3. Related Trainings
3.2. Selecting the Design Methodology x
3.2.1. Flat Design Vs. Incremental Block-based Design 3.2.2. Partial Reconfiguration Design
4. Working With Altera IP Cores x
4.1. Altera IP Catalog and Parameter Editor 4.2. Installing and Licensing Altera IPs 4.3. IP General Settings 4.4. Adding IP to IP Catalog 4.5. Best Practices for Altera IP 4.6. Specifying the IP Parameters and Options ( Quartus® Prime Pro Edition) 4.7. IP Core Generation Output ( Quartus® Prime Pro Edition) 4.8. Scripting IP Core Generation 4.9. Modifying an IP Variation 4.10. Upgrading IP Cores 4.11. Simulating Altera IP Cores 4.12. Generating Simulation Files for Platform Designer Systems and IP Variants 4.13. Synthesizing IP Cores in Other EDA Tools 4.14. Instantiating IP Cores in HDL 4.15. Support for the IEEE 1735 Encryption Standard 4.16. Related Trainings and Resources
4.1. Altera IP Catalog and Parameter Editor x
4.1.1. The Parameter Editor
4.2. Installing and Licensing Altera IPs x
4.2.1. IP Evaluation Mode
4.2.1. IP Evaluation Mode x
4.2.1.1. FPGA IP Versioning 4.2.1.2. Checking the IP License Status
4.6. Specifying the IP Parameters and Options ( Quartus® Prime Pro Edition) x
4.6.1. Applying Preset Parameters for Specific Applications 4.6.2. Customizing IP Presets
4.6.1. Applying Preset Parameters for Specific Applications x
4.6.1.1. Viewing, Applying, and Deleting IP Presets
4.6.2. Customizing IP Presets x
4.6.2.1. Defining Preset Pin Assignments
4.6.2.1. Defining Preset Pin Assignments x
4.6.2.1.1. Defining Preset Pin Assignments in Pin Assignments Tab 4.6.2.1.2. Defining Preset Pin Assignments in a Pin File
4.10. Upgrading IP Cores x
4.10.1. Upgrading IP Cores at Command-Line 4.10.2. Migrating IP Cores to a Different Device 4.10.3. Troubleshooting IP or Platform Designer System Upgrade
4.11. Simulating Altera IP Cores x
4.11.1. Generating IP Simulation Files 4.11.2. Scripting IP Simulation
4.11.2. Scripting IP Simulation x
4.11.2.1. Generating a Combined Simulator Setup Script
4.14. Instantiating IP Cores in HDL x
4.14.1. Example Top-Level Verilog HDL Module 4.14.2. Example Top-Level VHDL Module
5. Creating a New FPGA Design Project x
5.1. Using the Board-Aware Flow
5.1. Using the Board-Aware Flow x
5.1.1. Creating a New Project from a Design Example 5.1.2. Specifying a Target Board for the Project
5.1.1. Creating a New Project from a Design Example x
5.1.1.1. Family, Device & Board Settings 5.1.1.2. Accessing Pre-Installed Design Examples 5.1.1.3. Accessing Online Design Examples 5.1.1.4. Accessing Downloaded Design Examples
5.1.1.3. Accessing Online Design Examples x
5.1.1.3.1. Internet Connectivity Options 5.1.1.3.2. Design Examples Search Locations
6. Migrate Your FPGA Design Project x
6.1. Migrating Projects from Other Quartus® Prime Editions to Quartus® Prime Pro Edition 6.2. Migrating Your AMD* Vivado* Project to Quartus® Prime Pro Edition 6.3. Migrating Projects Across Operating Systems 6.4. Migrating Project From One Device to Another 6.5. Related Trainings
6.1. Migrating Projects from Other Quartus® Prime Editions to Quartus® Prime Pro Edition x
6.1.1. Keeping Pro Edition Project Files Separate 6.1.2. Upgrading Project Assignments and Constraints 6.1.3. Upgrading IP Cores and Platform Designer Systems 6.1.4. Upgrading Non-Compliant Design RTL
6.1.2. Upgrading Project Assignments and Constraints x
6.1.2.1. Modifying Entity Name Assignments 6.1.2.2. Resolving Timing Constraint Entity Names 6.1.2.3. Verifying Generated Node Name Assignments 6.1.2.4. Replace Logic Lock (Standard) Regions 6.1.2.5. Modifying Signal Tap Logic Analyzer Files 6.1.2.6. Removing References to .qip Files 6.1.2.7. Removing Unsupported Feature Assignments
6.1.2.4. Replace Logic Lock (Standard) Regions x
6.1.2.4.1. Logic Lock Region Assignment Examples
6.1.4. Upgrading Non-Compliant Design RTL x
6.1.4.1. Verifying Verilog Compilation Unit 6.1.4.2. Updating Entity Auto-Discovery 6.1.4.3. Ensuring Distinct VHDL Namespace for Each Library 6.1.4.4. Removing Unsupported Parameter Passing 6.1.4.5. Removing Unsized Constant from WYSIWYG Instantiation 6.1.4.6. Removing Non-Standard Pragmas 6.1.4.7. Declaring Objects Before Initial Values 6.1.4.8. Confining SystemVerilog Features to SystemVerilog Files 6.1.4.9. Avoiding Assignment Mixing in Always Blocks 6.1.4.10. Avoiding Unconnected, Non-Existent Ports 6.1.4.11. Avoiding Invalid Parameter Ranges 6.1.4.12. Updating Verilog HDL and VHDL Type Mapping 6.1.4.13. Converting Symbolic BDF Files to Acceptable File Formats
6.1.4.1. Verifying Verilog Compilation Unit x
6.1.4.1.1. Verilog HDL Configuration Instantiation
6.3. Migrating Projects Across Operating Systems x
6.3.1. Migrating Design Files and Libraries 6.3.2. Design Library Migration Guidelines
6.3.1. Migrating Design Files and Libraries x
6.3.1.1. Use Relative Paths
7. Managing Quartus® Prime Projects x
7.1. Viewing Basic Project Information 7.2. Managing Project Settings 7.3. Viewing Parameter Settings From the Project Navigator 7.4. Managing Logic Design Files 7.5. Managing Timing Constraints 7.6. Integrating Other EDA Tools 7.7. Exporting Compilation Results 7.8. Archiving Projects 7.9. Command-Line Interface 7.10. Related Trainings
7.1. Viewing Basic Project Information x
7.1.1. Using the Compilation Dashboard 7.1.2. Exploring Quartus® Prime Project Contents 7.1.3. Viewing Design Hierarchy and Adding Missing Source Files 7.1.4. Viewing Project Reports 7.1.5. Viewing Project Messages
7.1.2. Exploring Quartus® Prime Project Contents x
7.1.2.1. Project File Best Practices
7.1.5. Viewing Project Messages x
7.1.5.1. Viewing Synthesis Warning Messages 7.1.5.2. Suppressing Message Display 7.1.5.3. Promoting Critical Warnings to Errors
7.4. Managing Logic Design Files x
7.4.1. Including Design Libraries 7.4.2. Creating a Project Copy
7.7. Exporting Compilation Results x
7.7.1. Exporting a Version-Compatible Compilation Database 7.7.2. Importing a Version-Compatible Compilation Database 7.7.3. Creating a Design Partition 7.7.4. Exporting a Design Partition 7.7.5. Reusing a Design Partition 7.7.6. Viewing Quartus Database File Information 7.7.7. Clearing Compilation Results
7.7.6. Viewing Quartus Database File Information x
7.7.6.1. QDB File Attribute Types
7.8. Archiving Projects x
7.8.1. Manually Adding Files To Archives 7.8.2. Archiving Projects for Service Requests 7.8.3. Archiving Projects for External Revision Control 7.8.4. Creating Database-Only Archives
7.8.3. Archiving Projects for External Revision Control x
7.8.3.1. Project Files to Include In External Revision Control
7.9. Command-Line Interface x
7.9.1. Project Revision Commands 7.9.2. Project Archive Commands 7.9.3. Project Database Commands
7.9.3. Project Database Commands x
7.9.3.1. quartus_cdb Executables to Manage Version-Compatible Databases
8. Next Steps After Getting Started x
8.1. Additional Resources 8.2. Training
A. Using the Design Space Explorer II x
A.1. Optimizing Project Settings A.2. Running DSE II Settings Exploration A.3. Setting Up Remote Farm Using Design Space Explorer II
A.1. Optimizing Project Settings x
A.1.1. Optimizing Settings with Design Space Explorer II A.1.2. Optimizing Settings with Project Revisions A.1.3. Back-Annotating Optimized Assignments
A.1.1. Optimizing Settings with Design Space Explorer II x
A.1.1.1. Specifying DSE II Computing Resources A.1.1.2. DSE II Optimization Parameters (Exploration Page) A.1.1.3. Viewing DSE II Results
Answers to Top FAQs
1. Introduction to Quartus® Prime Pro Edition
2. Quick Start Steps
3. Planning FPGA Design for RTL Flow
4. Working With Altera IP Cores
5. Creating a New FPGA Design Project
6. Migrate Your FPGA Design Project
7. Managing Quartus® Prime Projects
8. Next Steps After Getting Started
A. Using the Design Space Explorer II
B. Document Revision History for Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide Getting Started

A.1.2. Optimizing Settings with Project Revisions

You can save multiple, named project revisions within your Quartus® Prime project (Project > Revisions). Each project revision captures a unique set of project settings and constraints, while using the same set of logic design files.

Use revisions to experiment with different settings while preserving the original. Optimize different revisions for separate applications:

  • Create a unique revision to optimize a design for different criteria, such as by area in one revision and by fMAX in another revision.
  • When you create a new revision the default Quartus® Prime settings initially apply.
  • Create a revision of a revision to experiment with settings and constraints. The child revision includes all the assignments and settings of the parent revision.

You create, delete, and edit revisions in the Revisions dialog box. Each time you create a new project revision, the Quartus® Prime software creates a new .qsf using the revision name.

To compare each revision’s synthesis, fitting, and timing analysis results side-by-side, click Project > Revisions and then click Compare. In addition to viewing the compilation Results of each revision, you can also compare the Assignments for each revision. This comparison reveals how different optimization options affect your design.

Figure 70. Comparing Project Revisions
Related Information
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