Device Configuration User Guide: Agilex™ 5 FPGAs and SoCs

ID 813773
Date 4/01/2024
Public

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3.2.10.1. Generating Programming Files using the Programming File Generator

By default, the Quartus® Prime Compiler's Assembler module generates the .sof file required for device programming at the end of full compilation. You can use the Programming File Generator to generate programming files for alternative device programming methods, such as the .jic for flash programming, or .rpd for third-party programmer configuration.
Note: If you are generating an .rpd for remote system update (RSU), you must follow the instructions in Generating an Application Image in the Remote System Update chapter. This procedure generates flash programming files for Agilex™ 5 devices.

Complete the following steps to generate the programming file or files you require:

  1. Click File > Programming File Generator .
  2. For Device Family select Agilex™ 5
  3. In the Configuration mode, select Active Serial x4.
  4. Specify the Output directory and Name for the file you generate.
  5. On the Output Files tab, enable the checkbox to select the files you want to generate. The AS scheme supports the Programmer Object File (.pof), JTAG Indirect Configuration File (.jic), and Raw Programming Data File (.rpd) file types.
    Figure 52. Programming File Generator Output Files
  6. For the JTAG Indirect Configuration File (.jic) and Programmer Object File (.pof) you can turn on the Memory Map File (.map). This option describes flash memory address locations.
    The Input Files tab is now available.
  7. On the Input Files tab, click Add Bitstream and browse to your configuration bitstream.
    Figure 53. Programming File Generator Input Files
  8. On the Configuration Device tab, click Add Device. You can select your flash device from the Configuration Device list, or define a custom device using the available menu options. For more information about defining a custom configuration device, refer to the Configuration Device Tab Settings (Programming File Generator) in the Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide: Programmer.
    Note: When using several different Serial NOR Flash devices from different vendors, a single .jic flash image can be reused. Create the .jic flash image file by selecting any supported Serial NOR Flash, preferably one with the smallest size that you are considering in your design. If the other Serial NOR Flash devices you are considering in your design are also in the supported devices list and they are of equal or larger size than what you initially selected, the image can be reused.
    Figure 54. Programming File Generator: Configuration Device Tab
    Note: You do not need to specify the flash device for .rpd files because the .rpd format is independent of the flash device. In contrast, the .pof and .jic files include both programming data and additional data specific to the configuration device. The Quartus® Prime Programmer uses this additional data to establish communication with the configuration device and then write the programming data.
  9. Click Generate to generate the programming file(s).
    1. You can optionally Click File > Save As .. to save the configuration parameters as a file with the .pfg extension. The .pfg file contains your settings for the Programming File Generator. After you save the .pfg, you can use this file to regenerate the programming file by running the following command:
    quartus_pfg -c <configuration_file>.pfg