How do I import a Quartus II Exported Partition (.qxp) file using the quartus_cdb command?

If you need to use the advanced import method instead of simply adding the Quartus® II Exported Partition file (.qxp) to your project, you can import the entity using the flow below:

1. Ensure that the project instantiates the entity and that a partition has been created for the entity.
2. Using the Quartus II Compiler Database Interface program, quartus_cdb, load the required packages and open your project.
3. Create a PARTITION_IMPORT_FILE global assignment to associate the entity, partition and .qxp file.
4. If you want to import multiple .qxp files, create a PARTITION_IMPORT_FILE global assignment for each.
5. Finally, execute the incremental_compilation_import flow to import the partitions.

The following example shows the commands to use in quartus_cdb to import a .qxp file into a project.

# load required packages
load_package incremental_compilation
load_package project
load_package flow

# open project
project_open <project_path/project_name>

# make partition import file assignments
set_global_assignment –name PARTITION_IMPORT_FILE \
-entity <entity_which_instantiates_imported_QXP> \
-section_id <name_of_partition_being_imported> \
<filename>.qxp

# command to execute import
execute_flow –incremental_compilation_import

For further information, see the command help available by running the quartus_cdb executable with the --help option. Also, refer to the Quartus II Scripting Reference Manual and the Quartus II Setting File Reference Manual.