How to convert .sof file to encrypted .pof (with .ekp included) with the quartus_cpf Command Line Tool?

 When you are trying to convert a .sof file to an encrypted .pof with .ekp inside it using the quartus_cpf command, but unfortunately after invoking the following:

quartus_cpf -c -k epof_key.key:key_0 -o create_ekp_file=on -o memory_map_file=on  file.sof epof.pof

You will get the encrypted .pof without the.ekp included.

There are two ways to do this in the command line:

1. Program the .ekp and .pof files separately.

Example:

quartus_pgm -c 1 -m jtag -o "p;test.ekp"

quartus_pgm -c 1 -m jtag -o "p;test.pof"

The outcome is the same as combining the .ekp into the .pof and program altogether.

For the .pof file, you need to ensure the "Allow encrypted POF only" option is disabled (default is disabled if you didn't make any change) when you generate using quartus_cpf.

2. Save your GUI settings into a CDF file and play the CDF file in quartus_pgm.
   
   Follow these steps:
   a) Set up your settings in the GUI.

b) Click File->Save As... and save the settings into a CDF file (test.cdf).

c) Play the CDF file in quartus_pgm:

quartus_pgm -c 1 test.cdf