Quartus II Scripting Support
Quartus® II software includes comprehensive scripting support for command-line and tool command language (Tcl) script design flows. Separate executables for each stage of the Quartus II design flow (synthesis, fitting, and timing analysis, for example) include options for making common settings and performing common tasks. The Tcl scripting application program interface (API) includes commands covering basic to advanced functionality. The Quartus II Scripting Reference Manual (PDF) provides a complete reference covering all command-line options and Tcl commands. The Quartus II Settings File Reference Manual (PDF) lists and describes all QSF settings.
Command-Line Scripting
You can use Quartus II command-line executables in batch files, shell scripts, makefiles, and other scripts. For instance, use the following command to compile an existing project:
quartus_sh --flow compile <project name>
For more information about command-line scripting, refer to the Command Line Scripting (PDF) chapter in Volume 2 of the Quartus II Development Software Handbook.
You can also use the Quartus II Command-Line and Tcl API Help Utility for a complete list of supported options, descriptions, and examples. Run it by typing the following at a command prompt:
quartus_sh --qhelp
Tcl Scripting
Use the Quartus II Tcl API for any of the following tasks:
- Create and manage projects
- Make assignments
- Compile designs
- Extract report data
- Perform timing analysis
For example, the following Tcl script uses design files for the fir_filter tutorial design in the <qdesigns>/tutorial directory. It creates a project, makes pin, clock, and timing assignments, and compiles the design.
load_package flow
project_new fir_filter -revision filtref -overwrite
set_global_assignment -name FAMILY Cyclone
set_global_assignment -name DEVICE EP1C6F256C6
set_global_assignment -name BDF_FILE filtref.bdf
set_global_assignment -name TOP_LEVEL_ENTITY filtref
# You could make other pin assignments here
set_location_assignment -to clk Pin_G1
create_base_clock -fmax "100 MHz" -target clk clocka
create_relative_clock -base_clock clocka -divide 2 \
-offset "500 ps" -target clkx2 clockb
set_multicycle_assignment -from clk -to clkx2 2
execute_flow -compile
project_close
For more information about Tcl scripting, refer to the Tcl Scripting (PDF) chapter in Volume 2 of the Quartus II Development Software Handbook.
You can also use the Quartus II Command-Line and Tcl API Help Utility for a complete list of Tcl API commands, descriptions, and examples. Run it by typing the following at a command prompt:
quartus_sh --qhelp
Scripting Design Examples
Altera provides Tcl design examples you can learn from, modify, and use in your own designs.
Scripting Training
View online training presentations to get up to speed on scripting in the Quartus II software.
- Online Demo: View a short demonstration of Tcl and command-line scripting in the Quartus II software.
- Command-Line Scripting: This class covers the Quartus II command-line executables and how to use them in scripts and Makefiles. It also provides examples.
- Introduction to Tcl Scripting: These two classes cover the basics of Tcl scripting, describing the language and basic operations, along with examples.
- Basic Quartus II Tcl Scripting: These two classes introduce the Tcl scripting API for the Quartus II software. They also cover how to use Tcl scripts to create and compile projects, extract report data, and more. You should know how to write Tcl scripts before taking these classes.
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