Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide: Timing Analyzer

ID 683243
Date 11/26/2024
Public
Document Table of Contents

2.7. Using the Quartus® Prime Timing Analyzer Document Revision History

Document Version Quartus® Prime Version Changes
2024.11.15 24.3
  • Added links to new Troubleshooting Common Timing Issues chapter.
2024.09.30 24.3
  • Revised Applying Timing Constraints topic for SDC correctness.
  • Revised Using Fitter Overconstraints topic for all supported device families.
  • Revised Clock Constraints topic and linked to Exclusive Clock Groups topic.
  • Added new Data Delay (set_data_delay) topic.
  • Revised Using Entity-based SDC-on-RTL Constraints topic for greater clarity.
  • Revised Targeting Constraints to Module Inputs and Outputs topic.
  • Revised Entity Based SDC-on-RTL Constraint Scope topic for get_ports.
  • Updated Constraining Design Partition Ports topic for deprecation of the -blackbox argument.
  • Added new Deprecation of the -blackbox Argument topic.
  • Revised Input Constraints topic for deprecation of the -blackbox argument.
  • Revised Output Constraints topic for deprecation of the -blackbox argument.
  • Added new Creating Efficient Timing Exceptions topic.
  • Updated Report Asynchronous CDC topic for new SDC Statistics and SDC Schematic tabs.
  • Updated Collection Commands topic for latest available commands.
2024.04.01 24.1
  • Added new Using Timing Constraints throughout the Design Flow topic.
  • Revised the Step 1: Specify General Timing Analyzer Settings topic to add link to SDC-on-RTL info.
  • Revised Step 3: Run the Timing Analyzer topic for Early Timing Analysis and SDC-on-RTL.
  • Revised Applying Timing Constraints section for Early Timing Analysis and SDC-on-RTL.
  • Revised SDC File Precedence topic for SDC-on-RTL.
  • Revised Iteratively Modifying Constraints topic for SDC-on-RTL.
  • Added new Using Entity-based SDC-on-RTL Constraints section.
  • Revised Using Entity-bound SDC Files section for SDC-on-RTL.
  • Renamed Generate Timing Reports topic to Timing Report Descriptions and relocated.
  • Revised the Timing Report Descriptions topic to reference quartus_staw method.
  • Revised Report Timing By Source File topic to mention ability to open the source file in a text editor from the report.
  • Revised Report Metastability topic to mention ability to run Report Neighbor Paths, default toggle rate, and more report details.
  • Revised Report Route Net of Interest topic to mention ability to run report_timing from the report.
  • Revised Timing Analyzer Scripting topic to reference quartus_sta and quartus_staw executables.
  • Added more details about derived_clock naming to Automatic Clock Detection and Constraint Creation topic.
  • Added new The quartus_staw Executable topic.
  • Enhanced Using Fitter Overconstraints topic for details specific to the Hyperflex® architecture, new examples, and Other Overconstraint Combinations table of examples.
  • Added new Report SDC topic explaining report and Comments column.
  • Revised constraint precedence in Maximum Skew topic.
2023.12.04 23.4
  • Revised the Applying Timing Constraints topic to add introductory information and context about typical constraints.
  • Added new Check Timing topic describing Check Timing command and report.
  • Added new cross-referencing links throughout Applying Timing Constraints section.
2023.10.02 23.3
  • Updated compilation dashboard image in Step 3: Run the Timing Analyzer.
  • Revised the following topics entirely:
    • Using Entity-bound SDC Files
    • Entity-bound Constraint Scope
    • Entity-bound Constraint Examples
2023.08.03 23.1
  • Corrected typo in command example in Report Data Delay topic.
  • Corrected typo in command example in Constraining CDC Paths topic.
  • Corrected typo in command example in Maximum Skew topic.
  • Added Promoting Critical Warnings to Errors topic.
2023.04.03 23.1
  • Revised updated image and description in Report Register Description for new Without a Control Signal and Synchronous Load columns and data.
2023.01.31 22.4
  • Revised outdated timing model descriptions in Setting the Operating Conditions for Timing Analysis topic.
2022.09.26 22.3
  • Renamed the report title "Report Reset Statistics" as "Report Register Statistics."
  • Revised the Report Register Statistics topic to describe some new features of the report.
  • Revised Report Fmax Summary topic to refer to get_clock_fmax_info command and provide more detail.
  • Revised Example SDC Constraints for External Clock Mux to replace logically_exclusive with physically_exclusive.
2022.03.28 22.1
  • Described new Clock Network Viewer in Report Clocks and Clock Networks topic.
  • Updated Report Register Spread topic for new angle and area spread types and -to_clock filtering.
  • Added new Report Timing By Source Files topic.
  • Added new Report Metastability topic.
  • Added new Report Bottlenecks topic.
  • Added new Specifying Custom Bottleneck Criteria topic.
  • Revised Basic .sdc Constraints Example in Example Circuit and SDC File topic.
  • Added more detailed constraint example and diagram to Set Clock Groups topic.
  • Revised scripting examples and screenshots in Correlating Constraints to the Timing Report topic.
  • Revised scripting example in Creating Base Clocks topic.
  • Revised scripting example in Clock Divider Example topic.
  • Revised Constraining CDC Paths topic.
  • Added note about referenced SDCs within IP to SDC File Precedence topic.
2021.09.27 21.3
  • Updated name of Report Hierarchical Retiming Restrictions command and report to Report Retiming Restrictions.
  • Added Constraining CDC Paths topic and linked to related topics.
  • Updated Setting the Operating Conditions with details about operating condition nomenclature.
  • Replaced Custom Reports, Device Specific, Diagnostic, and Slack report folder names throughout.
  • Added Report Exceptions and Exceptions Reachability topic describing new report.
  • Added Report Clocks and Clock Networks topic describing new report.
  • Added Report Data Delay topic describing report.
  • Mentioned option to view multiple before and after paths in Report Neighbor Paths topic.
  • Added set_clock_groups to Timing Exception Precedence
  • Updated content of Extra Info tab in Report Timing topic.
  • Corrected the set_clock_groups -group A -group B table in the Creating Clock Groups topic.
  • Removed Report Custom CDC Viewer Command topic.
  • Revised assignment examples in Exclusive Clock Groups topic.
2021.04.05 21.1
  • Added:
    • "Report Reset Statistics"
    • "Report Asynchronous CDC"
    • Two new fields to "Report Pipelining Information".
    • New screenshots to "Report Logic Depth" and "Report Neighbor Paths"
    • get_registers and get_keepers to "Collection Commands".
  • Removed -include and -exclude options from "Maximum Skew"
2021.02.22 20.3 Added extra SDC_ENTITY_FILE info to "Using Entity-bound SDC Files"
2020.09.28 20.3
  • Added "Cross Probing with Design Assistant" section.
  • Updated “Step 3: Run the Timing Analyzer” for multiple methods.
  • Updated "Step 1: Specify Timing Analyzer Settings for new tabbed dialog box and options.
  • Added new "Report Register Spread," "Report Route Net of Interest," "Report Hierarchical Retiming Restrictions," and "Report Pipelining Information" topics.
  • Updated "Report Clock Transfers" topic for new data columns.
  • Updated "Report Timing" topic for Extra Info tab data.
  • Updated "Report Fmax Summary," "Report Logic Depth," "Report Neighbor Paths," "Report CDC Viewer," and "Report Custom CDC Viewer" topics for latest GUI and consistency.
2020.04.13 20.1
  • Added details and Agilex™ 7 device examples to "Setting the Operating Conditions" topic.
  • Added "Report Logic Level Depth" topic.
  • Added "Report Neighbor Paths" topic.
  • Added "Enabling Time Borrowing Optimization" topic.
  • Added "Report Time Borrowing Data" topic.
2019.07.15 19.2
  • Updated "Setting Operating Conditions" for SmartVID timing models.
  • Added step for setting operating conditions to "Step 4: Run Timing Analysis."
  • Added details about exclusive paths to "Maximum Skew" topic.
  • Added GUI steps for creating entity-bound SDC files to "Using Entity-bound SDC Files" topic.
2019.04.15 19.1
  • Corrected typo in "Timing Constraint Precedence" topic.
  • Corrected typo in "Maximum Skew" topic.
  • Updated "Viewing Design Assistant Recommendations" for latest GUI changes.
2018.11.07 18.1
  • Improved description and diagram for "Exclusive Clock Groups" topic.
2018.09.24 18.1
  • Added "Using Entity-bound SDC Files" topic.
  • Added "Scoping Entity-bound Constraints" topic.
  • Added "Entity-bound Constraint Examples" topic.
  • Revised "Basic Timing Analysis Flow" section to add sequential step organization, update steps, and add supporting screenshots.
  • Added Timing Analyzer screenshot to "Using the Timing Analyzer" topic.
  • Removed "Creating a Constraint File from Templates with the Text Editor" topic due to limitations of this feature in this version of the software.
  • Retitled "SDC Constraint Creation Summary" to " Dual Clock SDC Example."
  • Retitled "Default Settings" to "Default Multicycle Analysis."
  • Retitled "SDC (Clock and Exception) Assignments on Blackbox Ports" to "Constraining Design Partition Ports."
  • Added "Viewing Design Assistant Recommendations" topic.
2018.05.07 18.0
  • First release as part of the stand-alone Timing Analyzer User Guide
2017.11.27 17.1.0
  • Removed outdated figure: Design Flow with the Timing Analyzer.
  • Updated Performing an Initial Analysis and Synthesis topic with Quartus® Prime Pro Edition commands.
2017.11.06 17.1
  • Updated Using Fitter Overconstraints topic for Stratix® 10 support.
2017.05.08 17.0
  • Added Using Fitter Overconstraints topic.
  • Added Clock Domain Crossing report topics
2016.10.31 16.1
  • Implemented Intel rebranding.
  • Added support for -blackbox option with set_input_delay, set_output_delay, remove_input_delay, remove_output_delay.
2016.05.03 16.0 Added new topic: SCDS (Clock and Exception) Assignments on Blackbox Ports
2015.11.02 15.1.0
  • Changed instances of Quartus II to Quartus Prime.
  • Added a description of running three- and four-corner analysis with --mode=implement|finalize.
  • Added description for new set_operating_conditions UI.
2015.05.04 15.0.0 Added and updated contents in support of new timing algorithms for Arria 10:
  • Enhanced Timing Analysis for Arria 10
  • Maximum Skew (set_max_skew command)
  • Net Delay (set_net_delay command)
  • Create Generated Clocks (clock-as-data example)
2014.12.15 14.1 Major reorganization. Revised and added content to the following topic areas:
  • Timing Constraints
  • Create Clocks and Clock Constraints
  • Creating Generated Clocks
  • Creating Clock Groups
  • Clock Uncertainty
  • Running the Timing Analyzer
  • Generating Timing Reports
  • Understanding Results
  • Constraining and Analyzing with Tcl Commands
August 2014 14.0a10.0 Added command line compilation requirements for Arria 10 devices.
June 2014 14.0
  • Minor updates.
  • Updated format.
November 2013 13.1
  • Removed HardCopy device information.
June 2012 12.0
  • Reorganized chapter.
  • Added “Creating a Constraint File from Quartus® Prime Templates with the Quartus® Prime Text Editor” section on creating an SDC constraints file with the Insert Template dialog box.
  • Added “Identifying the Quartus® Prime Software Executable from the SDC File” section.
  • Revised multicycle exceptions section.
November 2011 11.1
  • Consolidated content from the Best Practices for the Quartus® Prime Timing Analyzer chapter.
  • Changed to new document template.
May 2011 11.0
  • Updated to improve flow. Minor editorial updates.
December 2010 10.1
  • Changed to new document template.
  • Revised and reorganized entire chapter.
  • Linked to Quartus® Prime Help.
July 2010 10.0 Updated to link to content on SDC commands and the Timing Analyzer GUI in Quartus® Prime Help.
November 2009 9.1 Updated for the Quartus® Prime software version 9.1, including:
  • Added information about commands for adding and removing items from collections
  • Added information about the set_timing_derate and report_skew commands
  • Added information about worst-case timing reporting
  • Minor editorial updates
November 2008 8.1 Updated for the Quartus® Prime software version 8.1, including:
  • Added the following sections:

    “set_net_delay” on page 7–42

    “Annotated Delay” on page 7–49

    “report_net_delay” on page 7–66

  • Updated the descriptions of the -append and -file < name > options in tables throughout the chapter
  • Updated entire chapter using 8½” × 11” chapter template
  • Minor editorial updates