Programmer Object File (.pof) Definition

A binary file (with the extension .pof) containing the data for programming a MAX® II , or MAX® V device, or a configuration device that can configure other devices. A Programmer Object File for a configuration device is generated by the Compiler's Assembler module, by the makeprogfile command-line utility, by the Convert Programming Files command (File menu), or by convert_prog_file from the command line. You create a Programmer Object File for a MAX® II , or MAX® V device using only the Compiler's Assembler module.

A Programmer Object File for Remote Update is a Programmer Object File that consists of a remote update enabled Programmer Object File and additional remote update enabled SRAM Object Files (.sof), and is used to program configuration devices in remote update configuration mode. You create a remote update enabled Programmer Object File by adding remote update enabled SRAM Object Files to a Programmer Object File in the Convert Programming Files dialog box.

A Programmer Object File for Local Update is a Programmer Object File that consists of a local update enabled Programmer Object File and additional local update enabled SRAM Object Files, and is used to program configuration devices in local update configuration mode. You create a local update enabled Programmer Object File by adding local update enabled SRAM Object Files to a Programmer Object File in the Convert Programming Files dialog box.

A Programmer Object File for Remote Update or Programmer Object File for Local Update can be created for only EPC4, EPC4QC100, EPC8, EPC8QC100, EPC16, EPC16QC100, EPC16UC88, EPCQ128, and EPCQ256 configuration devices, and can contain only remote update enabled or local update enabled Programmer Object Files and SRAM Object Files. A Programmer Object File for Remote Update or Programmer Object File for Local Update can be used only by supported device families. Consult the appropriate device documentation for .pof support information.

Note: Each successive release of the Intel® Quartus® Prime software typically includes:
  • Added support for new features in supported FPGA devices.
  • Added support for new devices.
  • Efficiency and performance improvements.
  • Improvements to compilation time and resource use of the design software.
Due to these improvements, different versions of the Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition, Intel® Quartus® Prime Standard Edition, and Intel® Quartus® Prime Lite Edition software can produce different programming files from release to release.