How do I use 64-bit tools in tcl script under Windows?

[Altera_Forum]

Hi All, 

 I have what seems like a straightforward need but I have struck out on finding info about it.  I normally use tcl scripts to do my builds and up until lately I have always been fine with using the 32-bit version of the Quartus tools. My system is 64-bit Windows and I can run either 32-bit or 64-bit versions of Quartus from the start menu. However, when I start a build in a tcl script using a command like "execute_flow -compile", the 32-bit version is invoked by default. I now have a need to use the 64-bit version but cannot find a way to specify that the 64-bit version should be used. (note: I have found ways to do this under Linux but not Windows)  Anybody know how to do this?

[Altera_Forum]

Don't you hate it when you ask what you suspect is probably a stupid question but you ask it anyway and then the answer comes to you 15 minutes later? 

 I run the tcl script from the DOS command prompt using a command like "quartus_sh -t build_all.tcl". (where "build_all.tcl" is my tcl script) Prior to doing that, I set the PATH environment variable to include the location of the quartus_sh executable. For instance, on my system, I add "C:\altera\12.0\quartus\bin" to the beginning of the PATH variable. If I instead add "C:\altera\12.0\quartus\bin64", it runs the 64-bit shell, and it invokes the 64-bit tools.  I imagine one could also just invoke quartus_sh using it's full path name but have not tried that.  Hopefully someone finds this useful.

[Altera_Forum]

Another way that essentially sets the path correctly is to start the NIOS II IDE shell for the specific quartus install, and then run quartus_sh from that command-line, rather than from DOS. 

 Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

Thank you for the suggestion. I have encountered at least one other reason why the NIOS shell would be useful, one of these days I'll have to learn a little more about Unix so I can make proper use of the NIOS shell.

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  I have encountered at least one other reason why the NIOS shell would be useful, one of these days I'll have to learn a little more about Unix so I can make proper use of the NIOS shell.  --- Quote End ---   Under Windows its often useful to start the NIOS II IDE shell, and then start Quartus from that, so that the Tcl console "shell" is Cygwin, rather than the Windows CMD.EXE shell (which does not work well).  Cheers, Dave