Using Quartus II without hardware?

Altera_Forum · ‎10-26-2010

Hi,

I'm very new to Quartus II and I'm finding experimenting with it very interesting! I'm using it to produce some coursework for my degree, and have downloaded the web edition. However I cannot seem to open projects that I've used at university, and if I try to create a new one I get the same message:

"Cannot open project -- device support not installed."

Is there a way I can configure Quartus to not require the hardware? I just want to be able to work on my project at home then take it to university to test. Sorry if this is a very basic/obvious question, I've only been using Quartus for about a week and couldn't find anything searching...

Thanks for any help.

Altera_Forum · ‎10-26-2010

The error message hasn't to do with connected hardware. It means that the device support hasn't been installed during Quartus Installation.

Altera_Forum · ‎10-26-2010

You don't need the hardware, but you will need the hardware libraries associated with whatever FPGA etc, that you are basing your design on installed in order for Quartus II to allow you to open your project.

When you are at university next and have your quartus II design open, have a look at the top of the Heirarchy tab there will be a little yellow pyramid type symbol with something like "Cyclone II: EP2C5F256C8" next to it for example. Your copy at home will need the corresponding libraries installed to be able to open your project, in this case you would need the Cyclone II libraries.

All of these libraries should have been available when you downloaded quartus II, and can be downloaded free from the Altera Website....

and don't worry about asking stupid questions... I am still very new to VHDL and Quartus II and ask them all the time... people are generally very helpful!

Altera_Forum · ‎10-27-2010

The Quartus II web edition does not support some of the big Altera FPGAs.

For big FPGAs you will need the "QuartusII Subscription Edition"

Altera_Forum · ‎10-30-2010

Hi,

Thanks for your replies. Based on what you've said I tried reinstalling it a few times with no luck. Installing the old 9.1 version seemed to work fine though. Thanks a lot for your pointers!

Altera_Forum · ‎11-02-2010

Important info for you Rosetta, check out the vendor www.terasic.com for some really cheap (even cheaper if you prove your a student) assembled and ready to go Altera FPGA boards. Why struggle writing code without hardware when you don't have to. Working with the ready to go board is FUN, it's like LEGO for grown ups (and kids to).