Using Synplify Pro with Quartus

[Altera_Forum]

Hi, 

I recently recieved a 10 day evaluation license for Synplify Pro 9.6.1. What I was planning to do was run Synplify Pro from within Quartus and look at the output of the timing analyzer to see if the timing problems I have been having have improved. Anyway turns out that when I attempt to synthesize the design in Quartus I get an error saying: Error: Synthesis tool <None> is not supported by NativeLink Error: NativeLink flow failed to complete synthesis.   After doing a bit of reading I found that: "Running the Synplify software through Natvelink integration requires a floating network license (as opposed to a node-locked single-PC license), because batch mode compilation is supported only with floating licenses."   I believe I have a node-locked license, so do i need to call them and ask for a floating license?   I ask because I am not sure why in the Quartus error it says "Synthesis tool <None>", as if I have not set it up properly.   Is there another way to see any potential benifits of synplify other than running it through Quartus? If I run the design through synplify only, then synplify cannot be guided by any constraints that were put in place in the assignment editor, is this correct? Would I need to re constrain the design using synplify if I wanted to synthesize directly through synplify.   I know its a basic question and I´m probably doing something wrong, but I´m new to this particular aspect.   As always your help is much appreciated. Thanks

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  Hi, I recently recieved a 10 day evaluation license for Synplify Pro 9.6.1. What I was planning to do was run Synplify Pro from within Quartus and look at the output of the timing analyzer to see if the timing problems I have been having have improved. Anyway turns out that when I attempt to synthesize the design in Quartus I get an error saying: Error: Synthesis tool <None> is not supported by NativeLink Error: NativeLink flow failed to complete synthesis.   After doing a bit of reading I found that: "Running the Synplify software through Natvelink integration requires a floating network license (as opposed to a node-locked single-PC license), because batch mode compilation is supported only with floating licenses."   I believe I have a node-locked license, so do i need to call them and ask for a floating license?   I ask because I am not sure why in the Quartus error it says "Synthesis tool <None>", as if I have not set it up properly.   Is there another way to see any potential benifits of synplify other than running it through Quartus? If I run the design through synplify only, then synplify cannot be guided by any constraints that were put in place in the assignment editor, is this correct? Would I need to re constrain the design using synplify if I wanted to synthesize directly through synplify.   I know its a basic question and I´m probably doing something wrong, but I´m new to this particular aspect.   As always your help is much appreciated. Thanks  --- Quote End ---    Hi Ardni,  you can run SynplifyPro stand-alone. SynplifyPro generates a vqm-file, which you can use as design file Quartus. In EDA settings you have to choose SynplifyPro as synthesis tool.   Assignments -> EDA tool settings -> DesignEntry/Synthesis -> SynplifyPro

[Altera_Forum]

Hi pletz, 

I´m not sure I fully understand. I am using VHDL, but is a .vqm file only for verilog?  Also I have specified synplify pro as the synthesis tool in EDA settings, so I´m not too sure why quartus refers to it as "none".

[Altera_Forum]

Hi, 

 You may also need to define the path to the EDA tool exe. somewhere? under tools/options(can't exactly remember).  Kaz

[Altera_Forum]

Hi Kaz, 

I have defined the path to the \bin directory of synplify, but this doesn´t seem to be the problem.    I´m thinking possibly because I have the incorrect type of license that Quartus can´t find synplify using nativelink.

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  Hi pletz, I´m not sure I fully understand. I am using VHDL, but is a .vqm file only for verilog?  Also I have specified synplify pro as the synthesis tool in EDA settings, so I´m not too sure why quartus refers to it as "none".  --- Quote End ---     Hi Ardni,  SynplifyPro is doing the synthesis of your vhdl and generates a netlist for Quartus with the extension <>.vqm. This <>.vqm ( it is a verilog netlist) is the design file which you need for quartus.   You should setup the Quartus project by yourself. As long as the native flow doesn't work you can't trust that the setting from Synplify Pro are propagate to Quartus correct. Synplify Pro generates some tcl scripts which helps you to setup the Quartus project.  I have a small project attached.

[Altera_Forum]

I closed quartus and open it again and everything seems to work fine. I can´t explain why it didn´t work before. 

Now I am able to run synplify from within Quartus.   What i would like to know is can synplify take the constraints already in place in the quartus project file and use these?   It seems that synplify ignores any Tco constraints. Why would this be? I also see some assignments in the assignment editor have been reverted to old values. I don´t know if synplify had anything to do with it? I can´t imagine so.   Thanks

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  I closed quartus and open it again and everything seems to work fine. I can´t explain why it didn´t work before. Now I am able to run synplify from within Quartus.   What i would like to know is can synplify take the constraints already in place in the quartus project file and use these?   It seems that synplify ignores any Tco constraints. Why would this be? I also see some assignments in the assignment editor have been reverted to old values. I don´t know if synplify had anything to do with it? I can´t imagine so.   Thanks  --- Quote End ---    I'm not very familiar with the native link between both tools, but I would assume that the constraints set in Synplify (e.g. Clocks) are send to the Quartus settings. As far as I know there is not automatic way for Quartus settings send back to SynplifyPro.   BTW when set the constarints in SynplifyPro did check that they are active ? Is indicated by an mark in the checkbox.

[Altera_Forum]

Hi again, 

I haven´t been able to spend to much time on this so sorry for not acknowledging the responses better.    Anyway I had a 10 day license which expires today. The sample program that pletz posted was quite useful. I was able to syntheize in synplify and then succesfully use the netlist in Quartus.   Previously when using the quartus synthesizer I had placed constraints using classic timing analyzer, some of which got ignored, I believe because of many of the nodes had their names altered or got synthezised away or what not. This is normal I assume? Really I should be constraining the design based on the results I view from synplify? as many of the old constraints are now meaningless with a different syntheziser.   Also I found some useful videos on youtube, I don´t have the link because it´s blocked here, but they were uploaded by a professor from a university in India. Searching for lecture 29, 30 and 31 will find them. They probably aren´t of any use to somebody who has used synplify before, but for me (a beginner) it set me in the right direction. Anyway maybe they will be useful to someone else searching these forums at a later date with similar issues.   Thanks again for the help.

[Altera_Forum]

Thanks for the discussion and example. I took the advantages too. I works for my code. The only thing I need to notice is selecting  

Assignments -> EDA tool settings -> DesignEntry/Synthesis -> Synplify, (not synplify pro). I don't know why, but it works for me.

[Altera_Forum]

Ardni, 

We have been looking into using Synplify Pro on our projects to feed into Quartus. I'd be very interested to know how you got on and your conclusions to your evaluation.  I cant find the youtube lectures you refer to, can you provide a little more information that may help me find them.  Thanks.

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  Ardni, We have been looking into using Synplify Pro on our projects to feed into Quartus. I'd be very interested to know how you got on and your conclusions to your evaluation.  I cant find the youtube lectures you refer to, can you provide a little more information that may help me find them.  Thanks.  --- Quote End ---    Hi Witty,  I'm using SynplifyPro a long time for synthesis. What do you want to achieve by using SynplifyPro?  Kind regards  GPK

[Altera_Forum]

pletz, 

 What we wanted to know is simply, do you get better quality of results by using Synplify Pro over the Quartus integrated synthesis.

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  pletz,  What we wanted to know is simply, do you get better quality of results by using Synplify Pro over the Quartus integrated synthesis.  --- Quote End ---    Hi Witty,  in the past the answer was a clear yes, but today the synthesis engine of Quartus is quite good. In my experience you can expect in average a fmax improvement of 10%. Sometimes you will get more, especially when you use the retiming feature. The QoR depends on the design, so I would recommend to run some benchmarks with some of your typical designs. If you need more improvement you should try SynplifyPremier, which uses additional Placement information for the synthesis.  Kind regards  GPK