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How to create new project for DE2 in Altera Quartus Richard Šusta, Version 1.2 from 16-Sep-14, published under GNU Free Documentation License

Content How to create new project for DE2 in Altera Quartus ....................................................................................... 1

Project Wizard ............................................................................................................................................... 1

Library settings .............................................................................................................................................. 3

Individual settings of projects ............................................................................................................................ 4

Pin Assignments............................................................................................................................................. 4

Synopsys Design Constraint .......................................................................................................................... 5

Project Wizard

From the main menu Quartus we choose File-> New Project Wizard. - The dialog consists of several pages;

you can scrolls from one page to another forward by [Next] and backward by [Back].

►Introduction — continue by [Next]

►Page 1— Enter any folder name inside an existing root directory - the folder need not exist yet, it

will be created: e.g. "default", and any project name, e.g. "test".

Note: Each Quartus project must have its own folder. You cannot store two projects in one sub-

directory / folder!

Note options: [Use Existing Project Settings] - if you do not have any project, you cannot copy. But

as soon as you finish one project, you can copy all settings on "Page 1 New Project Wizard" and skip

the next pages.

After entering the directory name for the pro-

ject and the project press the [Next], and then

confirm the creation of a new directory if it

does not exist yet.

►Page 2 Add Files — skip by [Next];

►Page 3 Family & Device Settings — enter for development board DE2:

Family: Cyclone II, Package FBGA, Pin count 672, Speed grade 6

Note: FBGA means Ball Grid Array for surface mount, we have 672 points. "Speed grade" is

the internal manufacture's specification for the relative performance of the circuit. In Altera,

lower number means a faster circuit. Note: Other manufacturers may have otherwise.

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In device list FPGA circuit EP2C35F672C6 for DE2 development card should appear, you will

work with it in practice. Select it and enter the [Next].

►Page 4 EDA Tools Settings – set Model-Sim-Altera in VHDL and let the other choices in de-

fault states.

We need this setting in more advanced parts of the course, but now you can do it, because you can

copy i from our default project on the first Paget

►Page 5 Summary – check if everything is OK.

If it is OK, click [Finish]

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Library settings

From the Project Navigator window of Quartus, invoke by the right click context menu and choose the line

Cyclone Settings ....

In dialog Settings tree Category, select Libraries. In Project library name, browse by [...] for the folders with in-

stalled libraries. By [Add], add library folders in Libraries list.

Close Dialog Setting by [OK] to store results.

Initial project has been configured. All previous settings can be copied, but the project still requires individ-

ual settings, see below.

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Note: For boards DE2-115, you can work with them later, the device EP4C115F29C7 is required

Family Cyclone IV E, Package FBGA, Pin count 780, Speed grade 7.

Individual settings of projects

In each project, you must add individual settings that are not copied from previous projects.

Pin Assignments

Missing pin assignments are frequent errors.

In main Quartus menu, select Assignments->Import Assignments

In the dialog that opens, we find DE2_pin_assigments.csv file on hard drive - it is included in DCE library

file. Confirm the selection with [OK].

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Whenever we can later check assignments by Assignments-> Assignment Editor choice from the main

menu.

In the dialog editor, you can search for unknown pin name. Either navigate to pin name in displayed list, or

if you know at least the beginning of name, use the option on the "Filter on node names".

Write first letters and terminate them by an asterisk. Press Enter to search the names. The picture below

shows names beginning by C. We have found CLOCK_50. You copy it to the clipboard and paste in an edi-

tor.

The pin assignments never edit, always work with original names!

Synopsys Design Constraint

If you use any synchronous circuit, your project should contain definitions of clock frequencies to be cor-

rectly compiled - DE2.sdc - Synopsys Design Constraint File (.sdc),. Without *.sdc, circuits will be com-

piled for default frequency of 1 GHz, which DE2 board cannot handle, so the result will not be functional.

DE2.sdc file is included in DCE library zip-file.

In the Project Navigator [Hierarchy] tab, open menu of "Cyclone: .." line by right mouse click context and

select "Settings ..."

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In the tree Category select item "TimeQuest Timing Analyzer" and browse for DE2.sdc by […]. Then press

button [Add] to add DE2.sdc into the list of SDC files used by analyzer.

Close Dialog by [OK] to store settings.

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