2.9.2. Importing a Version-Compatible Compilation Database - Follow these steps to import a project compilation database into a newer version of the Quartus Prime software: - 2026-02-19

Quartus Prime Pro Edition User Guide Design Compilation
Version
25.3
Follow these steps to import a project compilation database into a newer version of the Quartus® Prime software:
Note: Designs exported from the Quartus® Prime Pro Edition software versions 23.2 or earlier cannot be imported into version 23.3 due to the new DNI database.
  1. Export a version-compatible compilation database for a complete design, as Exporting a Version-Compatible Compilation Database describes.
  2. In a newer version of the Quartus® Prime software, open the original project. Click Yes if prompted to open a project created with a different software version.
  3. Click Project > Import Design and specify the Quartus Database File. To remove previous results, turn on Overwrite existing project's databases
    Figure 85. Import Design Dialog Box
  4. Click OK. When you compile the imported design, run only Compiler stages that occur after the stage the .qdb preserves, rather than running a full compilation. For example, if you import a version-compatible database that contains the synthesized snapshot, start compilation with the Fitter (Processing > Start > Start Fitter). If you import a version-compatible database that contains the final snapshot, start compilation with Timing Analysis (Signoff) (Processing > Start > Start Timing Analysis (Signoff)).
Related Information