You can perform design analysis and assign constraints after RTL elaboration, after synthesis, or after implementation. To identify design issues early, you can perform design analysis prior to implementation, including timing simulation, resource estimation, connectivity analysis, and DRCs. You can open the various synthesis or implementation run results for analysis and constraints assignment. This is known as opening the design.
When you open the design, the Vivado IDE compiles the netlist and applies physical and timing constraints against a target part. You can open, save, and close designs. When you open a new design, you are prompted to close any previously opened designs in order to preserve memory. However, you are not required to close the designs, because multiple designs can be opened simultaneously. When you open a synthesized design, the Vivado IDE displays the netlist and constraints. When you open an implemented design, the Vivado IDE displays the netlist, constraints, and implementation results. The design data is presented in different forms in different windows, and you can cross probe and coordinate data between windows.
After opening a design, many analysis and reporting features are available in the Vivado IDE. For example, you can analyze device resources in the graphical windows of the internal device and the external physical package. You can also apply and analyze timing and physical constraints in the design using the Netlist, Device, Schematic, or Hierarchy windows. For more information, see the Vivado Design Suite User Guide: Design Analysis and Closure Techniques (UG906) and Vivado Design Suite User Guide: Using Constraints (UG903).