Using Non-Project Mode Tcl Commands - Using Non-Project Mode Tcl Commands - 2026.1 English - UG892

Vivado Design Suite User Guide: Design Flows Overview (UG892)

Document ID
UG892
Release Date
2026-06-23
Version
2026.1 English

When working in Non-Project Mode, compile your design using Tcl commands such as read_verilog, read_vhdl, read_edif, read_ip, read_bd, and read_xdc. Vivado orders the sources for compilation and passes them to synthesis. For details on using the Tcl shell or running batch scripts, refer to Working with Tcl.

Note: This section is not a complete Tcl command reference. For full details, refer to the Vivado Design Suite Tcl Command Reference Guide (UG835) and Vivado Design Suite User Guide: Using Tcl Scripting (UG894).
Table 1. Basic Non-Project Mode Tcl Commands
Command Description
read_edif Imports an EDIF or NGC netlist file into the design source fileset of the current project.
read_verilog Reads the Verilog (.v) and System Verilog (.sv) source files for the Non-Project Mode session.
read_vhdl Reads the VHDL (.vhd or .vhdl) source files for the Non-Project Mode session.
read_ip Reads existing IP (.xci or .xco) project files for Non-Project Mode. For Vivado IP (.xci), Vivado uses the synthesized design checkpoint (.dcp) if it exists in the IP directory for implementation. If no checkpoint exists, Vivado uses the IP RTL sources for synthesis along with the rest of the top-level design. Vivado uses the .ngc netlist from the .xco IP project.
Note: UltraScale devices no longer support the .xco file.
read_checkpoint Loads a design checkpoint into the in-memory design.
read_xdc Reads the .sdc or .xdc format constraints source files for the Non-Project Mode session.
read_bd Reads existing IP integrator block designs (.bd) for the Non-Project session.
set_param

set_property

Used for multiple purposes. For example, it can be used to define design configuration, tool settings, and so forth.
link_design Compiles the design for synthesis if netlist sources are used for the session.
synth_design Launches Vivado synthesis with the design top module name and target part as arguments.
opt_design Performs high-level design optimization.
power_opt_design Performs intelligent clock gating to reduce overall system power. This is an optional step.
place_design Places the design.
phys_opt_design Performs physical logic optimization to improve timing or routability. This is an optional step.
route_design Routes the design.
report_* Runs a variety of standard reports, which can be run at different stages of the design process.
write_bitstream Generates a bitstream file and runs DRCs.
write_checkpoint Saves the design at any point in the flow. A design checkpoint consists of the netlist and constraints with any optimizations at that point in the flow as well as implementation results.
start_gui

stop_gui

Opens or closes the Vivado IDE with the current design in memory.