Export synthesized top-module and import in another project

I have determined that you do not need a dummy top module, but I was only able to succeed via command-line:

in developer project:

quartus_syn to synthesize

quartus_cdb --export_partition root_partition --snapshot synthesized (to export the synthesized root_partition)

in consumer project:

quartus_syn --analysis_and_elaboration (to elaborate design and obtain hierarchy for partitions)

Add the following to QSF:

set_instance_assignment -name partition <partition-name-in-consumer> -to <instance-in-consumer-hierarchy> -entity <consumer-top-module>

set_instance_assignment -name qdb_file_partition <qdb-file> -to <instance-in-consumer-hierarchy> -entity <consumer-top-module>

quartus_syn (to synthesize)

quartus_cdb --export_partition root_partition --snapshot synthesized (to export the root_partition)

Recurse if necessary (e.g. consumer project becomes developer project, and a new consumer project is created).

The only problem that remains for me is that I must use an 'entity' declaration in my stub file. In Quartus Standard and other tools, a simple component declaration is sufficient. I hope this is a bug and not intended as it further complicates the VHDL.