Accelerated Waveform - Design Entry and Simulation Course 16 pps

Accelerated Waveform Design Entry and Simulation Course 16 All materials updated on: November 20, 2006 16.1 Outline 16.1 Outline •Overview • Simulation Setup • Signal Selection • Waveform Viewer Handling •Virtual Buses • Waveform Comparison • Analog Display •Saving Waveforms • Format Conversion • Appearance Customization All materials updated on: November 20, 2006 16.2 Overview 16.2 Overview The Accelerated Waveform is a high performance waveform viewer available for Active-HDL users. The simulation results are stored in a simulation database called ASDB (Aldec Simulation Database). The Accelerated Waveform Viewer includes a number of improvements in comparison to the Standard Waveform Editor: – The Accelerated Waveform is optimized for speed. Simulation databases in excess of 1GB are loaded almost instantly, which means that large waveform files can be loaded during a few seconds. Waveform scrolling and zooming is also instantaneous. Large signals including Verilog memories or large VHDL records can be expanded without any delay. – The format of the simulation database is optimized for large designs and long simulation runs. File sizes are smaller in comparison with the previous version. – Time needed to restart a simulation with a large number of signals logged is reduced dramatically. – In the majority of test cases, a system memory needed to run simulations with full signal history logging is reduced by a factor of two or more. – Simulations that log a full history of all signals can be several times faster over the previous version of Active-HDL. – Arrays of real values, multidimensional arrays, and sparse memories can be observed. All materials updated on: November 20, 2006 16.3 Simulation Setup 16.3 Simulation Setup By default, the Standard Waveform Editor is used for all simulations, however, it can be replaced by the Accelerated Waveform. To do so, select the Create ASDB Simulation Database in the Simulation category of Design | Settings dialog. All materials updated on: November 20, 2006 16.3.1 Simulation Setup 16.3.1 Simulation Setup The Accelerated Waveform and the ASDB file allow refreshing the display of simulation results while the simulation is running. The refresh interval can be specified when the ASDB Simulation Database refresh time checkbox is selected. All materials updated on: November 20, 2006 16.3.2 Simulation Setup 16.3.2 Simulation Setup Both options presented in the two previous slides have their equivalent switches for the asim command: asim [-asdb [<filename>] [-asdbrefresh <time>]] <top-level> -asdb : enables the ASDB file generation -asdbrefresh : specifies the refresh interval For more information, refer to the -asdb and -asdbrefresh options of the asim command in the Active-HDL On-line documentation. All materials updated on: November 20, 2006 16.4 Adding Signals 16.4 Adding Signals Similarly, observed signals can be either added with use of the Graphical Interface or trace command. To add all signals of the U2 instance, enter following command: trace U2/* For full command syntax, please refer to the Active-HDL On-line Documentation. – If you wish to follow the operations, open the low_pass_filter design. –Execute the compile.do macro. This will compile all source files. NOTE: Although wave command works just as well it is not recommended. A warning is reported whenever wave command is issued when -asdb switch is in effect. All materials updated on: November 20, 2006 16.4.1 Adding Signals 16.4.1 Adding Signals •Set the circuit(circuit) entity/ architecture pair as Top-Level. Initialize Simulation. • To start logging signals using GUI options, switch to the Structure tab of Design Browser. • Select the instance in the upper part of the Design Browser (hierarchy tree) or particular signals in the bottom part (local objects). • Call the context menu and use the Add to Accelerated Waveform option. This will open the Accelerated Waveform Viewer and add the selected signals. All materials updated on: November 20, 2006 16.5 Signal Grid 16.5 Signal Grid The Signal Grid panel can be customized to display various information about the signals: – Database file name, – Mode (signal, input, output etc.) –Hierarchy path – Signal name –Type –Value – Next difference – Previous difference Signals can be sorted according to the content of each column (except Value). Enable the Hierarchy column and use it to sort the signals. All materials updated on: November 20, 2006 16.6 Named Row 16.6 Named Row Groups and individual signals can be separated by Named Rows. A Named Row can be created using the context menu invoked in the Signal Grid area or the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+I) and then renamed for better legibility. [...]... The Accelerated Waveform is accompanied by a number of utilities that perform conversion of various waveform formats from and to ASDB: – asdb – asdb – asdb – asdb – asdb – asdb – asdb – asdb -> -> -> -> awf awf vcd vcd ctf ctv lst tssi For detailed information on the converters please refer to the Active-HDL On-line Documentation All materials updated on: November 20, 2006 16. 18 Appearance.. .16. 7 Simulation Run-time Refresh The Accelerated Waveform allows to observe the contents of the Simulation Database while the simulation is running To utilize this functionality the simulation session has to be properly set up (slide 16. 3.1) To refresh the content of the Waveform Viewer, press the Reload Waveform button NOTE: To refresh the signal list... materials updated on: November 20, 2006 16. 14 Waveform Comparison The Accelerated Waveform provides means to compare individual signals within the same database (Compare selected ) and the entire simulation databases (Compare waveforms ) To compare a couple of signals within the same simulation database, select two signals and use either context menu option or toolbar button and set the options if necessary... updated on: November 20, 2006 16. 14.1 Waveform Comparison • To compare the entire simulation database or selected signals with the contents of reference ASDB, use the Compare waveforms toolbar button • Point to the reference waveform and set the comparison options • Click OK Difference mark All materials updated on: November 20, 2006 16. 15 Analog Display The Accelerated Waveform supports analog display... added to the database that is already open in the Viewer, you have to open the database again All materials updated on: November 20, 2006 16. 8 Multiple Waveform and List Views The Accelerated Waveform window can be split into several Waveform or List panes To create a new Waveform View use the button To create a new List Window click the button Drag&Drop the signals you want to observe in the newly created... materials updated on: November 20, 2006 16. 9 Zoom Except the standard zoom features: Zoom In (Ctrl++) Zoom Out (Ctrl +-) Zoom To Fit Zoom Range Zoom Previous The Accelerated Waveform provides Zoom Mode that allows to use the mouse to quickly zoom into the area of interest The Zoom Mode is enabled by the Zoom Mode button All materials updated on: November 20, 2006 16. 10 Cursors An arbitrary number of cursors... number of cursors is available to the user A cursor can be created at any time and given a name that suits you The Accelerated Waveform displays distance between each two cursors Clicking a given cursor makes the cursor active (displayed in red) All materials updated on: November 20, 2006 16. 11 Navigation Controls The Accelerated Waveform Viewer has several navigation modes that can be turned on using the... November 20, 2006 16. 13 Virtual Bus Several objects can be merged into one aggregate object called Virtual Bus This option may be especially useful for combining vector elements split during synthesis etc To create a virtual bus, make multi-selection using mouse and Shift and/ or Ctrl key Call context menu and choose Create Virtual Bus option (Ctrl+U) Virtual bus can be given a user-defined name All... values are treated like samples forming an analog waveform – To enable the analog display, call the Signal Properties dialog using context menu option or use Alt+Enter key combination – Switch to the Display tab – Choose Analog in the Shape section – Adjust the Height All materials updated on: November 20, 2006 16. 16 Saving Waveforms Although the Aldec Simulation Database file may contain an extremely... materials updated on: November 20, 2006 Once the mode is chosen, the navigation arrows can be used to quickly jump back and forth and take the advantage of the selected mode characteristics 16. 12 Bookmarks The bookmarks can be used to mark particular places on the waveform ruler and then move the current cursor from one bookmark to another The number of bookmarks is unlimited Controls for bookmark . Accelerated Waveform Design Entry and Simulation Course 16 All materials updated on: November 20, 2006 16. 1 Outline 16. 1 Outline •Overview • Simulation Setup • Signal Selection • Waveform. 20, 2006 16. 8 Multiple Waveform and List Views 16. 8 Multiple Waveform and List Views The Accelerated Waveform window can be split into several Waveform or List panes. To create a new Waveform. shortcut (Ctrl+I) and then renamed for better legibility. All materials updated on: November 20, 2006 16. 7 Simulation Run-time Refresh 16. 7 Simulation Run-time Refresh The Accelerated Waveform allows