Accelerated Waveform

Design Entry and Simulation

Course 16

All materials updated on: September 30, 2004

16.1 Outline16.1 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: September 30, 2004

16.2 Overview16.2 Overview

The Accelerated Waveform is a new, 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 Wavefrom 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: September 30, 2004

16.3 Simulation Setup16.3 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 tab of Design | Settings dialog.

All materials updated on: September 30, 2004

16.3.1 Simulation Setup16.3.1 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: September 30, 2004

16.3.2 Simulation Setup16.3.2 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: September 30, 2004

16.4 Adding Signals16.4 Adding Signals

Similarly, observed signals can be either added the using Graphical Interface or trace command. For full command syntax, please refer to the 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.

To add all signals of the U2 instance, enter following command:

trace U2/*

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: September 30, 2004

16.4.1 Adding Signals16.4.1 Adding Signals

•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: September 30, 2004

16.5 Signal Grid16.5 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– Name– Type– Value

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: September 30, 2004

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.

All materials updated on: September 30, 2004

16.7 Simulation Run-time Refresh16.7 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 button.

NOTE: To refresh the signal list when additional signals have been added to the database that is already open in the Viewer, you have to open the database again.

All materials updated on: September 30, 2004

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 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 view. All views are synchronized i.e.

scrolling on the time axis in one view causes the other views to follow the position.The active view is indicated by the reddish scrollbars.To close the currently selected view, either use the context menu option or click the Close Active View button.

All materials updated on: September 30, 2004

16.9 Zoom 16.9 Zoom

Except the standard zoom features:Zoom In (Ctrl++)Zoom Out (Ctrl+-)Zoom to FitZoom Range

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: September 30, 2004

16.10 Cursors 16.10 Cursors

An arbitrary 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.A click on in the cursor area brings the selected cursor in the center of the view. A double click, makes the cursor active (displayed in red).

All materials updated on: September 30, 2004

16.11 Navigation Controls 16.11 Navigation Controls

The Accelerated waveform Viewer has several navigation modes that can be turned on using the Select Browse Mode widget

There are 9 browsing modes:– Browse by page– Browse by bookmark– Browse by difference

mark– Browse by rising edge– Browse by event– Browse by falling edge– Go to time– Browse by cursors– Find

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.

All materials updated on: September 30, 2004

16.12 Bookmarks16.12 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 navigation are:

– Toggle bookmark– Remove all bookmarks– Previous bookmark– Next bookmark

All materials updated on: September 30, 2004

16.13 Virtual Bus16.13 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 materials updated on: September 30, 2004

16.13 Waveform Comparison 16.13 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.

Difference mark

All materials updated on: September 30, 2004

16.13.1 Waveform Comparison16.13.1 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: September 30, 2004

16.14 Analog Display 16.14 Analog Display

The Accelerated Waveform supports analog display of signals. In this mode, signal 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: September 30, 2004

16.15 Saving Waveforms 16.15 Saving Waveforms

Although the Aldec Simulation Database file may contain an extremely large number of traced signals the user does not have to view them all.The Waveform Configuration file (.AWC) contains information about signals in the current view and their properties. This file is always associated with an ASDB file.

NOTE: The AWC file is only valid for the ASDB file it was created for. If you overwrite the ASDB file, the configuration file will not work with the new database.

All materials updated on: September 30, 2004

16.16 Format Conversion 16.16 Format Conversion

The Accelerated Waveform is accompanied by a number of utilities that perform conversion of various waveform formats from and to ASDB:

– asdb -> awf– asdb <- awf – asdb -> vcd– asdb <- vcd– asdb -> ctf– asdb -> ctv– asdb -> lst– asdb -> tssi

For detailed information on the converters please refer to the Active-HDL On-line Documentation.

All materials updated on: September 30, 2004

16.17 Appearance Customization 16.17 Appearance Customization

The Accelerated Waveform Viewer appearance settings can be customized to suit the user’s visualization preferences. Changes made to the colors, fonts and sizes can be then saved to a file. Active-HDL installation provides 3 predefined themes that can be selected.