How to Create a VCD File in ModelSim
VCD files, also referred to as Value Change Dump files, are ASCII-based files that describe a digital waveform of the VHDL simulator. They are flexible and maneuverable files that can be easily manipulated by an experienced programmer to create simulations or be used as inputs for new simulation runs in ModelSim. They are mostly used to capture signal transitions in the ModelSim program and conduct additional analysis.
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Instructions
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Open the Quartus Software application and select "Assignment->Settings" from the file menu.
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Choose "ModelSim" in the "Tool Name" menu on the "Simulator Settings Page," and then select the "Generate Value Change Dump File Script" option.
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Select the "Full Compilation" menu option, which will then generate the VCD file.
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Compile all files in the project that will be targeted to run the simulation in ModelSim (normally this will be all project files).
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Start the simulation box labeled "VSIM command" in the ModelSim application. Once initiated, enter the following script in the VCD Script text field:
"source <design>_dump_all_vcd_nodes.tcl" -
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Execute the simulation with the command, "run 2000ns or run --all." Once this step is done exit the application to permit the VCD files to finish compilation and creation.
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Open the Power Play Analyzer and click the "Use Input File" menu option. You will see an option to select the VCD file, so click this and locate the VCD file you created earlier when using the ModelSim, and then click on the "START" menu button. Once you click start, you should be able to use the Value Change Dump File you generated with the ModelSim software.
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