Methods for generating various waveform files Vcd,vpd,shm,fsdb

Simulation is an indispensable step in IC design, and it is necessary to record the waveform file for detailed analysis and research. Say a few waveform files Wlf (wave Log file), VCD (Value change Dump) file, Fsdb (Fast Signal DataBase) file, SHM, VPD:

1, for WLF waveform log file, as long as we have used Modelsim, should be very familiar. WLF (wave Log file) is a waveform file supported by Mentor Graphics company Modelsim. But when we look at waveforms in the waveform window, a *.wlf file is generated at the end of the simulation (the default is Vsim.wlf). Next time we can open this saved waveform directly via Modelsim. Vsim-view vsim.wlf-do run.do where the content of run.do is the waveform signal to be viewed. It is emphasized that this WLF file can only be generated by Modelsim and can only be displayed by Modelsim. is not a common file file format.

2. VCD (Value change Dump) is a common format. VCD files are an ASCII file defined in the IEEE1364 standard (Verilog HDL language standard). It mainly contains the header information, the variables of the predefined and variable value of the change information. It is because it contains the signal change information, it is equivalent to record the entire simulation information, we can use this file to reproduce the simulation, we can display the waveform. Because VCD is part of the Verilog HDL language standard, all Verilog emulators are capable of implementing this feature, as well as allowing users to dump VCD files through system functions in Verilog code. We can generate waveforms by Verilog HDL's system function $dumpfile, which specifies the data of certain modules and signals in the simulation by $dumpvars parameters.

In particular, it is precisely because the VCD records the complete change of signal information, we can also use a VCD file to estimate the design of power consumption, which is not available in other waveform files. Both the encounter and PrimeTime PX (Prime power) can be us