Specifications

CHAPTER 7: SIMULATION
SIMULATING DESIGNS WITH EDA TOOLS
ALTERA CORPORATION INTRODUCTION TO QUARTUS II ■ 131
Generating Simulation Output Files
You can run the EDA Netlist Writer module to generate Verilog Output Files
and VHDL Output Files by specifying EDA tool settings and compiling the
design. If you have already compiled a design in the Quartus II software,
you can specify different simulation output settings in the Quartus II
software (for example, a different simulation tool) and then regenerate the
Verilog Output Files or VHDL Output Files by using the Start > Start EDA
Netlist Writer command (Processing menu). If you are using the NativeLink
feature, you can also run a simulation after an initial compilation by using
the Run EDA Simulation Tool command (Tools menu).
The Quartus II software also allows you to generate the following types of
output files for use in performing functional and timing simulation in EDA
simulation tools:
■ Power Estimation Data: You can use EDA simulation tools to perform
a simulation that includes power estimation data. You can direct the
Quartus II software to include power estimation data for the design in
the Verilog HDL or VHDL output file. The EDA simulation tool
generates a Power Input File (.pwf) that you can use in the Quartus II
software to estimate the power consumption of a design.
■ Test Bench Files: You can create Verilog Test Bench Files (.vt) and
VHDL Test Bench Files (.vht) for use with EDA simulation tools from a
Vector Waveform File (.vwf) in the Quartus II Waveform Editor, using
the Export command (File menu). Verilog HDL and VHDL Test Bench
Files are test bench template files that contain an instantiation of the
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Using the quartus_eda executable
You can also run the EDA Netlist Writer separately at the command prompt or in a
script by using the quartus_eda executable.
The quartus_eda executable creates a separate text-based report file that can be
viewed with any text editor.
If you want to get help on the quartus_eda executable, type one of the following
commands at the command prompt:
quartus_eda -h
r
quartus_eda --help r
quartus_eda --help=<topic name> r