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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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10 years ago

[ModelSim] How to see local variables in VHDL procedures in waveforms?

Hi All,

How can I see the variables, which were locally defined in the VHDL procedures, in the waveform? Somehow I cannot see nor the procedures themselves nor their variables.

Should I apply any switch during compilation (like -vopt +acc, etc)?

BTW, how can I add the '-vopt +acc' option for vcom in the modelsim.ini file, so that the files compilation will be performed always with these switches?

Thank you!

5 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    10 years ago

    afaik, you cant. variables in Procedures only have scope to the procedure and only exist when the procedure is called. So cannot be seen on a waveform. You will have to debug them using console outputs.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    10 years ago

    --- Quote Start ---

    You will have to debug them using console outputs.

    --- Quote End ---

    How can I do so?
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    10 years ago

    Using textio, there is a default file called OUTPUT that allows you to write to the simulator console.

    you can do it one of two ways.

    1. Like normal textio, write to a line then write the line to the console: 

    
variable l : line;
write(l, string'("This is some debug text"));
writeline(OUTPUT, l);

    or write drictly to output. Heres a nice little wrapper procedure for you. 

    
procedure echo (arg : in string := "") is
begin
    std.textio.write(std.textio.output, arg);
end procedure echo;
--echos to console with a newline at the end
procedure echol(arg          : in string := "") is
begin
    std.textio.write(std.textio.output, arg & LF);
end procedure echol;
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    10 years ago

    you can label your process and then add it to the waveform manually. To do this:

    1- Generate a simple waveform without variables

    2- save it with .do format. For example my_wave_1.do

    3- Manually open the my_wave_1.do file in a text editor and add your variable to a line. You can copy/paste previous lines for simplicity. Then replace the signal name with your variable name: dut/my_process/v_variable

    4- Save your edited .do file

    5- now run in the console: do my_wave_1.do

    6- Run Simulation
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    10 years ago

    --- Quote Start ---

    you can label your process and then add it to the waveform manually. To do this:

    1- Generate a simple waveform without variables

    2- save it with .do format. For example my_wave_1.do

    3- Manually open the my_wave_1.do file in a text editor and add your variable to a line. You can copy/paste previous lines for simplicity. Then replace the signal name with your variable name: dut/my_process/v_variable

    4- Save your edited .do file

    5- now run in the console: do my_wave_1.do

    6- Run Simulation

    --- Quote End ---

    The OP asked for procedures not processes.