Technical data

ModelSim EE/SE Tutorial 2-21
Lesson 2 - Basic VHDL simulation
The goals for this lesson are:
• Create a library.
• Compile a VHDL file.
• Start the simulator.
• Understand the basic VSIM windows, mouse, and menu conventions.
• Run VSIM using the run command.
• List some signals.
• Use the waveform display.
• Force the value of a signal.
• Single-step through a simulation run.
• Set a breakpoint.
• Use the Wave window.
1 Start out by creating a new directory for this exercise (in case other users will be
working with these lessons). Create the directory, then copy all of the VHDL (.vhd)
files from \<install_dir>\modeltech\examples to the new directory.
Make sure the new directory is the current directory.
2 Start ModelSim with one of the following:
for UNIX at the shell prompt:
vsim -gui
for Windows - your option - from a Windows shortcut icon, from the Start menu,
or from a DOS prompt:
modelsim.exe
This opens the ModelSim Main window and the Welcome to ModelSim dialog
box. (This does not load a design.)
3 Before you compile any HDL code, you’ll need a design library to hold the
compilation results. To create a new design library, make this menu selection in the
Main window: Design > Create a New Library.