ECE 4242/5242

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Advanced Digital Design Methodology

University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

"Illuminate, Investigate, Innovate"

Fall Semester
Dr. Greg Tumbush, gtumbush@uccs.edu

ModelSim/QuestSim Simulation Tutorial

1. Start ModelSim or the fully featured QuestaSim. There are many ways to access these
tools:
a. Download student version (ModelSim only) from
http://www.mentor.com/company/higher_ed/modelsim-student-edition

b. PCs in EN229, EN230, and 136.

c. Access through the windows server ClaaS. Instructions at
http://www.uccs.edu/~gtumbush/misc/QuestaSim_ClaaS.pdf (once certificate errors
are resolved). Until certificate errors are resolved access ClasS via
https://claas1.uccs.edu/portal/webclient/index.html. Ignore certificate warnings. You
will need to be connected to the UCCS Resources VPN (Voyager).
d. Access through the linux server LATS1.
i. From Windows 7 instructions at
http://www.uccs.edu/~gtumbush/misc/accessing_lats1.pdf
ii. From Windows 8 instructions at http://www.uccs.edu/~gtumbush/misc/LATSHowToSetup.pdf
iii. You will need to be connected to the UCCS Resources VPN (Voyager).

2. Create a new project

a. Create a directory called Add_half in your workspace using Windows Explorer
(windows) or mkdir (Linux).
b. Click on File->New->project
c. In pop-up window fill in the Project Name field (ex: Add_half)
d. Click on Browse to create the project in the desired location. (ex:
Z:/Data/4242/Add_half)
e. Click on OK
3. Add files
a. In Add items to the Project pop-up click on Add Exiting File or Create New File.
Since Im creating Add_half from scratch Ill click on Create New File.
b. Fill in the File Name field (ex Add_half) and in the Add file as type pull-down
select verilog. The correct file extension will be added. Click on OK
c. Click on Close
4. In the Project tab of the main modelsim window double click on Add_half.v. The file will
open in an editor. If you wish undock the editing window by clicking on
window. Type in the following data:

ModelSim Simulation Tutorial

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in the editor

Version 1.7

ECE 4242/5242

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Advanced Digital Design Methodology

University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

"Engineering for the Future"

Fall Semester

// Definition of a half adder using primitives

module Add_half (input a, b, output sum, c_out);
xor (sum,a,b);
and(c_out,a,b);
endmodule

5. Click on File->Save in either the main modelsim window or the undocked editor window.
6. In main modelsim window click on Compile->Compile All. In the transcript window you
should see Compile of Add_half.v was successful. If not fix any syntax errors.
7. Simulate
a. In the Transcript window type vsim novopt Add_half. In the transcript
window you should see # Loading work.Add_half
b. In the main modelsim window Click on View->Wave
c. In the Workspace window make sure the Sim tab is selected and click on
Add_half. This will show you all the signals at the Add_half level of hierarchy in
the Objects window.
d. Select all the signals in the Objects window and drag them to the wave window.
e. In the Transcript window type run 10ns
f. In the wave window click on View->Zoom->Zoom Full if the wave window is
undocked or type F. Note that your inputs are Z and outputs are X. This is
because the inputs are not driven. The wave window can be undocked by
clicking on the . button on the upper right hand side of the wave window.
g. In the Transcript window type the following
force a 0
force b 1
run 10ns

h. You should see signal a being driven to a 0, signal b being driven to a 1, and
the expected output is c_out = 0 and sum = 1.
8. To restart a simulation type in the Transcript window quit sim
9. To quit modelsim click on File->Quit
10. To open up an existing project do one of the following:
a. Start Modelsim, click on File->Open, in the Open File dialog box select Project
Files (*.mpf) in the Files of Type pull-down, select the project and click Open.
b. Browse to the location you specified in step 2 and double click on the project.
11. Notes:

ModelSim Simulation Tutorial

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Version 1.7

ECE 4242/5242

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Advanced Digital Design Methodology

University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

"Engineering for the Future"

Fall Semester

a. You must add signals before running the simulation or else the simulator will not
collect the data for you.
b. If you recompile any code or add signals to the waveform and want to re-run
type the following:
i. quit sim
ii. vsim novopt Add_half
iii. add your signals
iv. run

ModelSim Simulation Tutorial

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Version 1.7