Simulation using QSim for versions 11 and 12

Note: QSim can't be opened automatically from within Quartus II. You can invoke it by typing

quartus_sh --qsim

at a command prompt. (Run this in the directory where you find the Quartus II executable file.)

• Open the Altera U.P. (University Program) Simulator, also called QSim.

  

• Select File | Open Project and choose your project file from your project directory.

  

  

• Select File | New Simulation Input File.

  

• Select Edit | Insert | Insert Node or Bus.

  

• Select Node Finder.

  

• 

  Select List.

  

• Select the double right arrow to choose all.
  

  

• Select OK.

  

• Select OK.

  

• If you have multiple inputs, you can select a bunch and group them with one counter.

  

• Select your input(s), and pick Overwrite Count Value.

  
  
  You can change the rate at which a counter counts using the dialog.
  

  Select OK.

  

  
  
• Select File | Save As to give this file a name in your project directory. It will have a VWF extension for Vector Waveform File.

  

• In the Main window, select Assign | Simulation Settings and then select the file. Select Functional Simulation. Select OK.

  

  

• Click the Start Simulator button.

  

• You should get a message saying "Generate Simulation Netlist was succesful". Click OK.

  

• You should get a message saying "Simulator was succesful". Click OK.

  

• You should get a message from Quartus saying "This file is read-only and cannot be edited". Click OK.

  

• Now you should see your simulation output with the outputs defined.

  

  
  You can expand the grouping:

  

• You can navigate around the timeline, zoom in and out, etc.

  

  

  
  

  

  This part of the output shows that when the inputs are all zero, the output is also zero.

  
  

  

  This part of the output shows that when c and h are low, and p is high, the output is high.

  
  

  

  This part of the output shows that when c and p are low, and h is high, the output is also high.

  You can repeat this process to check all of the eight possible input combinations.

  
  
• Now if you want, you can go back to the simulation settings and choose Timing instead of Functional to see the effects of propagation delay.