Modelsim - greybox netlist file

[SteveRiley]

I followed the quick start guide and the example project (ModelSim* - Intel® FPGA Edition
Simulation Quick-Start) and it work fine as outlined.
Using this as a template on a different project, the Greybox netlist files (ip_name.v) are missing from the ip directory. They were included in the example project.

How are the  Greybox netlist files created (residing in the ip directory) to follow the detailed outlined in the Quick-Start guide?

[sstrell]

Link to the guide you are referring to?

[SteveRiley]

https://www.intel.com/programmable/technical-pdfs/683305.pdf

[sstrell]

You mean like ClockPLL.v?  That's a top-level file for the IP generated when you create the IP using the IP Catalog in Quartus.  That becomes part of your design.

[SteveRiley]

Yes.

The IP files (list above excluding the test bench and top level design).

[sstrell]

Yeah, the IP Parameter Editor creates those after you parameterize an IP.

[SteveRiley]

I am using 20.4 and those files are not being generated.

[sstrell]

So you're creating IP from the IP Catalog, generating the code for them (Generate HDL button in the parameter editor), and you're not getting the files generated?  If not, there is something very wrong with your Quartus installation.

[ShengN_Intel]

Hi,

Any further update on this? Have your problem resolved?

Thanks,

Best Regards,

Sheng

[SteveRiley]

The problem has not been resolved. I am creating IP from the IP Catalog, generating the code for them (Generate HDL button in the parameter editor), and not getting the files generated.

[SteveRiley]

Installed a new fresh version, this one 21.2. With this version also, no simulation greybox files were generated.

[sstrell]

Stupid question: are you just looking in the ip directory itself or in the folder created in the IP directory named after the IP you created?  And then in there are you looking in the synth (or sim) directory?

[SteveRiley]

I searched all the subdirectories. There are no files created like the greybox files included with the example. I am thinking that the simulation file name/structure/location has changed since the user guide was written.

[sstrell]

I'm using 22.1 Pro and I see the file in ip/<IP name>/synth for an IP I just created.

Maybe we're talking about two different files.

[SteveRiley]

Here is a greybox file that is included in the example and outlined in the user guide. In the later versions of Quartus that I have tried (Prime Pro 20.4 and 21.2) a file of this type/content is not generated at all. If the IP simulation file has changed structure & location in the later versions, then how is the Modelsim script (image above) modified to use them

[sstrell]

Oh, now I know what's different.  We are talking about two different files.  Seeing the comment in the file you've attached (which I must have missed last week), what you need to do is when you generate the IP, you have to turn on the "Create timing and resource estimates for each IP..." option.  This file is used for 3rd-party synthesis tools.  It's not required for simulation.  You can use the regular top-level files for a simulation.  I'm not sure why the tutorial uses these files instead of the standard top-level design files, but that's the difference I believe.

If the option is grayed out (it is for me), I think it's because I don't have a 3rd-party synth tool installed or specified.

[SteveRiley]

The box is not greyed out, but after generating the IP, with the box clicked, an associated "greybox" .v file is not created.

When you say "you can use the regular top-level files for simulation", what IP file generated file do you include in the modelsim .do script in place of 

vlog -vlog01compat -work work ../UP_COUNTER_IP/UP_COUNTER_IP.v
vlog -vlog01compat -work work ../DOWN_COUNTER_IP/DOWN_COUNTER_IP.v

....

[ShengN_Intel]

Hi,

Since you have generated the setup script for the whole design, including vlog -vlog01compat -work work ../PLL_RAM.v and vlog -vlog01compat -work work ../testbench_1.v in .do file will do. Modelsim or Questa simulator will look for the IP top wrapper module .v file in sim directory of IP folder respectively by itself. Btw, I'm able to see associated "greybox" .v file after enabling "Create timing and resource estimates for each IP..." option.

Best Regards,

Sheng

p/s: If any answer from community or Intel support are helpful, please feel free to mark as solution and give Kudos.

[SteveRiley]

Sheng,

I would like to confirm what you stated.

The .do script file, as outlined in the Quick Start Guide, does not need to include any IP file. Modelsim will automatically retrieve these from the directory structure. Correct?

You indicated that the associated "greybox".v files are created, after enabling the "Create timing and resource estimates for each IP..." option. What directory is it located?  The previous "greybox" files had the text "greybox" within the file. There is no file in the IP directory that has this text.

Is there an updated User Guide showing the changes in the creation of the .do script for Modelsim, similar to the one linked to above?

[SteveRiley]

Sheng,

Trying your method of not including the "greybox".v files in the Modelsim script file, it appears that Modelsim does attempt to open a simulation file, but the subdirectory for the file Modelsim attempts to read does not exist. See below:

The directory: ../qdr_d_ddio/altera_gpio_core20_191/ was never created by the IP generator. The directory ../qdr_d_ddio/altera_gpio_core20_2000 was created.

[SteveRiley · Accepted solution]

In the above, I did not regenerate the library (launching the simulation library compiler). After doing so, the correct path names were present and the simulator was properly launched. Now that I have Modelsim running, I need to figure out why the generated IP's simulation files are not working. Example is a simple PLL, where the clock out is not toggling.