What is this file - dcalc_extrapolate_dump_0000.txt

[RayHaynes1]

With each build a file called dcalc_extrapolate_dump_0000.txt (0000 increments each time) is generated. It's over 1/2 gigabyte in size. It start being created during the Early Timing Analysis and finishes with Fitter.

They just build up and I have to delete them periodically. This has to take a bit of time to generate so I'm wondering is there a way to disable it's creation? Also just curious what is it?

Quartus 2024.1 Windows

Each file consists of a bunch of slightly different repeating text blocks (no other identifying text):

WARNING: Extrapolated to negative value!
2-D Lookup-Table
Parameter for Index1: 1.437922e-01
Parameter for Index2: 4.153103e-02
Lookup-Table Contents:
Index1/Index2 1.400000e-03 1.360000e-02 3.400000e-02 6.800000e-02 1.360000e-01 3.400000e-01 1.360000e+00
6.020000e-03 -4.379000e-02 -3.996000e-02 -3.358000e-02 -2.473000e-02 -1.185000e-02 1.437000e-02 8.725000e-02
1.000250e-02 -4.497000e-02 -4.114000e-02 -3.476000e-02 -2.591000e-02 -1.302000e-02 1.319000e-02 8.607000e-02
1.881500e-02 -4.770000e-02 -4.387000e-02 -3.749000e-02 -2.864000e-02 -1.575000e-02 1.047000e-02 8.334000e-02
3.690750e-02 -5.362000e-02 -4.979000e-02 -4.341000e-02 -3.456000e-02 -2.167000e-02 4.540000e-03 7.742000e-02
7.344250e-02 -6.445000e-02 -6.062000e-02 -5.424000e-02 -4.539000e-02 -3.250000e-02 -6.280000e-03 6.659000e-02
1.466625e-01 -8.031000e-02 -7.648000e-02 -7.010000e-02 -6.125000e-02 -4.836000e-02 -2.214000e-02 5.073000e-02
2.931600e-01 -1.014500e-01 -9.763000e-02 -9.124000e-02 -8.239000e-02 -6.951000e-02 -4.329000e-02 2.959000e-02
Chosen Index1 Range: 4 - 5
Chosen Index2 Range: 2 - 3
Index1 Fraction: 9.607991e-01
Index2 Fraction: 2.215007e-01
Chosen part of the table:
Index1/Index2 3.400000e-02 6.800000e-02
7.344250e-02 -5.424000e-02 -4.539000e-02
1.466625e-01 -7.010000e-02 -6.125000e-02
FINAL VALUE: -6.751799e-02

[sstrell]

Where is this file appearing?  Never seen this.

Is your design running any code that could generate this?  Doesn't look like a standard file output by Quartus.

[RayHaynes1]

It appears in the root project directory. I'm not doing anything but a basic build. I am using gbit transceivers (the part with the most magic :-)) but I tried commenting it out and it still generates it.

If I do a full, one step compile only one large file is generated but if I compile step by step by clicking on the run arrows in the Compilation Dashboard separate progressively larger files are created at Early Timing Analysis, Plan, Place, Route, and Fitter (Finalize). 

I'd be concerned about a virus but the file content seems pretty worthless outside of wherever it's used.

[sstrell]

I've never seen this created before, but you can try turning off the snapshot feature in the compilation settings since you mention you get this at each stage of the fitter.  But the compiler generates binary info for compilation results, not a random text file.

Do you have an .ini or some other unique feature enabled?

[RayHaynes1]

Snapshot is off. The base for this project was the Cyclone 10 GX Dev kit so I'm not sure what might or might not be enabled. The weird part is a Google search for that file name has zero hits. Not a huge deal but very strange. Thanks for the replies.

Ray

[RayHaynes1 · Accepted solution]

Noticed in the GUI message window at the start of a build a message stating that the ipgenerate tool was using an INI file (quartus.ini). Curious what might be in it I took a look and low and behold found this line. So it's apparently some debug feature of Quartus. No idea why it was set on mine

dcalc_force_negative_transitions_to_zero_and_print_debug_warning=on

Set it to off and those files are no longer created. Problem solved :-).