tcl commands in Altera Modelsim

[Altera_Forum]

Hi all! 

 I am using Altera Modelsim, which is tcl-based. I use the GUI.  In the console, when I type the command puts "a" I get not output:  ModelSim> set a 1 # 1 ModelSim> echo $a # 1  ModelSim> puts $a ModelSim> puts "a" ModelSim>   Can anyone explain that?  Thx

[Altera_Forum]

on the other hand, each time a "set" command is executed, there is a trace in the console with the value 

Why is that?

[Altera_Forum]

puts will put messages into the host OS's console window (i see this on linux). i'm not sure where they'd go if you are using Windows. 

 echo prints to the ModelSim transcript window as you've seen.

[Altera_Forum]

correct. 

Is there a way to redirect the host OS's console into ModelSim's console?

[Altera_Forum]

you'd have to find a tcl channelid for the ModelSim console. i'm not sure if there is one.

[Altera_Forum]

OK. Thanks!

[Altera_Forum]

I have encountered the same problem, were you able to find a solution?

[Altera_Forum]

I encountered this issue a long time ago. If you compare "echo" vs "puts" on a Linux version of modelsim, you will see "puts" output going to the terminal that launches the Modelsim process, whereas "echo" prints to the Modelsim console output. 

 I never bothered to figure out how to redirect puts, I just used echo in my scripts :)  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

I would do the same but I have a lot of automated simulations and thus many files to change. Apart from that I also take input using gets and I assume I will run in to some problems there.

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  I would do the same but I have a lot of automated simulations and thus many files to change. Apart from that I also take input using gets and I assume I will run in to some problems there.  --- Quote End ---   Yeah, I'd agree that there is a pretty good chance that you'll run into trouble there.  Chances are Mentor have been asked this question in the past. If you have a Mentor Site ID and service contract, just file a service request. If you do not, ask me, and I'll file one ... since I am interested in the answer :)  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

Hello Dave,  

As I have neither a Mentor ID nor a service contract I would greatly appreciate if you would ask them. [edit] For now I launch Modelsim from the command line executing vsimk  intelFPGA_lite/16.1/modelsim_ase/linux/vsimk  gets gets input from the terminal so I can use it but I need to use the terminal and transcript at the same time. [/edit]

[Altera_Forum]

When you start vsim, try to use the "-gui" option, like "vsim -gui"

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  When you start vsim, try to use the "-gui" option, like "vsim -gui"  --- Quote End ---    That is indeed the solution for me, thanks.

[Altera_Forum]

I just tried this under Windows 7 with Quartus 15.0 Modelsim 10.3d. I started a NIOS II IDE shell first, used 'which vsim' to confirm I was going to run the correct version of Modelsim, and then ran 'vsim', without the -gui option. The Modelsim GUI console output was: 

ModelSim> puts "Hello!" ModelSim> echo "Hello!"# Hello!  The first "Hello!" was printed on the NIOS II IDE shell command-line.  Adding the -gui option redirects the output to the GUI console.  Thanks for posting your solution, it works great! :)  Cheers, Dave