Search code examples
simulationfpgamodelsimintel-fpgaquartus

How to add altera lib for simulation with ModelSim?

After compiling a project (with Quartus) with a top-level file (VHDL) and an Altera specific PLL, I tried to simulate it with ModelSim.

When I start the RTL simulation, I see my top-level file in the folder work (in the Library Window), but not the Altera instance for the PLL (Verilog file).

Question: How can I setup Quartus or ModelSim in order to see my top-level file AND the Altera instance for the PLL?

Solution

  • The Altera specific modules like PLLs, are easiest to simulate using the ModelSim Altera Edition (available with Altera Quar5us) which contains a number of pre-compiles libraries with packages and entities for the Altera specific blocks. If not already using this ModelSim Altera Edition. You can see the Altera libraries in the ModelSim Altera Starter Edition (free) below.

    enter image description here

    Then you simply compile all the modules into a library, including the Altera Quartus generated wrapper for the PLL, the wrapper should then have references to the available Altera libraries with the simulation model of the PLL.

    If this does not work, then please reduce your code to an example that shows the problem and can be posted here; see Minimal, Complete, and Verifiable example.