Intel Quartus Prime Pro - How is Modelsim-Altera supposted to work? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: fchk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2019, 08:15:10 am
content: Hello!I'm still exploring the new world of Intel/Altera FPGAs and Quartus Prime. My design uses a Cyclone 10 GX, so I have to use the Pro version. Thankfully, Quartus Prime Pro is free when only using Cyclone 10 GX.I've written some small projects, and they compile. However, I don't find the menuitem to start the supplied Altera Modelsim Starter Edition with my design. The Quartus Prime Lite version has "Tools" -> "Run Simulation Tool" -> "RTL Simulation", but this whole menu item "Run Simulation Tool" is missing in the Pro version.Why?How am I supposed to run Modelsim-Altera then?

author: Giaime
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2019, 10:56:00 am
content: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/programmable/documentation/yur1496247032051.htmlCheck step 2. I had this issue when I first started with Quartus Prime Lite. Maybe it's a similar issue with the Pro: when fresh installed, there's no EDA tool pre-defined, even if it comes bundled with Modelsim

author: LeoTech
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2019, 07:26:05 pm
content: Hello,Quote from: fchk on October 30, 2019, 08:15:10 amI had the exact same experience when I started to use Quartus.My solution was/is to have a project open in Modelsim simultaneously with a project in Quartus. Both projects contain the same files.For a quick compilation - error checking - I run the Modelsim compiler, as it is far faster, but doesn't catch all errors.I would always simulate directly in Modelsim, but use Quartus to do the main work - actually writing the hdl - as the editor and interface is superior imho.To see whether or not 'hardware' actually works on an FPGA I run the Quartus compiler.Btw, the compilation error report is far better in Quartus compiler than Modelsim.Quote from: Giaime on October 30, 2019, 10:56:00 amI will definitely try that!Leo

author: Giaime
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2019, 01:03:32 pm
content: Quote from: LeoTech on November 03, 2019, 07:26:05 pmI think that's a bit cumbersome. I do all analysis & synthesis in Quartus, then I launch Modelsim from the command bar (see attached image). Please note that I might have re-arranged the buttons, so it could be that your command bar looks different.After I take a look to the results, I close Modelsim, then I just re-launch it to make a new simulation.It helps to have simulation tcl scripts setup for example to determine the simulation length and the "xx.do" file (where xx is whatever) that configures how to view the waveforms.

author: fchk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2019, 09:21:01 am
content: Thanks for help.I've tried the example but the link to the sample archive Quartus_Pro_PLL_RAM.zip doesn't work - it takes me to the wiki but does not download anything.

author: Giaime
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2019, 03:32:41 pm
content: Quote from: fchk on November 05, 2019, 09:21:01 amClassic Intel documentation issues. Try to find example programs to play around elsewhere on the web.