Waveform viewer improves design data management

The latest release of Riviera has an all-new waveform viewer that results in improved data management as well as an overall performance increase up to 100x.

The latest release of Riviera has an all-new waveform viewer that results in improved data management as well as an overall performance increase up to 100x.

Aldec has completely redesigned the waveform viewer in Riviera 2003.12 based on a new database that enables viewing and management of large files (1Gbyte and larger) almost instantaneously.

The previous version could take several minutes or even hours.

With the addition of an awc (Aldec Waveform Configuration) file and an asdb (Aldec Simulation DataBase) format, Riviera 2003.12 can read and write from the waveform database at speeds never before achieved while reducing system memory requirements.

For example, tests simulating with full signal history resulted in as much as a 2x reduction in system memory.

During simulation Riviera 2003.12 stores all data in the asdb file but uses an intermediate awc format for simple viewing.

This intermediate format is stored in the asdb database to speed viewing and editing of smaller groups of signals.

Designers can open, zoom, and scroll large files instantly.

Signals including Verilog memories or large VHDL records can be expanded without delay.

Although the format is optimised specifically for large designs and long simulation runs, the performance increase can be seen in all aspects of the waveform viewer.

"Redesigning the waveform viewer in Riviera 2003.12 has dramatically decreased large file management tasks.

Files that used to require minutes, or even hours to open and navigate can now be accomplished in seconds", stated Eric Seabrook, Product Marketing Manager for Aldec.

"As designs continue to grow the need to develop faster tools and methods for managing them is just as important.

This waveform viewer is simply one of the fastest on the market", Seabrook concluded.

In addition to improving the waveform viewer in Riviera 2003.12, Aldec has made improvements to the advanced dataflow window and library encryption (for both VHDL and Verilog) as well as added branch coverage and new Verilog 2001 support, including multidimensional arrays.

Riviera will continue to include the previous waveform viewer that supports awf, and can be launched as a stand-alone application to enable current users to do a side-by-side comparison with the new asdb file format.

Riviera 2003.12 is available today based on a floating OS independent license that supports Unix, Windows and Linux.

US pricing for Riviera 2003.12 begins at $12,450 and is sold directly by Aldec in the USA and authorised international distributors.

A free evaluation copy of Riviera is available from the Aldec website.

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