Comparescan User Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Comparescan Input

Can I compare VCD files?

Yes, but you may miss some comparison information, since VCD files do not contain module port information. For example, any comparison that involves a -boundary switch fails, since there are no module ports for Comparescan to find and compare.

Is it better to use SST2 files in Comparescan?

Yes. You should generate SST2 database files (.dsn and .trn) with your simulator, since these files contain port information, which is not available in VCD files.

Can I translate a VCD file to an SST2 database file?

Yes. See “Specifying Simulation Results Databases for Comparison” on page 12 and “translate” on page 94 for instructions on how to do this.

Can I compare a VCD file with a file in some other format?

Yes. You can specify a file in any supported simulation results format as either of the two files to compare. If one of the files is not an SST2 database file, Comparescan automatically translates that file into SST2 database format. The comparison then proceeds using the generated SST2 database files.

Comparescan Output

How do I view a comparison report that I have generated?

To save a Comparescan binary error database file, use the -save command-line option, the savedata rules file command, or the File—Save or File—Save as menu commands.

To open a saved error database in Comparescan, choose File—Open from the

Comparescan menu, or use a command such as the following at the operating system command line, where error_data.csd is a Comparescan error database:

comparescan error_data.csd