VCD File Format

The format of generated VCD files adheres to IEEE Std 1364–2001. The following table describes the format

File ContentDescription
$date
23-Sep-2003 14:38:11
$end
Data and time the file was generated.
$version Link for ModelSim version 
1.0 $ end
Version of the VCD block that generated the file.
$timescale 1 ns $ end
The time scale that was used during the simulation.
$scope module manchestermodel $end
The scope of the module being dumped.
$var wire 1 ! Original Data [0] $end
$var wire 1 " Recovered Clock [0] $end
$var wire 1 # Recovered Data [0] $end
$var wire 1 $ Data Validity [0] $end
Variable definitions. Each definition associates a signal with character identification code (symbol). The symbols are derived from printable characters in the ASCII character set from ! to ~. Variable definitions also include the variable type (wire) and size in bits.
$upscope $end
Marks a change to the next higher level in the HDL design hierarchy.
$enddefinitions $end
Marks the end of the header and definitions section.
#0
Simulation start time.
$dumpvars
 0!
 0"
 0#
 0$
$end
Lists the values of all defined variables at time equals 0.
#630
 1!
The starting point of logged value changes. Variable values are checked at each simulation time increment and are logged if a change occurs. This entry indicates that at 63 nanoseconds, the value of signal Original Data changed from 0 to 1.
.
.
.
#1160
 1#
 1$
At 116 nanoseconds the values of signals Recovered Data and Data Validity changed from 0 to 1.
$dumpoff
 x!
 x"
 x#
 x$
$end
Marks the end of the file by dumping the values of all variables as the value x.

VCD files can grow very large for larger designs or smaller designs with longer simulation runs. The size of a VCD file generated by the To VCD File block is limited only by the maximum number of signals (and symbols) supported, which is 943 (830,584).


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