Lattice Diamond Simulation: How to run the simulation with optimization enabled using a standalone version of Modelsim or Questasim software? (Not OEM version)
1. Run Diamond’s Simulation Wizard as you normally would. The standalone version of Modelsim/Questasim should be linked within Diamond’s options instead of the OEM version (Tools > Options > Directories).
2. When Modelsim/Questasim opens, Compile the design (Compile > Compile All).
3. After compiling, go to Simulate > Design Optimization.
4. Go to the Libraries tab and add the compiled libraries.
5. Go to the Visibility tab and add the module that you wanted to be visible after optimization.
6. Go back to the Design tab and select the testbench. Define the “Output Design Name” and check “Start Immediately” before pressing OK.
7. Add the signals from the modules that you selected in the “Visibility” tab and run the simulation.
8. When you ended the simulation (Simulate > End Simulation) and you wanted to run it again without repeating the previous steps, simply go to Simulate > Start Simulation and select the previously created optimized output. You can create multiple optimized outputs as needed.
Do take note that that optimization feature allows you to maximize simulator performance but will limit the visibility of design objects. You can still increase the visibility of objects by modifying the other options shown in the “Add Access Flags” window.