A MAX+PLUS^® II file that specifies the input logic levels that drive the input pins and determines the internal logic levels throughout the project. Vector Files (.vec) also specify the output nodes to be simulated, the start and stop times for applying vectors, the intervals at which vectors are applied, the nodes to be grouped during simulation, and the radix used to interpret logic levels.

The Quartus^® II Simulator can use MAX+PLUS II VEC files as stimulus for timing simulation. However, you cannot create VEC Files with the Quartus II Waveform Editor. Instead, you can create Vector Waveform Files (.vwf) for use with the Quartus II Simulator. VEC Files are only supported for backwards compatibility with MAX+PLUS II.

If you have a VEC File open in the Waveform Editor and attempt to open the same file as a text file, the Quartus II software continues to display the VEC File as a waveform. To open the VEC File as a text file, you must first close the Waveform Editor, choose Open (File menu), select Text in the Open As list, and select the appropriate file name in the Files list.

The following example shows a sample VEC File, including a separate Pattern Section for optional expected output values.

% units default to ns %
START 0 ;
STOP 1000 ;
INTERVAL 100 ;
INPUTS CLOCK ;
PATTERN
0 1 ;           % relative vector values %
                % CLOCK ticks every 100 ns %

INPUTS DATAINX DATAINY ;
PATTERN         % test every combination of %
                % DATAINX and DATAINY %
0>    0 0
220>  1 0
320>  1 1       % absolute time vector values %

570>  0 1
720>  1 1
;

INPUTS CLEAR ;
PATTERN
0>    1
100>  0
;

OUTPUTS SERSUM CIN COUT ;
PATTERN         % check output at every Clock pulse %
= X X X
= 0 0 0         % relative time vector values %
= 0 0 0
= 1 0 0
= 0 0 1
= 0 0 1
= 0 1 1
= 0 1 1
= 1 1 1
= 1 1 1
= 1 1 1
= 1 1 1 ;

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