Running qspice from command line?

QSPICE
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Is it possible to start a qspice simulation from the command line? I am envisioning something like,

qspice. exe mycircuit. cir

This would allow me to plug in qspice as a simulator option in our existing design environment. I could then simulate using pre-existing design schematics rather than recapturing the schematics in qspice.

Thank you,

Kevin

2 Likes
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Yes, it’s QSPICE64.exe or QSPICE80.exe. The later uses 80 bit math in critical sections.

cmd
cmd1755Ă—1347 274 KB

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Terrific Mike… thanks very much for your reply. Ill be getting to work on this!

Kevin

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Hey Mike,
Which is used by the GUI when we run simulations? 64bit or 80bit?
SteveM

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Normally 64bit. I’ve improved the methods enough such that extended precision is rarely needed. However, you can use the version with selective use of 80bit math. Go to Top Menu item Edit=>Preferences and uncheck “Fast(less accurate) Math:”

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OK, I’ve had some success running qspice from the command line and also by opening the netlist from within the qux interface (I am running pre-existing IP for which there are no qspice schematics). This has led to a few questions related to plotting simulation results.

  1. Is it possible to add a “plot” button (or view plots) to the QUX inteface when running from netlists. It seems I have open File==>*qraw to get the plot tool to open after simulation.

  2. Is there an FFT function that operates on simulation data?

  3. Is there a way to save the simulation data in a HSPICE raw file format? It seems *qraw is a bit different as our plotting tool would not open *.qraw files

  4. Can qspice run with hspice type foundry models like from tsmc? If not, is there plans for this? (I know this is a big ask!)

  5. Does the schematic tool support multi-bit buses? Same for symbols?

I have only run a few circuits but qspice seems pretty fast. Thanks for your efforts on this.

Kevin

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Is it possible to add a “plot” button (or view plots)
to the QUX interface when running from netlists. It
seems I have open File==>*qraw to get the plot tool
to open after simulation.

If running, say,

POST.exe deck.cir

The command .meas plot [quantities] embedded in deck.cir will launch a waveform viewer to plot .step’ed results.
For netlists, simply open the netlist in QUX.exe and run. Then there’s a waveform viewer. That viewer even does marching waveforms.

Is there an FFT function that operates on simulation data?

Yes. It’s in the waveform viewer.

Is there a way to save the simulation data in a HSPICE raw file format?
It seems *qraw is a bit different as our plotting tool would not open
*.qraw files

Well, the file format of a .qraw is very similar to Berkeley SPICE. Main difference is some extra information in the header. For example, I(R1) is probably not in the data, but an alias is defined so you can plot it. The technique of replacing with with object code is an advanced database technique that your viewer might now support.

Can QSPICE run with hspice type foundry models like from tsmc?
If not, is there plans for this? (I know this is a big ask!)

Mostly not. In prior work, I was witting one simulation tool that would be used by both IC designers and application engineers. In the end, that became counter productive or at least not profitable.

Does the schematic tool support multi-bit buses? Same for symbols?

Yes. Label a wire, e.g., DATA[0:32] or name a component R[0:16]. Notice that a bus tap right click menu item.

–Mike