How do I read binary file data in a test bench?

Say I have a binary file containing compressed video.
I want to present the dut in my test bench with a byte
from the file at the dut's standard_logic_vector input,
every clock period.

What's the cleanest way to do this?
Can I use a binary file, or do I need to convert it to:

"xxxxxxxx"
"xxxxxxxx"
"xxxxxxxx"

with one 8-bit slv per line.

Is this simulator specific (I'll be using Modelim PE).

Thanks

Pete Fraser

http://groups.google.com/groups?q=vhdl+sim+char_file

-- Mike Treseler

mike_treseler

"mike_treseler" <tres@fl_ke.com> wrote in message
news: lkaboutprogramming.com...
> http://groups.google.com/groups?q=vhdl+sim+char_file
>
Thanks Mike.
Exactly the start I needed.

Pete Fraser

"mike_treseler" <tres@fl_ke.com> wrote in message
news: lkaboutprogramming.com...
> http://groups.google.com/groups?q=vhdl+sim+char_file
>
> -- Mike Treseler

That worked nicely, but I can't work out how to
convert from character to std_logic_vector.

test_sig <= conv_std_logic_vector(my_char_v,
doesn't work.

The FAQ suggests it's possible, and gives some hints, but I still don't get
it.

Thanks

Pete

Pete Fraser

Pete Fraser wrote:

> That worked nicely, but I can't work out how to
> convert from character to std_logic_vector.

function char2std(arg:character)
return std_logic_vector is begin
return std_logic_vector(to_unsigned(character'pos(arg), );
end char2std;

-- Mike Treseler

Mike Treseler