## Starting the simulator

The CIF simulator can be started in the following ways:

- In Eclipse, right click a `.cif` or `.cifx` file in the Project Explorer tab or Package Explorer tab and choose CIF simulation, validation and verification tools Simulate CIF specification…​.

- In Eclipse, right click an open text editor for a `.cif` or `.cifx` file and choose CIF simulation, validation and verification tools Simulate CIF specification…​.

- Use the `cifsim` tool in a ToolDef script. See the scripting documentation and tools overview page for details.

- Use the `cifsim` command line tool.

Once you start the simulator, an option dialog will appear, where you can configure the simulation options.

Instead of a CIF model (e.g. a `.cif` or `.cifx` file), simulation can also be started for a compiled code file (e.g. a `.cifcode` file). For compiled code files, an additional option is available. The simulator can also be started by double clicking such a file.