How can I generate a new Memory Initialization File (.mif) for on-chip memory without regenerating the whole Nios&#174 embedded processor system?

When you type the c command (the letter c, followed by carriage-return) in ModelSim, all of your software code is recompiled and new .mif files are generated.

You can execute this same command without running ModelSim. Every time SOPC Builder runs, it creates a command-line script for regenerating your system. If your system is named nios_system, the SOPC Builder will create a script named nios_system_generation_script. Follow these steps to create a script that does the same as the c macro in ModelSim.

1. Rename the script called nios_system_generation_script to redo_my_mif_files.
2. Open the new script redo_my_mif files in your favorite text editor.
3. Add the following command-line argument to this script:
   --software_only=1

(Notice the two leading dashes).

Now you can run the script redo_my_mif_files from the command-line and all your software and .mif files will be rebuilt comparatively quickly.