How to read a text file line by line in verilog?

Question

I have a SREC file which is a simple text file and I want to read it line by line in verilog. How can I do that?

Answer 1

The following reads through a file, 1 line per clock cycle: expected data format is one decimal number per line.

integer               data_file    ; // file handler
integer               scan_file    ; // file handler
logic   signed [21:0] captured_data;
`define NULL 0    

initial begin
  data_file = $fopen("data_file.dat", "r");
  if (data_file == `NULL) begin
    $display("data_file handle was NULL");
    $finish;
  end
end

always @(posedge clk) begin
  scan_file = $fscanf(data_file, "%d\n", captured_data); 
  if (!$feof(data_file)) begin
    //use captured_data as you would any other wire or reg value;
  end
end