To start animation:
1.
Select a .trace file from File/Open menu.
(See GUI layout)
You will see the simplified layout of the micro-architecture that
does not show the control lines and logic.
2.
Select Animation/Next clock cycle.
One clock cycle of the selected MIPS program will be executed.
NOTE: You can use the Next Clock Cycle button at the
bottom to execute one clock cycle. Continuously click on the Next
Clock Cycle button.
Each click will cause execution of one clock cycle. Selecting
Animation/Forward 10 will advance the program by 10 clock cycles.
To
display the control lines and logic select Animation/Detailed.
(See the figure below)

NOTE: as each instruction progresses through the
pipeline you will observe
- color changes of the bottom part of the microprocessor stages
- color changes of the control lines (for the Detailed view only)
NOTE: at any time you can examine the values of the data and control lines and other elements. Just click on an element or a line and a pop-up window showing the current value appears. Second click will cause the window to disappear.
3. To restart the same animation file select Animation/Restart.