Question

When accessing a database, it is likely that there are gaps along the value time-line where possibly the data recording (e.g. dumping from simulator) was turned off. In this case the starting point of that interval shall be marked as a VC if the object had a stored value before that time. vpi_goto(), whether used to jump to that time or using next VC or previous VC traversal from a point before or after respectively, shall stop at that VC. Calling vpi_get_value() on the traverse object pointing to that VC shall have no effect on the value argument passed; the time argument shall be filled with the time at that VC. vpi_get() can be called in the form: vpi_get(vpiHasNoValue, <traverse handle>) to return TRUE if the traverse handle has no value (i.e. pointing to the start of a dump off region) and FALSE otherwise.

There is, of course, another VC (from no recorded value to an actual recorded value) at the end of the dump off interval, if the end exists i.e. there is additional dumping performed and data for this object exists before the end of the trace. There are no VCs in between the two marking the beginning and end (if they exist); a move to the next VC from the start point leads to the end point.